Trolling Motors: How necessary are they?

Trolling Motors: How necessary are they?


Trolling Motors: How necessary are they?

By Iain Loveman

Whether you are working structure, trying to position your boat or just trolling along, a trolling motor is essential to have. I am happy to report that the selection of trolling motors available has grown considerably over the years.

You can now choose from a variety of sizes and styles. Recommended brands of trolling motors include Minn Kota
and Motorguide.

Trolling motors come in electric and wireless whatever your preference. Whatever you choose you can be sure it will be your most valued piece of boating equipment.

When buying a trolling motor it is important to examine all the aspects such as size, shaft length, power, props, bow or transom mount and what brand you want to buy. All of these factors have been outlined below.

Size

It would not be beneficial to you if you had an undersized trolling motor. Which size you will need is determined by a few different factors. For example, let’s look at a fiberglass boat and an aluminum boat that are the same size.

If you have the fiberglass boat, you will probably need an electric motor with 60 pounds of thrust, as fiberglass boats are heavier than aluminum. An aluminum boat would probably only need 50 pounds of thrust.

You would also need to consider which type of fishing you will be doing. If you are fishing in a river with a strong current or in high winds you will want a bigger, stronger motor to help fight the current.

Shaft length

The length of the shaft on your electric motor is very important to consider. If it is too short, your propeller will be bouncing in and out of the water, which is extremely detrimental as it not only wrecks your motor, you also lose boat control. So even though a motor with a longer shaft is more difficult to lift, it is advantageous to have.

You also need to consider how high the bow of your boat will be above water. If it sits close to the water, a shorter shaft length is all that is necessary, but if it is going to sit high above the water, a longer shaft is necessary.

Power

The biggest decision to make concerning the power of your trolling motor is whether to get the 12 volts or the 24 volts. The difference between the two is the 12 volt uses one deep cycle battery and the 24 volt uses two. If it were me, I would choose the 24 volt model as it will last twice as long, which helps a lot especially if you are fishing in a tournament, you don’t want to lose power halfway through.
Props

Trolling motor propellers come in two, three, or four blade models. If you are fishing deep, open water, a two blade propeller would probably be sufficient. Keep in mind though that this model does not do so well in weeded areas as the weeds will wrap around the blades and prevent them from turning. This will really disrupt your fishing day if you have to constantly untangle the motor from the weeds.

The solution would be to have a three or four blade propeller as it will eat right through the weeds. Nothing will slow you down with this propeller. Keep in mind that even though this type of propeller does not have the same power as a two blade propeller, you can fish anywhere you’d like and not get disrupted.

So when asked if a trolling motor is absolutely necessary, the answer is yes. No boat should be without one as it is one of the most valuable pieces of boating equipment one can have.

Bow Mount or Transom Mount

Choosing between a bow mount or a transom mount is really up to your preference. If you are like me and like to fish from the front of your boat, a bow mount would be beneficial to use, but if you are just trolling along slowly and quietly, a transom mount might be a better choice.

Whatever your preference, just make sure that your fish finder is handy as seeing the structure you are fishing is vital.

Brands to Consider

As I mentioned above, the top two brands to use are Minn Kota and Motorguide. The only real difference that needs comparison with these two brands is the foot pedal. “Test driving” these two models would be beneficial for you as the foot pedal is a vital part of the trolling motor. It is important to be comfortable when using your motor.

Not Just Fishing !
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