Help spend my money

Birdnest · 05-07-2008, 02:25 PM

Hello,

I am in the process of putting a freshwater boat together and could use a little help. The boat plan is a 1754 Grizzly welded jon boat powered by a Merc 25 4 stroke tiller.

One question I have is about the trolling motor. The old hand vs foot debate. I am leaning toward a manual for the following reasons. My front deck is relatively small, less clutter, and less things to break. Looking at something like a 40lb thrust 12v Minn Kota Edge. My boat is a lot lighter than some of these NASCAR inspired bass boats, so I can't imagine it not being sufficient.

Am I going to regret this 10 minutes into my first fishing trip?

Thanks for any pointers on setting up the boat.

Joe

arkansasbasser · 05-07-2008, 04:16 PM

I have owned both foot and manuel and I give the nod to the manuel for best boat control. Maybe I'm not coordinated enough but I found it tiresome trying to control the boat with my foot while simultaniously casting and reeling. I have a 50lb thrust Minkota on my aluminum 12' with 15 Evinrude.

fishinjay · 05-07-2008, 04:23 PM

I got a foot controlled bow mount and i can never go back. I used to fish out of a 14ft lake boat with a 30pound thrust minn kota and i worked fine but when i got my new boat a few years ago i had a 55pound thrust bow mount put on it and it changed my life forever.

Your results may vary.

Seriously though i love it, now i wish i had gotten a more powerfull one but thats a different story.

nsyhunter · 05-07-2008, 05:03 PM

If you have a comfortable seat (butt seat) to cast from go with a foot CABLE controlled model. There is a difference between cable and power drive models. I have found the power drive models too noisy for bass fishing in close quarters.

sbasser · 05-07-2008, 05:16 PM

I'll agree with NSYHUNTER's statement and double it! I've been very pleased with Motor Guide...like the steel shaft vs. plastic, and factory service has been great. I don't mess with the local service...they probably don't have the parts anyway, so SAVE THE BOX, just in case. Stuff happens, not always the manufacturer's fault. The least reliable TM I've had was hand steered! Second least reliable was the electric servo steered. Not good for shallow water at all, or precise control, or quiet.

C&R, Steve

pitchnboy · 05-07-2008, 05:32 PM

a foot control is very useful and verstile. + its more convienent. bassproshops has a special on their Minn Kota All terrain 65lbs foot controll for 399.99. good luck.

pitch

BassMan · 05-07-2008, 08:46 PM

I have a 30lb thrust manual on my 14'6" v hull aluminum and quite frankly I hate it. It's ok for lake fishing but in the river I would much rather use my foot than to keep reaching for the tiller. I find with the current I spend 1/2 my time trying to get the boat in position than fishing. If you are fishing in the river I would get at LEAST 40lb thrust for that boat.

-jb

pitchnboy · 05-07-2008, 08:52 PM

go with the 65lbs thrust speacial at Basspro.com. i have it on my boat. its a minn kota all terrain...check it out, i know a lot of guys with it and helped sell a lot of them as well. good luck.

thanks, pitch

jbooth · 05-07-2008, 11:52 PM

I second the minn kota for $399.99. I have a minn kota maxxum and I like it more than any of the motor guides that I have owned/used. Just my opinion though.

QH's Paw · 05-08-2008, 04:44 AM

With regard to power, it depends on what you plan to use it for. I don't think power is as much an issue on lakes and ponds but, in rivers or creeks, fighting current while you fish, that's a different story. I've always been able to push my 18' sled (or pull with the bow mount) with 40# of thrust. I'm sure my sled and equipment weigh considerably more than the boat you're talking about.
I think foot operated is good after you acclimate to it but, at first it is tough for some folks. Some guys that don't like bow mount, don't spend enough time on the water to get used to it. What I have found , over time, is the bow mount works real well in boat control under adverse conditions. What I mean is, while walleye fishing in current and with wind, it is easier to pull the boat by the bow than push the boat at the transom. The thing to remember about bow mount and foot control is the more parts you have the more parts to break or fail(= more money). They are more expensive to buy also. You can get into a transom mount tiller model for $150 new, if you shop and wait for the buy. You can't even look at bow and foot control for that.
Oh, I prefer Minnkota. I don't care for the feel of cable steering.
My advise is go out with other people and run there gear first. That way you can get a feel for what is comfortable and reasonable.

arkansasbasser · 05-08-2008, 06:02 AM

I use my manuel Minkota at the bow. Much better boat control than at the transom. There is a screw at the head that lets you turn it around for bow mount use.

Birdnest · 05-08-2008, 07:29 AM

Thanks for all of the insight. I still have some homework to do. The boat will rarely, if ever be in current, so I am not sure the extra thrust is necessary. Sounds like most folks do prefer the foot controlled TM's, I will take that to heart. I am not sure what kind of TM mount will fit on my boat. Here is a pic of the 16', but it has the same size deck and trolling motor mount.
I don't know if the mount is big enough for the typical mount. Anybody out there sporting a Grizzly 1754? Thanks again for the thoughts.

Joe

1bigfish · 05-08-2008, 07:49 AM

You might want to hit up Hunt'nFish for ideas on mounting. He is pretty good at coming up with mounting ideas. Just don't ask him where to park the boat when the tide starts going out.

Hunt'nFish · 05-08-2008, 03:24 PM

Joe, Given the fact that your getting a Grizzly, am I wrong in assuming your planning to waterfowl out of it too?

Why would I ask?......well nothing beats an elec bowmount for negotiating skinny weed marshes. Bowmounts track better than transom mounted electrics.

Cable vs. elec PD pedals.......well I've never bought into the notion that PD controls scare fish. Personally I like the PD foot controls. they can be controlled from anywhere on the boat. AND if you put the wireless copilot remote on it you don't even need to hook up the foot pedal....which I usually don't.

I'm also a BIG fan of the Autopilot feature. Particularly in the wind. And IMO I think an autopilot PD uses less current over the course of a day than a std elec when you figure in your always trusting at full power to correct an out of position boat.

Toss in walleye and the Autopilot PD really shines. No need to keep a contant eye on heading...just set a corse and let the internal compass do the work. Sit back and poke the remote every once in a while to stay on your gps track.

As to thrust.....I had a Tracker TX that is similar to your proposed Grizzly. It had/has (AtItAgain has it now) a 12v 42lb 48" AP on it and it did just fine. Oh sure there were times when I wished it were a 55lb but that was really rare.

So if I were you, I'd mount up a 12v 55lb 54" AP w/ Copilot remote and be done with it. They can be had used for ~$350 on the IFish classifieds. but make sure it has the autopilot feature. You'll not want for anything later.

Did I mention how convienent that remote is when waterfowl hunting?

Hunt'nFish

PS: Ollie Damons can fix anything that could ever go wrong on a Minn-Kota.

Hunt'nFish · 05-08-2008, 05:00 PM

Joe, as far as mounting......there's a pad on the left side of the bow especially made & braced for a bowmount.
Bolt on a MK QD Plate and you can slide the motor on/off at will.
Super easy.

Oh, I'm also a big believer in having a drift boat style anchor roller and pinch release. I use my anchor & release a lot for bass fishing in the river. That way I don't have to keep eatting up batteries staying in one spot. Bolt on this Scotty Anchor Release and toss on a 10-20 mushroom and life will be so much easier.
Hunt'nFish

Here's a pic on the homemade mount and anchor roller on my sled.
http://s111.photobucket.com/albums/n...CN3467crop.jpg

boblag · 05-09-2008, 11:19 AM

I would second what most people say about a bow mount with a foot controller. It controls the boat a lot better and it's easier to use. And you can mount it on your boat no problem. I also have a jon boat and prefer the remote controlled unit since I can use it anywhere on the boat.

Birdnest · 05-10-2008, 10:03 AM

Hunt'nfish---thanks for all the pointers and pics. Not much of a duck hunter...never liked they way they taste. Of course, I am not above shootin' a coyote and I never ate one of those either.

Sounds like a foot controlled TM is the way to go. Just gotta shop around for a good deal.

I am also probably going to upgrade to an E-tec 40. Very cool technology. Another goodies is having some "pods" welded onto the back. I think with a heavier motor, me, gas, batteries, etc sitting on the back bumper, a little extra floatation wouldn't hurt. This building a boat is a slippery slope.

Thanks again for everyone's input.

Joe

pitchnboy · 05-10-2008, 02:46 PM

very good outboard choice! i believe the minn kota all-terrain is calling you for $399.99

thanks, pitch