Trolling motor power

Hello all,

I have a Skeeter ZX225 which is a 20ft boat. I purchased this boat used
and it had an older 67lb Motorguide on it. This motor will not move the
boat in windy conditions.

I want to stay with Motorguide so I don't have to drill new holes for
the mount. From talking to a salesperson, they tell me the 82lb pro
series should be good enough to move my boat around. The question is,
will I be happy with this, Or should I go 36 volts to the 109lb version?

-Bennett

"bleve" wrote in message
...
Hello all,

I have a Skeeter ZX225 which is a 20ft boat. I purchased this boat used
and it had an older 67lb Motorguide on it. This motor will not move the
boat in windy conditions.

I want to stay with Motorguide so I don't have to drill new holes for the
mount. From talking to a salesperson, they tell me the 82lb pro series
should be good enough to move my boat around. The question is, will I be
happy with this, Or should I go 36 volts to the 109lb version?

-Bennett

Opinions will vary. I have a 109 digital tour edition on my 20' Basscat and
I think its the right motor for the boat.

I run an 82 on my little 16' aluminum boat.


--
Bob La Londe
Fishing Arizona & The Colorado River
Fishing Forums & Contests
http://www.YumaBassMan.com



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

bleve wrote:
Hello all,

I have a Skeeter ZX225 which is a 20ft boat. I purchased this boat used
and it had an older 67lb Motorguide on it. This motor will not move the
boat in windy conditions.

I want to stay with Motorguide so I don't have to drill new holes for
the mount. From talking to a salesperson, they tell me the 82lb pro
series should be good enough to move my boat around. The question is,
will I be happy with this, Or should I go 36 volts to the 109lb version?

-Bennett

I have a Skeeter 225 with a Yamaha 225 on it, and the Tour Guide 82
pound thrust. Never needed a stronger motor, but I don't fish rivers.
If I fished flowing water I would go to the 109 but if I can keep the
motor in the water it will hold the boat.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

Ronnie wrote:
bleve wrote:
Hello all,

I have a Skeeter ZX225 which is a 20ft boat. I purchased this boat used
and it had an older 67lb Motorguide on it. This motor will not move the
boat in windy conditions.

I want to stay with Motorguide so I don't have to drill new holes for
the mount. From talking to a salesperson, they tell me the 82lb pro
series should be good enough to move my boat around. The question is,
will I be happy with this, Or should I go 36 volts to the 109lb version?

-Bennett

I have a Skeeter 225 with a Yamaha 225 on it, and the Tour Guide 82
pound thrust. Never needed a stronger motor, but I don't fish rivers.
If I fished flowing water I would go to the 109 but if I can keep the
motor in the water it will hold the boat.

Thanks Ronnie. This is what I thought as well. I did not want to add
another battery and I don't fish rivers. There is some running water on
Big Lake Toho that I fish, but it is not rushing water like a river
would have. Do you feel the motor is adequate in strong wind gusts over
10mph? As others had pointed out in this thread, the 109 would be
plenty of power for all conditions. Though I am only really concerned
about wind. If the 82lb works well in the wind for you, then I would
probably be happy with it.

-Bennett

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

"bleve" wrote in message

As others had pointed out in this thread, the 109 would be plenty of power
for all conditions.

The 109 is plenty of power for most conditions. It is NOT plenty of power
for all conditions. ALWAYS be ready to jump on the big motor to get out of
a bad situation. If its that bad don't even take the time to secure any
gear or store the TM. Just get on the big motor and move the boat.

There are good brush covered banks that I like to flip where my 109 on its
highest setting will not hold against the current much less pull against it.
I have to start upstream and backslide it using the TM to slow my drift.
There are some rockwalls I like to fish for small mouth where the 109 just
sort guides the boat at best.

I always encourage people to go bigger on their TM but then I fish a river
system where half the time we are pulling our biggest bags out of the brush
along the main river channel. I also run group 31 batteries only. I need
them.

I really think an 82 is barely adequate on a 20' boat.

All that being said, I wonder about your 67 pound motor. The reason I
wonder is because my first bass boat was a used 18' Skeeter Starfire and it
came with a dual voltage 50lb Evinrude on it. I could not pull the current
with it at all. Not even a controlled backslide most places. It was
adequate in almost all other conditions. It would hold against light wind.
Certainly against winds that were only blowing upto 10mph. Progress would
be slow on high but it would hold against a 10MPH wind. I am guessing that
either your batteries are weak, your motor is weaker than claimed (on the
sticker), or the wind is stronger than you are estimating.

As to adding another battery. I know how a lot of the local guys setup
their boats. About half are only running three batteries total for their
36V systems. They use their cranking battery as the ground battery for
their trolling motor. They also run three group 31 deep cycle marine
batteries. That is how my boat is setup, and I can run all day long. There
are a couple things I do that seem to improve things. About every three
months I switch which battery is my cranking battery. About every fourth or
fifth trip out I break out three little trickle chargers instead of using my
onboard charger. I check my batteries and keep them topped off atleast as
often as I use the trickle chargers, and I disconnect one of the jumpers
between betteries before charging.

I use my batteries very very hard sometimes having to fish two days in a row
without recharging. Now at a year out I would be skeptical about running
two days in a row hard, but they are still strong after a full day in the
current. They are a year old and working ok. I am using cheap batteries by
the way right now. Most of the guys I know are using Trojans, and some of
them are getting as much as three years of hard use out of them following
similar methods as I am.


--
Bob La Londe
Fishing Arizona & The Colorado River
Fishing Forums & Contests
http://www.YumaBassMan.com





--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

Bob La Londe wrote:
"bleve" wrote in message

As others had pointed out in this thread, the 109 would be plenty of power
for all conditions.

The 109 is plenty of power for most conditions. It is NOT plenty of power
for all conditions. ALWAYS be ready to jump on the big motor to get out of
a bad situation. If its that bad don't even take the time to secure any
gear or store the TM. Just get on the big motor and move the boat.

Bob, I am wondering if the 109 would be overkill on the lakes here in
central Florida?

There are good brush covered banks that I like to flip where my 109 on its
highest setting will not hold against the current much less pull against it.
I have to start upstream and backslide it using the TM to slow my drift.
There are some rockwalls I like to fish for small mouth where the 109 just
sort guides the boat at best.

I always encourage people to go bigger on their TM but then I fish a river
system where half the time we are pulling our biggest bags out of the brush
along the main river channel. I also run group 31 batteries only. I need
them.

This is the rule I've been hearing as well. Go as big as possible.

I really think an 82 is barely adequate on a 20' boat.

Not according to the Motorguide rep that I talked to while visiting a
shop in Lakeland Fl. He thought the 109 would be overkill for a 20'
boat and this is why I was querying the group here.

All that being said, I wonder about your 67 pound motor. The reason I
wonder is because my first bass boat was a used 18' Skeeter Starfire and it
came with a dual voltage 50lb Evinrude on it. I could not pull the current
with it at all. Not even a controlled backslide most places. It was
adequate in almost all other conditions. It would hold against light wind.
Certainly against winds that were only blowing upto 10mph. Progress would
be slow on high but it would hold against a 10MPH wind. I am guessing that
either your batteries are weak, your motor is weaker than claimed (on the
sticker), or the wind is stronger than you are estimating.

The 67lb moved the boat well until there was any wind at all. I use two
Optimax blue's with 850mca for the trolling motor. They are fairly
new so I don't think they would be bad.

As to adding another battery. I know how a lot of the local guys setup
their boats. About half are only running three batteries total for their
36V systems. They use their cranking battery as the ground battery for
their trolling motor. They also run three group 31 deep cycle marine
batteries. That is how my boat is setup, and I can run all day long. There
are a couple things I do that seem to improve things. About every three
months I switch which battery is my cranking battery. About every fourth or
fifth trip out I break out three little trickle chargers instead of using my
onboard charger. I check my batteries and keep them topped off atleast as
often as I use the trickle chargers, and I disconnect one of the jumpers
between betteries before charging.

This is something that I had not considered. I think that this is quite
feasible and may just go this route after all. So I am guessing you
setup something like this....

-----+ ---- positive to TM
| |
| |
-----
-----+
| |
| |
-----
-----+ ---- positive to crank
| |
| |
----- ---- netative to TM and crank



I use my batteries very very hard sometimes having to fish two days in a row
without recharging. Now at a year out I would be skeptical about running
two days in a row hard, but they are still strong after a full day in the
current. They are a year old and working ok. I am using cheap batteries by
the way right now. Most of the guys I know are using Trojans, and some of
them are getting as much as three years of hard use out of them following
similar methods as I am.

"bleve" wrote in message

This is something that I had not considered. I think that this is quite
feasible and may just go this route after all. So I am guessing you setup
something like this....

-----+ ---- positive to TM
| |
| |
-----
-----+
| |
| |
-----
-----+ ---- positive to crank & acc
| | | |
----- ---- netative to TM and crank & acc


Yep. Here is another picture.
http://www.yumabassman.com/bulletinb...opic.php?t=445

Good luck. If you really never deal with current and 10MPH is the worst
wind you deal with the 82 may be adequate, but remember if you get the 109
that doesn't mean you have to run at max. Only when you need it.


--
Bob La Londe
Fishing Arizona & The Colorado River
Fishing Forums & Contests
http://www.YumaBassMan.com



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

"bleve" wrote in message SNIP

Bob, I am wondering if the 109 would be overkill on the lakes here in
central Florida?

***I've fished Florida lakes in the past. It's good to have the added power
when chopping through heavy weeds.

SNIP

I always encourage people to go bigger on their TM but then I fish a
river system where half the time we are pulling our biggest bags out of
the brush along the main river channel. I also run group 31 batteries
only. I need them.

This is the rule I've been hearing as well. Go as big as possible.

***I fish primarily on inland lakes, but on occasion I do fish rivers. Even
though it might be overkill, I prefer to have more power than needed. It's
always been my thinking that "it's better to have the power and not need it,
than to need the power and not have it."


I really think an 82 is barely adequate on a 20' boat.

Not according to the Motorguide rep that I talked to while visiting a shop
in Lakeland Fl. He thought the 109 would be overkill for a 20' boat and
this is why I was querying the group here.

***See above. Sure, now you might only fish inland lakes in 10 mph winds,
but what about days when the fish are really hammering, only it's extremely
windy and the fish are only hitting on a windblown point? Are you ready to
call it a day because your trolling motor won't handle it? What about the
possibility of taking the boat on vacation and fishing a river?

Plus, as someone has already said, you don't have to run it on high if you
don't want (or need) to. I've found I get better battery life using a
larger than needed motor at a slower speed than using a smaller motor and
needing to increase the speed to maintain boat control.

I also like to use my trolling motor to move quickly from one spot to the
next if the distance isn't too great. I have a 36 volt, 109 lb. thrust
MotorGuide, powered by three Type 31 Interstate batteries. One is the
cranking battery too. With my 20'3", 8'6" beamed FastCat, the trolling
motor will pull me and two clients at 4.3 mph gps speed! It makes it simple
to shoot to a different fishing area quickly without firing up the outboard.

I say if you have the room for either a 4th battery (three deep cycle and a
starting) or willing to install 3 type 31 batteries, do it and go with the
larger system. You won't regret it, I haven't!
--
Steve @ OutdoorFrontiers
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com
G & S Guide Service and Custom Rods
http://www.herefishyfishy.com

bleve wrote:
Ronnie wrote:
bleve wrote:
Hello all,

I have a Skeeter ZX225 which is a 20ft boat. I purchased this boat used
and it had an older 67lb Motorguide on it. This motor will not move the
boat in windy conditions.

I want to stay with Motorguide so I don't have to drill new holes for
the mount. From talking to a salesperson, they tell me the 82lb pro
series should be good enough to move my boat around. The question is,
will I be happy with this, Or should I go 36 volts to the 109lb version?

-Bennett

I have a Skeeter 225 with a Yamaha 225 on it, and the Tour Guide 82
pound thrust. Never needed a stronger motor, but I don't fish rivers.
If I fished flowing water I would go to the 109 but if I can keep the
motor in the water it will hold the boat.

Thanks Ronnie. This is what I thought as well. I did not want to add
another battery and I don't fish rivers. There is some running water on
Big Lake Toho that I fish, but it is not rushing water like a river
would have. Do you feel the motor is adequate in strong wind gusts over
10mph? As others had pointed out in this thread, the 109 would be
plenty of power for all conditions. Though I am only really concerned
about wind. If the 82lb works well in the wind for you, then I would
probably be happy with it.

-Bennett

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com


I have had this outfit two years next spring and have been in wind
twice that I could not move against but could hold in place. Both
times the waves were bad enough that the front of the boat would dip
water every 3rd wave or so. Had the motor down as far as it would go
but it still came out of the water a good bit, and that is what kept me
from being able to make progress. All I could do is hold in place. I
don't think a stronger motor would have helped much those two times.

If your boat is set up like mine with a three bank charger a 3rd
battery would be a squeeze.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com

make that three years - time really flies!
Ronnie

Ronnie wrote:
bleve wrote:
Ronnie wrote:
bleve wrote:
Hello all,

I have a Skeeter ZX225 which is a 20ft boat. I purchased this boat used
and it had an older 67lb Motorguide on it. This motor will not move the
boat in windy conditions.

I want to stay with Motorguide so I don't have to drill new holes for
the mount. From talking to a salesperson, they tell me the 82lb pro
series should be good enough to move my boat around. The question is,
will I be happy with this, Or should I go 36 volts to the 109lb version?

-Bennett

I have a Skeeter 225 with a Yamaha 225 on it, and the Tour Guide 82
pound thrust. Never needed a stronger motor, but I don't fish rivers.
If I fished flowing water I would go to the 109 but if I can keep the
motor in the water it will hold the boat.

Thanks Ronnie. This is what I thought as well. I did not want to add
another battery and I don't fish rivers. There is some running water on
Big Lake Toho that I fish, but it is not rushing water like a river
would have. Do you feel the motor is adequate in strong wind gusts over
10mph? As others had pointed out in this thread, the 109 would be
plenty of power for all conditions. Though I am only really concerned
about wind. If the 82lb works well in the wind for you, then I would
probably be happy with it.

-Bennett

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com


I have had this outfit two years next spring and have been in wind
twice that I could not move against but could hold in place. Both
times the waves were bad enough that the front of the boat would dip
water every 3rd wave or so. Had the motor down as far as it would go
but it still came out of the water a good bit, and that is what kept me
from being able to make progress. All I could do is hold in place. I
don't think a stronger motor would have helped much those two times.

If your boat is set up like mine with a three bank charger a 3rd
battery would be a squeeze.

Ronnie

http://fishing.about.com