55lb thrust motor and 17' Alumaweld

[baguba]

I am thinking of addind an electric trolling motor to my 17' Alumaweld drift boat. Does anyone know if 55lb thrust motor will have enough power to hold in drift??

[hookumhi]

depends on the current

[Silver Hilton]

55 lbs will be pretty good on a 17 ft. I have a 28 lb, and it was only OK on my 17 ft boat. Worked great for walleye fishing, but wasn't strong enough to reliable for steelhead backtrolling.

[Captn]

Talking with a few guides, I understand that for most rivers about 75lbs is what you are looking for. I think 55 will do it but going back up in many cases will not be possible. As said befor, where you are using it is the key.

[212hjet]

You might look at the article in the Oct./Nov. issue of STS which discusses installing a 74# electric motor and it's use, abilities, etc..
Hope this helps a bit, also.

[andy-ap emerger]

Have you checked the Minn-kota 101# 36V?? This may be a wise choice. MUCH better at this. Also, riverchoice(?) has a 109thrust 36V for 649.00 which looks good too!


Unfortunately, the best deal I have located for those is through...(cough cough) Mega-Mart Cabela's. I wished a local carrier could get the same price. I did notice however that Fisherman's MArine had a 10% off coupon. If so, then that's your source.


AP [img]graemlins/eek13.gif[/img]

[shalom]

The bigger the better . I have a 48-pound on my boat and it works fine in a lake ,not so fine in the Willamette .My next one will be a 36-volt.You do not have to use all of the power . It is nice to have it when you need it .My boat weighs about 3000 pounds .Get the biggest that you can afford .Your batterys will last longer with a 36 volt .

[SoundsFishy]

I just went on a guide trip and he had the 101# and 3 batteries on a coastal stream. It seemed to work great for him. Hope that helps.

[Iceman]

I have a 74# thrust, 24v setup and it works well on my 16x54 db and use it exclusively for side-drifting, not back trolling plugs. It's set up similar to the STS article. I've had mine for 3 yrs now and am still on my first set of batteries, although I don't get out as much as the guides do.

If you're going to try to use a 55# for backtrolling, I think you would be disappointed. It would work well for side-drifting, but you may run out of juice by the end of the day. Carrying a second battery for a 12v system is always an option, however. The main thing is to look for holes that set up well for a second and third pass (holes with a back-eddy or slack water on the side).

Good luck! :smile:

[big john]

BAGUBA: i have a 55# 12-volt on my 16 foot alumaweld sled for lake fishing. with little wind blowing, it is fine, but if i'm headed into modest wind and waves (waves smaller than white-capped waves), i have to use the gas engine. then, trolling back downwind i use the 55 pounder.

bottom line: i think 55# is marginal on my skiff for my kind of fishing. i'd estimate it provides push similar to a 1 or 1 1/2 horsepower gas outboard.

to avoid disappointment, go for the biggest thrust setup you can afford.

john

[Thumper]

Originally posted by SoundsFishy:
I just went on a guide trip and he had the 101# and 3 batteries on a coastal stream. It seemed to work great for him.

<font size="2" face="verdana,arial,helvetica">I own a Vantage 101 and do not recommend it to anyone. If it touches saltwater your warrantee is void. Freshwater only. It is also poorly designed (no twist grip throttle, little button on end turns it on/off) and is therefore easily inadvertently left on or bumped on, which will get you a burned out motor. I know. :depressed:

On the other hand Ollie Damon gave great warrantee service.

I'd recommend that anyone considering a bigger electric look at the salt water versions (Minn Kota Riptide, all white in color). They appear to be far better engineered.

[bucketmouth]

I have a 55 lb thrust Minn Kota on my 16 1/2 foot deep vee aluminum and it seems to be too little in some cases on the River. Get a bigger one if possible. I would do the Minn Kota 101 my next time around if I had the $$$$.$$ :smile:

[RiverDogg]

Stay out of the fast current! Keep it on the seam.

[BUGLEMAN]

A 55lb pushed my 52x16 around pretty good in all but the fastest chinook water.