What thrust level in a electric tolling motor do I need for a 14' aluminum boat?
Are you fishing rivers or into high wind?
12v or 24v system?
No rivers and maybe light wind.
I just went through this. I have a 14' aluminum lund with a plywood floor.
I went with a transom mount minn kota 55 lb thrust. (endura 55)
Sadly I cannot tell you how well it works yet as I haven't had time to try it on a nearby "electric or paddle only" lake I have in mind for it.
You should be fine with anything 40lbs and up I believe. We have a 55lb on the pontoon and it is plenty and I have an 80lb on the Walleye boat but it is very heavy and something bigger would be nice in the river.
Check out Dick's and Walmart, they were both closing them out and had some pretty good deals.
I have a 30, but very rarely use it, but it has been sufficient for my use so far, on a Lowe 1448M. I usually just use the gas engine.
Sometimes, when I want to get across a shallow flat to one of the creeks that feed the James, I'll raise my gas engine and use the trolling motor, but the gas engine has a shallow-water setting that generally does what I want.
My minkota 40# moves my Xpress 1440 very well! In fact, it moves the aluminum better and faster than my 30# moves my canoe.
Dan
I was using a 36# on a fiberglass Gheenoe, but a bigger motor would have been alright with me. The advice on 55lb seems pretty good to me. I don't think it matters that much. The higher the thrust, the faster the battery wears down. If you wanted speed, you'd probably use a gas motor, unless their use was restricted.
Whichever electric you choose, I would go with an AGM battery. They cost more, but they seem to last A LOT longer. I was able to get multiple trips out of one charge and I was using the smallest Cabelas brand AGM they sold. I was amazed at the battery life I was getting.
That is some good info, TomSmith. Thanks.
So Ringman
What is the plan for the boat/motor, what will work on a small lake of downstream on a slow moving river will only get you into trouble on some waters.
14 foot boat on open water in a wind can provide some entertainment with a smaller electric.
I use a 30 lb thrust Minn Kota mounted almost amidshp on my 15" canoe The handle/control head is reversed and it makes it much easier to bring out of the water in the shallows. I am sure mounting it this ay on the canoe makes it less efficient ( bet there are some experts on thrust and vectors that could calculate and explain it).
I motor and fish upstream in a small river ( pool and shoals) for half a day then use it only for positioning on the float back in the afternoon.
I think the difference in power with a 40 lb motor would be useful, but I'm too CHEAP to buy one to find out.
Works pretty well as it is, but will not overcome current in some areas with just me in the canoe. Some spots I can overcome the current with the addition of paddle power and others I have to get out and drag the rig against the current ( hence my edict always go upstream against the current and float back to the vehicle).
See if you can borrow one first and go from there after testing.
I have a Motor Guide 55# bow mount on my 19' Deep V. 55# should be ok for you. FWIW, if I were to buy a new trolling motor, it would be a Minn Kota. Good luck.
I've got a 19' fiberglass fishnski. It's got a 50 lb. Minn Kota Maxxum. We fish some pretty big lakes-Truman, Stockton, Table Rock. Seems big enough.
The electric motors used today are huge compared to those of my youth. Lots of the old ones had to have been about 12 lbs. or so. A 20 lber was big back when Shakespeares and Silvertrols ruled.
I'd think that a 30 lber would be plenty.
Ive got a 40 Lb. Minnkota on a bass tracker v17 and it will drag the ol boat anywhere I want her to go here in NE Kansas other than maybe the Missouri river might be a lil too tuff.
I'd consider any of those transom mounted minn kotas with at least 45 ft/lb of thrust. The prices are so low why not get more power than you usually need. A sudden burst with max thrust can be very useful at times. I really like a variable speed as opposed to a 5 speed. Get a model that has the optimizer, it will extend battery life significantly.
Here is a reasonably priced unit with maximizer, the Traxxis
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/trolling_motors/freshwater_transom_mount/traxxis.aspx
I had a endura 38# on a 16 ft Lowe Sea Nymph and it moved it just fine 4-5 miles a hour tops.
BBJ