Looking at adding a trolling motor to my boat. Was hoping to get some advice on shaft length, thrust and volt systems others have used. Hoping someone has a TM setup on their Pioneer 197 Sportfish. Not sure if I should go with 60" or 72" shaft. Any ideas?
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles”
gonna keep it as a tiller or ipilot/equiv?
Got my eye on the Terrova so it will have i-pilot
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles”
I had a MinnKota on my 197 and it worked great and surely beat an anchor. I did not have a 72" shaft but recommend one to keep the prop submerged in rough water.
Also suggest a quick-release mounting bracket. I had the black aluminum type, and it was sturdy and worked fine. But the white fiberglass type leaves a smaller piece on the gunnel when the TM is removed.
I no longer have the 197 but will send a photo of the install if I can find one.
The MinnKota worked great except for holding tight to a spot; it was fine over a piece of structure but wandered too much for a bridge column. I am told the others do better in this regard. However MK’s are supposedly better now.
Roger
Thank you leadenwah.
Ona Mission, did you have the 80 or 112 thrust? Debating on the 24v vs 36v setup. I have also heard the new Minn Kota TMs are better about drift at anchor
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles”
If yours uses more than 30 amps and removable, which it probably will, strongly consider the Battery Tender brand plug. I just recently installed one on my boat and man this thing is the one! 100 amp rated DC to DC connection. Beefy and well made! Those little minn kota ones that ‘twist lock’ just cant handle the amperage of full throttle for more than a few minutes without getting hot and melting plastic which leads to more issues. Do yourself the favor and look into these plugs!
http://products.batterytender.com/Accessories/Power-Connect-Battery-Connector-Set-Black.html
Fishing Nerd
“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
quote:
Originally posted by StumpNockerIf yours uses more than 30 amps and removable, which it probably will, strongly consider the Battery Tender brand plug. I just recently installed one on my boat and man this thing is the one! 100 amp rated DC to DC connection. Beefy and well made! Those little minn kota ones that ‘twist lock’ just cant handle the amperage of full throttle for more than a few minutes without getting hot and melting plastic which leads to more issues. Do yourself the favor and look into these plugs!
http://products.batterytender.com/Accessories/Power-Connect-Battery-Connector-Set-Black.html
Fishing Nerd“you win some, you lose some…but nothing beats getting some!”
Thanks stump! Didn’t even think about that
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles”
I had the 80# thrust on the 197, and consider it adequate. In other words, that thrust was enough for the current. If the wind blew hard too, the issue was keeping prop in water not thrust.
That said I did go with the three battery motor on my 222. And you can’t have too much power. I don’t recall the cost difference for the stronger motor?
You’ll probably get an on-board charger. I located mine under the leaning-post, ahead of the bait tank…along with the batteries. Just be sure your bait tank does not spill into the area.
PM me your email and I’ll try to find a photo. Also I’ll send my phone in case you want to talk. You might also find info on the Pioneerowners forum?
Roger
pioneer has a very tall bow, so I would opt for the 72" I-pilot 80# with an on board charger
www.teamcharlestonmarine.com
www.joinrfa.org
IF I RESPOND IN ALL CAPS, ITS NOT ON PURPOSE, AND I AM NOT YELLING
I bought the iPilot 60" 36 volt ulterra for my Pioneer 197 Islander. I need to reinstall it. I’m going to use a custom made mounting plate that somebody has pictured on the Pioneer owners forum I think. If you use the same guy’s template and go with the Ulterra, be careful. His mounting plate doesn’t put the TM far enough out for the head to clear your hull when stowing automatically - something that would have been hard for me to anticipate. I’m in the process of replacing the mounting plate with one that sticks out a little further. Anyway, when deployed, the one time I had it out, the 60" shaft was adequate and of course there was plenty of power with the 36 volt system.
Ona Mission, PM sent. Thanks Chris V and wcarlis
2014 Pioneer 197 Sportfish
2012 Malibu Stealth 12 Kayak
“If people concentrated on the really important things in life, there would be a shortage of fishing poles”