Salt or Freshwater Trolling Motor?

General Boats and Motors
1

Is a saltwater Minn Kota or Motor guide worth the price difference if fishing mostly brackish to upper river areas, Edisto, Stono, etc?

Have a new Gheenoe, and looking at 36 inch shaft / 45lbs models. If I wash the motor each use, I can get a freshwater model for $200 and a saltwater model for $400.

Thanks for any advice or comment.

2

I’ve seen several threads on here before about that. From what I hear they both will last about the same length of time in salt water. I use a freshwater.

J Ford

http://www.joinrfa.com/

3

no

I HAVE SPENT MOST OF MY LIFE FISHING AND WASTED THE REST OF IT!

4

I used a $100 motor from bass pro for years on my 16ft jon and never had a problem, just make sure you wash it off after each use. a 30lb thrust would move your gheenoe just fine as well if you want to save some more money, the one i had was a 30lb for my 16ft jon and it moved it around pretty good.

Rippin Lips and Jerking Jaws!
18’ Alumacraft Tunnel w/60 Merc
16’ Camo Tracker w/25 Merc

5

Warranty, If they find salt in a freshwater trolling Motor it will void the warranty.

6

BPS has a Motor Guide 46# variable speed salt water with 18" shaft for around $300(I bought a 2010 close out for $195 including tax).
Made for kayaks and canoes, but should be fine on a Gheenoe- great boat BTW.

7

Spoke to the Motorguide folks about a motor I used for stripers, like SR said rince and repeat! Never had an issue

Homegrown Duracraft
20 Yamaha
Beagle

8

Goin on 8 years here with a fresh water Minn Kota that has been used 95% of it’s life in the salt. Lower unit started to corrode so sanded it down and repainted it and works like a champ still.

Russ B. Formerly known here as “Top2Bottom1”
www.joinrfa.org
God is great, Beer is good, People are crazy

9

Thanks for the advice. I was going for the freshwater motor but found the Minn Kota Riptide saltwater on sale so maybe less money but less maintenance.

10

Go with minn kota over motorguide but I’ve been using the endura 55lb thrust on my 14 ft jon boat for going on 4 years in pure salt rarely spraying it off and it still works perfectly like I just got it out of the packaging.

strip…strip…FISH ON!