For years professional bass anglers have relied on electric trolling motors to help them catch more fish, and it was only a matter of time before "electrics" found their way to the salt. Today's ultra-quiet yet powerful trolling motors are great when a stealthy approach is needed to keep from spooking fish or when precise maneuvering is called for, such as when working a quiet creek, marsh bank, sand flat or rock pile. But the range of applications extends well past the inshore realm, to the point where electric motors are even being used offshore to fish along weed lines and around skittish bait pods.
The use of trolling motors in salt water got a big jumpstart when guides began using them to pursue giant tarpon in the waters off Homosassa, Florida, during the spring migration. Suddenly, a new set of criteria was needed as trolling motors made the transition from fresh water to a harsh marine environment where larger, heavier boats were used. The tarpon guides quickly went from a single bow-mounted motor to twins mounted on the transom or off the poling towers of their skiffs to chase the schools in the deeper water of the Gulf, where a pushpole was useless. The technological advancements of the equipment increased rapidly, encompassing everything from the materials used in motor construction to power sources. Mounting systems and remote operation also evolved to meet the new criteria.
Captain Sam Heaton, Field Promotions Manager for Minn Kota, is as knowledgeable as anyone when it comes to understanding the application demands, setup criteria, and use of trolling motors. He fishes regularly and spends a lot of time with fishermen who use electrics, all of which gives him a unique perspective on the subject. I recently sat down with Heaton one morning and received a thorough dissertation on trolling motors. Believe me, his enthusiasm is contagious.
Basically, Heaton breaks it down into six criteria that take you from "what to look for" to "how to apply it to your boat." With careful review and consideration of these criteria, you'll be able to determine what equipment you need and how best to apply it to your situation.
Batteries and Voltage
The first thing to consider is the design and weight of your boat and how much voltage you'll need. For instance, a typical flats boat of around 1,500 pounds generally requires a 24-volt system, consisting of two 12-volt batteries joined in a series. A 2,500-pound bay boat would need a 36-volt system with three 12-volt batteries joined in a series. However, a lightweight jonboat would only require a single-battery, 12-volt system.
The second consideration is battery capacity. The analogy Heaton uses is that a battery is like a gas tank - in other words, the power needs to be used economically and then replenished. Usable battery capacity is based on the thrust of the trolling motor, boat weight, amp draw and how long the motor will be used at certain speeds. For example, if you own a heavy 19-foot bay boat and drive the motor at full speed into the wind for the majority of the fishing day, you need to have plenty of battery power.
Here is where technology can help you get the most from your batteries. Minn Kota manufactures its larger fresh water and Riptide salt water series of trolling motors with its Maximizer technology. This technology has been designed to provide up to five times longer run time on a single battery charge compared to conventional speed-coil motors. The Maximizer reduces amp draw by 40 percent by breaking the current to the motor 20,000 times a second, with each break resulting in a power savings. It happens so fast the motor remains unaffected by the interruptions, but those tiny breaks add up to some big savings.
Charging Needs
A multi-stage battery charger is an integral part of any trolling-motor system, as it charges the batteries as needed at the amperage required. Multi-stage chargers charge each battery independently and help prolong battery life. Minn Kota and Guest both offer excellent onboard units designed to keep your batteries in peak condition for maximum power availability. With single-, dual-, triple- or four-bank chargers in ten, 20 or 30 amps, there is a solution for your charging needs based on use and recovery time. I have a Guest 2631 three-bank, 30-amp waterproof charger on my boat to maintain starting and house batteries while on the trailer.
The next issue to review is motor thrust. Thrust is the measure of power (in pounds) that a trolling motor is capable of producing. For instance, if a 55-pound-thrust, 12-volt system moves the boat at 70-percent available power for a certain speed, a 55-pound-thrust, 24-volt system will move the boat using 35-percent available power at the same speed, which means more reserve power.
Mount It Right
How you will use the trolling motor and where you plan to mount it are other considerations. According to Heaton, the first mistake most people make is to misjudge the distance from the top of the boat deck or mounting area to the surface of the water. This is important, because the head of the motor must be at knee height so you can easily steer and control it. Also, the foot of the motor must be fully submerged 12 inches to 18 inches below the surface to reduce cavitation and noise created by water hitting the hull. A rule of thumb here is to take a measurement from the surface of the water to the top of the deck and add a minimum of 18 inches, although 24 inches is preferred, to determine the proper shaft length.
Like any piece of heavy marine equipment, a trolling-motor mount should be through-bolted. A detachable bracket lets you remove the unit when not needed, which provides more flexibility for different seasons and situations. Typically, a mounting plate is through-bolted to the deck and the trolling motor is bolted to the mounting plate. And if you prefer fly fishing and do not want the gear to be in the way of your casting, or if you fish alone, a transom-mounted setup or the popular trim-tab-mounted trolling motors offered by Lenco Marine are other options.
Other considerations are buyer-determined, such as warranty, technology, service and durability. In the meantime, there is no doubt that a trolling motor can add a huge amount of extra territory to your fishing day while giving you a stealthy approach that an outboard just can't match.
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