Im planning to put a 12 V trolling motor on my 17 ft key west and wanted some advice. Minn Kota vs. MotorGuide? Tiller vs. the remote controlled models? Is it worthwhile to spend the money to have an onboard charger that can be plugged directly to AC power or it is best to save the money and use a standard charger / maintainer on the battery? Any advice is appreciated.and if anyone has a 12V bow mount motor they want to get rid of, let me know.
I don’t have your answer but I was thinking of putting a trolling motor on my 17’ Mckee and was wondering if you have checked to see if a 12V will pull your boat or mine or would we need to go to 24V. Thanks
You can’t catch fish on a dry line
I have a 16’ boat that weighs about 2000 pounds fully loaded with fuel and 3 anglers. A 12V 55# thrust unit does just fine. There are times when the current is too strong to effectively move without running wide open, but the 24V will have a limit as well…just a higher.
I chose Minn Kota because of the i-pilot option. The main reason for chosing it is that I can be anywhere on the boat and control it and with the features like autopilot and spot lock it is like having an extra person on board just to control the boat. This was very important as it allows me to help my son if needed and makes fishing single handed a lot easier.
As for the charger, I do not use a permanent charger. However, the portable charger I use is has the same charging profile as a high end permanent mount charger. As for batteries, I used a standard lead acid, but upgraded from a group 24 to a 29 for longer run times and life. I have no problems running all day at speed settings of 2-4 out of 10.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
minn kota
12 volt 55# thrust
the remote unit is very easy to use if you have unskilled fishermen and you put them in the front, and then you can drive from the back
the manual controls have fewer repair problems
I have 177 Scout, with a 24 volt 80# minn kota with the 3X manual steering, and on board charger, would not want any thing less
KNOTHEAD
on board charger is the only way to go, plug it in and ready to go when you are.
4x on the steering… had a 100 lb thrust great white with a foot pedal. no fun watching it spin in circles!
if you get a big enough trolling motor, mabe you can list it as a hybrid vehicle and get a tax credit?
Ive had both 12 and 24 volts. Just depends on what you do. lake striper fishing the electric steer ipilot is the only way to go while pulling planers and live bait. Point it and it goes and corrects for wind. But super pricey. I just got a 12 v tiller for my 16 ft may craft. But i had a tiny budget and for what i want it will do fine. If you fish wind and current go with the biggest motor you can afford. 24 volt is better by far,and an onboard battery charger makes life easy especially with multiple batteries
I have had both Minn Kota and Motor Guide. I prefer the Minn Kota over the other.
The Minn Kota website has a site to help you set up the right size motor for your boat. You need to look at the length of the shaft too.
Go with the on the on board charger if you have somewhere to mount it.
18’ Hewes Bayfisher/115 4 Stroke Yamaha/6’Powerpole, etc
This is an easy one…go with the I-Pilot. Anybody that recommends the manual steer has never had the pleasure of using an Autopilot or I-Pilot. They may have tried to use the cheap version of remote steering without the autopilot and that is a nightmare. I fish alot by myself in current and wind. The auto controls just makes your fishing alot more fun. The I-pilot has an anchor feature that holds you in one place without having to do anything. If you are using manual and fishing at a high current area, if you catch a fish and lose your attention on the boat, you will be in teh oysters, on a flat, or worse glide into the fish and spook them out of your spot. The auto-pilot and i-pilot will keep you where you need to be in current, wind, or anything else. You don’t have to worry with the boat if you want to retie on a lure, reel in a fish, or grab a cold beer and a snack. There is nobody that has ever bought an autopilot or ipilot that has said, man, I wish I had the manual control steering…I want to drive the boat more than I want to fish… I don’t know about these other people out here on this site, but when I go fishing I constantly cast and I don’t have time to screw around with the boat. I want to fish and these minncota options are the best advancements ever to allow people to fish with little headaches. I will tell you, if you cheap out and get the remote control steering without the autopilot option, you will hate it! Go for the I-pilot and you will not be sorry. AND always go a little higher on thrust than less, you can always go slower but not faster if you underpower. If you are in a flats boat trying to float in 6" of water, don’t go with 24 volt, but in a bay boat go with a high thrust even though it may require a 24 system. I have an 18’ bay boat and I use a 80lb thrust 24 volt and it pushes my boat as good as I need it too.
One last comment about trolling motors…DON’T BUY ONE WITHOUT BUYING AN ON-BOARD CHARGING SYSTEM. Two bank for two batteries. Yes more money, but another headache reli
^^^^That is the truth with I-pilot.
Iain Pelto
Sea Hunt Triton 160 w/ 90 ETEC “JB3”
Native Manta Ray 14
Ditto on the I-pilot. Vinman has one on his boat and it is the bomb. It allows you to fish in a totally different way than I am used to…in a good way. I am saving my pennies for one now.
I know I could google this but you guys know right off hand. Can you turn an existing co-pilot into an auto pilot or i-pilot? I don’t mind my co-pilot but would consider upgrading if it is just switching a control box out. Thanks
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
2002 Florida Skiff
90 Merc.
I know you can upgrade from autopilot to Ipilot, but I am not sure about copilot to ipilot. It is just in the control box anyway, so I don’t see why you couldn’t. I believe it is 3-400 bucks.
quote:
Originally posted by seawestI know I could google this but you guys know right off hand. Can you turn an existing co-pilot into an auto pilot or i-pilot? I don’t mind my co-pilot but would consider upgrading if it is just switching a control box out. Thanks
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beerThe best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
2002 Florida Skiff
90 Merc.
you can go from auto to i-pilot
you can not go from co-pilot to i-pilot
Thanks for the info. I assume then I couldnt even upgrade to the auto pilot. Oh well, i have been fine without it this long!
Don’t have a knack for makin motors crank,
But I’m pretty good at drinkin beer
The best way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.
2002 Florida Skiff
90 Merc.
correct
I-pilot is awesome i wish i had one
i have the 55# co-pilot on my 17 skiff and it works great, but the spot lock function on the i-pilot is worth the price of admission
i really , really, like our i-pilot. it is the bomb. my son and i could not be happier. we are a little bit poorer but HAPPY! HAPPY! HAPPY! had to sell off a couple of other motors to come up with the money and coming up with the “we need this instead of the digital 80#” that we had to convince our brides was even harder. ha ha
Minn Kota I pilot for sure. I got one from Chris v about a month ago and couldn’t be happier.
07 22 pathfinder f250 “cooler’s full”
Finnatic said it well. The i-pilot is wonderful. I had upgraded to it on my old boat and moved it over when I got the new boat and put the old manual back on to sell it, so I have used it for awhile. I would never go back to manual. I usually let my my guest friends fish from the bow and rarely can they fish and control the troller both (at least not to my satisfaction)so with the i-pilot I can do it from the stern.
I plan on living forever, so far so good
Egret 167, Etec 130
Wood Driftboat