I am looking at getting a used(on a student budget) bow mount trolling motor for my 17ft Carolina skiff I purchased a few months ago. It had an older motorguide 45 pound on it that never worked right. The boat will be used in lake murray mostly and brought to the coast every now and then. What size would be best for the boat? And what models would be good to look for?
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
55 lb should do ok and still use only one battery. 70+ would be better for high current situations but will recquire a 24 volt motor. ie 2 separate batts for the trolling motor. This adds more weight and takes up room, depending on how the boat is set up
I had the same boat with a 55# 12 volt
only issue I ever had was fishing in the main channel of the stono river on a full moon outgoing tide.
I had to run wide open to just stay still
ideal setup would be a 24volt 80#, but then you need 2 batteries
I was thinking a 55 to keep it down to one battery, but if the right deal comes up I would go to 24 volt since I have room under the front deck.
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
I just have a 55# on my 19’ ( x8’) and it does fine on the lake. Even inshore it does OK most of the time. I have been in creeks were it was hard to head into the current at times, but it’s still plenty strong enough to point into the current and slow me down enough to work a grass line.
For what you are looking to do, I would also agree that you should go with the 55# and single battery.
'07 198 DLX Carolina Skiff
FS90 Suzuki
I have a guy that has a bow mount motorguide that he said he thinks is a 40 pound but is going going to check and get back with me. Do yall think this would work on my boat? It is a 1765 model. Price is a big thing to me since I am on a college student budget.
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
I have a J16 with the bow mount 55, never had a problem in fresh or salt! Have a Ipilot 80 on 23’ and love that also!
Any major differences in hand control Minn Kota riptides or Motorguide great whites?
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
I have no experience with Minn Kota. I have a 2009 MotorGuide Varimax bow mount hand control 12 volt 55# on a 21ft. I only fish salt water near Beaufort. I cannot run against a ripping tide, but other than that it has plenty of power for my 21ft. It runs all day on one 12v battery. I have had a fair amount of minor issues with the handle. I had to tape the two parts of the handle together to keep them from coming apart. I have a post on the boats & motors section now about a broke speed controller shaft inside the head. Also, the head plastic has come cracks, but the motor still works OK. Other than the handle, the motor seems well built and seems to put out more power than its rating.
spec
1980 Skandia 21 w/ '93 JohnRude 150 gas drinker
Iv’e had both but would not go with anything but the MK!