Does anyone have a freshwater trolling motor that they use in the saltwater? If so, how has it held up? I have an older model Minn Kota AP that I have used in freshwater. If I do use it in the salt I would rinse it after every trip but what else can I do to help prevent corrosion and keep the motor running? Thanks.
I don’t have any advice about trolling motors, but I have seen plenty of damage done to freshwater reels that supposedly were carefully rinsed with fresh water and sprayed with a protective oil. The corrosion pretty much ruins the reels within a couple of months. I would be very careful about running a freshwater motor in saltwater. Maybe someone else has better information.
Supposedly using it in saltwater wears one the anodes, and the ones in saltwater use something more appropriate.
I will say this, I know enough folks that use freshwater trolling motors in saltwater and still get a couple years use out of them. If you are a once-a-month or so kinda fisherman, it’s probably going to be just fine. Clean it well and probably rinse it well and soak it overnight in some fresh water if you can. Or just put your boat in a freshwater lake/river/pond and kick around for a little bit.
Had a minn kota endura fresh water trolling motor 55 lb thrust 12v last 4 years with regular saltwater use before it conked out on me.
strip…strip…FISH ON!
I’ve got a Minn Kota fresh water motor that came on a boat I bought. I don’t like it because it has the foot control and clutters the deck. I’m looking forward to it crapping out so I can get a new saltwater model. Use it in saltwater all the time, at least once a week and several times a week during the summer. Been over a year and it is still hanging in there. If it doesn’t die by Christmas 2013 then I’m going to buy a SW model anyway.
In the past I used Motorguide foot controlled motors on my boat. I fish both fresh and salt water. They lasted about 2 years on average with most of problems occuring from corrosion in the foot control unit. I probably couuld have extended this life somewhat with some regualar maintenance. For the past 10 years I have been using a Minn Kota Hand control 12/55 lb thrust. I replaced the seals one time as maintenance but have never had a problem. I feel it is well worth the price difference.
most all of the parts on the minnkota are the same salt to fresh
the salt motors have more heatshrink on the connectors, but if you look up a part diagram of both motors (matching salt vs fresh) almost all the parts are the same, except the colors.
with a little care you should not have an issue with using the motor in saltwater.
if you bought a new one i would get the saltwater
Thanks for the input everyone.
Been using an evinrude trolling motor on my little duracraft that I ordered from Cabelas on sale 6 yrs ago with the pain in the posterior foot petal and it looks like the dickens but still works fine as of yesterday.I fish in this little boat several times a week in saltwater when the trout are biting. I’m working toward puttin a new state of the art minn kota on the Mckee or Sea Hunt when I get everthing else fixed on them. I beleive inshore or the close reefs they are priceless!
You can’t catch fish on a dry line
quote:
Originally posted by chris Vmost all of the parts on the minnkota are the same salt to fresh
the salt motors have more heatshrink on the connectors, but if you look up a part diagram of both motors (matching salt vs fresh) almost all the parts are the same, except the colors.
with a little care you should not have an issue with using the motor in saltwater.
if you bought a new one i would get the saltwaterwww.teamcharlestonmarine.com
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Guy from Minn Kota said the same thing…had one on my Mckee that was off/on salt for 4 years and worked fine when I sold with the boat.