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I am looking for some input (consumer reports) regarding the cavitation plate mounted electric trolling motor. They are rated for up to 9000 pounds with up to 201 pounds of thrust and they have up to 3 props. I am curious about these. They would make nearly no noise, no fumes, use no gas, no steering links, etc. I troll salmon and steelies starting July. I troll eyes too if I have no drift. I would love some feedback. I have a 23 ft Chapparral with an outboard.
I have one
It's a Navigator (they were sold at Cabelas)
Same company makes the Panther lifts for trolling motors
Mines a 55 thurst pounds 24v on a 18' Amumacraft
Use it all the time trolling. I get about 8 hours out of it
It's great. No noise and can dial in any speed that I what
keeps the hours off the big motor and with gas at 4 bucks it helps
If I had to do it over
I'd go with the 80 thurst pound model
In extreme wind it will not push the boat into the wind
My front trolling motor has no problem (80)
But for most of my trolling I'm a little under half on the speed knob
Thanks Manx. I have also looked on Bass Pro and Cabelas consumer reports. What I am finding is good. I can buy a 2 battery pack with on board charger for about $500. It will full charge the system in 4-6 hours. I found a website (Hodges Marine) that has what I'm looking for (Minn Kota) 160 lb thrust at $900. It would take 2-3 years at gas being $4 a gallon and I would start putting $ back into my pocket. I have to believe the near silent aspect of the electric will put "spooky" fish in my box. When I am in deep water and have my sonar on 50khz. I can litterally see fish sound to the bottom when I run over them. I think I'm sold on the whole idea.
Hey Spoon if you look at a lot of the touring pros boats a lot of these guys are running them on their boats.
Your on the right track
I would go with the Minn Kota as well (they weren't out when I bought mine)
I really don't think you need a 160 thou. Or going that big I'd go with 36V
With my front mount trolling motor (80) I can go over 4 mph
And even thou my boat is a 18' Alum
Dry weight is 1485 so motor, gas, 2 guys and gear I'm around 2,500 pounds
I'm told the rule of thumb is 15 pounds of thrust = 1 hp
I've all ready put 50 hours on the main motor
Without the elec. I'd be at 4 to 5 times as many hours
I take allot of fish straight line trolling over 20 FOW
If there's allot of boats out on the weekend I do have to run the inside boards
So the slient part does help.
Thanks Rebel. I know it is a little newer technology but it seems outstanding. The only side I have seen that some with an I/O don't like, is it creates a spray as the mounting bracket is not completely out of the water when running and some love them but would like a slightly larger model. I love the idea the more I think of it. No gas, no fumes, no external gas cans, no noise, no steering links. I expect I will purchase one and I will keep you posted. Thanks again brother
The main reason I would want the 160 is to fast troll steelhead up to 3.5 mph into the wind if needed. My boat, engine and gas are 5,000 pounds. Add a crew and tackle and we are near 6500. It sounds like you really like yours and you have reaped the benefit of saving on fuel and engine hours. I like it alot. I sure do appreciate the feedback Manx. What speeds are you trolling at and do you need to manuever much with the wheel or does it track straight?
Spoontang,
Right now I'm trolling at 1.6 to 2.0 with crank baits
this spring I was doing 1.2 to 1.4
Mines on a 90 hp Tiller so there's no wheel
But I have a friend that has one on a wheel boat
No problems at all staying straight
I have a 22 foot bayliner trophy and have the 160 lb thrust 2 prob on mine for 5 years. It will move my boat about 1.8 mph but if it is windy it is hard to keep straight. Nine is 24v and when the wind stops I keep on going.
Cost about $1000.00
Hope that helps.
Thanks Bruce. Is that 1.8 max speed or just the speed you troll? I'm sure your boat is comparable to mine. How long does your charge last? When the wind picks up, do you continue under electric, or fire up the main and is it I/O or an outboard? Do you feel you have an advantage fishing over fish high in the water column as you have no noise?Thanks in advance.
I have a minn on my 21 seapro walkaround mounted on my outdrive,i love it.when the water goes flat it is nice to stealthy troll .It does have an advantage when the fish are high and spooky.when waves are 2 foot or less i can troll against the waves max 2.6mph.when the waves kick up i use the minn with the waves and main motor against the waves.Mine is 55# 24 volt older model.batteries last 6-10 hours depending on setting.Its also great if you want a drift and the lake is flat when everyone else is out of luck you are moving and covering the water you want to at the crawl speed perfict fore erie deries and harnesses.
Spoon, your boat is 5K loaded and 6500 with crew? just how big a boy are you?:D I thought about getting a duel prop job for my I/O but I think I'll get auto pilot instead.
Just got back in town. I know it sounds like We are monsters. My fuel tank is 120 gallons. I figure 800 pounds or so for that and 4-5 guys and tackle puts us up there. So how has the fishing been?
Fish are getting smaller but there still hereQuote:
Originally Posted by spoontang
Took my limit on Wen.
And Dad and I took our limit on Fri
Fishing out of Sterling state Park (Brest Bay) both days
The fish are 4-5 miles in front of the bay with the avg. size being 20-23"
Took them Trolling Reef runners deep
Any thing white or gray was the color
Thanks Manx- I love those reef runners. They are worth their weight in gold!
Yes they areQuote:
Originally Posted by spoontang
The hot color has been a new color called Glowby
It's a dark green with speck and a grey belly that glows
Not sure how much it glows? but it works on overcast and bright days as well
Been taking 75% of the fish on it (last 4 or 5 times out)
I just recieved the new Green Ghost (it glows as well)
I'll be trying that out to see if it's glowing part that they like.
I'm gonna get some ASAP. Keep me posted. I'll be posting a video of my steelhead run soon.
Cool.
Going to try for steelhead myself this year
I do have down riggers and dipsy's and between me and my Dad we have 100
or so spoons.
Do they hit cranks as well?
They look like a ball to catch.
Looking forward to seeing the video.
yes. Steelhead hit body baits too as well as meat rigs. It adds to the spread and offers variety to other species too.