Trolling Motor Upgrade Installation

Trolling Motor Upgrade Installation

By Michael Kilby

n the past, when I thought about fishing gear I was only thinking about reels, rods, soft baits, crank baits - basically hook line and sinkers. But now after I have owned my boat for over a year, I find there is a lot more involved with fishing gear.

I have a 16 foot bass tracker and it is around 20 years old and the original equipment had a 28# foot control trolling motor. This unit worked great but when the wind picked up I would just have to stop fishing or drift fish because I had little control in high winds. So after a lot of consideration I decided to upgrade to a 50# trolling motor.

When I looked at the recommended installation instructions I found that I had more to do then just bolt the unit on to the bow and plug it in. First if you are replacing an existing trolling motor that was installed by the boat manufacturer install the new one in the old location. But if your boat never had a trolling motor installed locate the trolling motor as close to the center of the bow as possible; it's always good to look at another installation before you start. The old trolling motor like I mentioned was 28# and the new 50#, both 12 volts, so the original wiring was not large enough to supply the current the new unit required. So my first job was to mount the new unit; this was the easiest part of the job since I used the same brand of trolling motor - the mounting holes matched. The next step is to run new wiring, in my case 6 gauge to meet the current requirements.

I ran new wire and left the original wire intact because it is good for 30 amps and I may add a power anchor at a later date. But back to running new wire, I was able to fish the line up to the console through a protective conduit; this covered about half of the wire. Because the other half of the wire run would be exposed; a wire wrap was purchased at the local hardware store for very little money to help protect the wire. I also purchased a 1 foot section of plastic tubing to protect the wire passing through the wall of a small compartment at the front of my boat where I mounted the new higher current plug. You can purchase stay cons (wire connectors for your batteries). I found the new plug for the unit is a little costly but a friend suggested that I could use a standard 120 vac plug and receptacle with water proof cover made for outdoor use, I used a 20 amp unit; this has worked with no problems. Also make sure you add the proper size breakers or fuses to protect your investment. A battery switch was also added to my system so all I need to do is turn a switch to use my spare battery; this is definitely worth the 25 to 35 dollars.

Just one more item as a safety note; it's a good practice to always leave the trolling motor unplugged until you have it in the water this protects you, the unit, and your boat from damage.

M. Kilby along with his father are avid fishermen offering quality Trolling Motors [http://www.bluelaketackle.com/trolling-motors-c-84.html] from Blue Lake Tackle, LTD

The best 12 volt electric trolling fishing trolling motors

The best 12 volt electric trolling fishing trolling motors

Electric fishing trolling motors are an essential piece of equipment for the serious fisherman. Whether you fish for Crappie or Bream or any other pan fish or you are a serious tournament Bass fisherman, the piece of equipment you will use most other than your rod and reel will be a fishing trolling motors.

Fishing trolling motors come in all different sizes with different thrust ratings,controls and power ratings. A fishing trolling motors can be purchased from 35 pound thrust for smaller boats all the way up to 100+ pounds for the larger tournament boats. You can get a fishing trolling motors that is hand controlled, foot controlled and even some that are remote controlled. Trolling motors come in 12, 24, 36 and now some are even being manufactured to use 48 volts. The 12 volt variety will be what we will discuss today.

Before deciding which 12 volt fishing trolling motors is best, first you must determine what your needs are in a fishing trolling motors. Are you a Crappie or Cat-fisherman? If so you might not use a fishing trolling motors as much as a Bass fisherman fishing for fun and a Bass fisherman just fishing for fun probably will not have the same requirements from a fishing trolling motors as a tournament fisherman. To get an idea of what products are available a visit to a retailer site like Bass Pro and see just how many choices you have.

There are two main manufacturers of trolling fishing trolling motors and they are Minn Kota and Motor Guide. These two companies have been around many years and are always on the cutting edge of fishing trolling motors technology. There aren't too many differences between the products of these manufacturers but the main one I see is Minn Kota makes a guaranteed unbreakable composite shaft and Motor Guide has stayed with the steel. This is the main reason I have chosen Minn Kota over Motor Guide.

Whether it be a small hand controlled 35 pound thrust transom mounted motor to take you small flat bottom from one hole to the other or a remote controlled 55 pound bow mount to keep your Bass boat where the fish are, choosing the best 12 volt fishing trolling motors is going to be about personal preference. While one brand might have certain things you like the other might have some you can't live without. In the end, the best fishing trolling motors will have to be the one that best fits YOUR needs and can't be dictated by anyone else. A fishing trolling motors for your fishing needs will be a well used piece of equipment that will take care of you for many years to come. Make sure you invest some quality time into shopping all possibilities before you buy one.

Shopping For A fishing trolling motors

Shopping For A fishing trolling motors

Why You Need It

Stealth + Maneuverability = More Fish. That pretty much sums up why you need a fishing trolling motors. Electric trolling fishing trolling motors are a quiet means of propulsion, allowing you to get within casting range without betraying your presence. A trolling motor’s nearly 360-degree mobility also allows you to precisely move the boat into and around tight areas where a regular motor can’t. And by tilting the boat’s primary outdrive upward, a trolling motor will permit access into shallower than normal water. Electric trolling fishing trolling motors also provide a quiet and fuel-free means of trolling. Finally, they are a relatively inexpensive backup should your regular motor cease working. Granted, they’re slow, but it sure beats using an oar.


What You Need To Know

Electric trolling fishing trolling motors rate power by “pounds of thrust,” not horsepower. Some experts advocate 5 pounds of driving force for every 200 pounds of boat and gear. If your selection falls between two power ranges, it’s best to step up, not down. Things to consider when deciding whether to move up to a higher-powered fishing trolling motors include the boat’s weight (is it heavier than other boats of the same length?), number of people who will be boating (will there usually be more than one person on board?), how much stuff will be on board (will you stow a lot of gear?), and conditions in which you’ll be boating (will you use it in a heavy current or areas known to be windy?).


Electric trolling fishing trolling motors are available in 12-, 24- or 36-volt units. The higher the voltage, the longer the motor will perform at maximum thrust. Deep-cycle marine batteries are preferred. You also have a choice between bow or transom mounts. Many people prefer bow mounts because it’s easier to push the lightweight bow around than the transom. A variety of shaft lengths are available, so be sure to get one that gives your prop enough bite without sacrificing your shallow-water access. If you fish in salt water, you should opt for a fishing trolling motors specifically designed for corrosive environments. The most common means of steering are either hand or foot controls. Foot controls give hands-free usage, but have a slower response time and take up extra deck space. A host of features like remote-control autopilot, built-in sonar and battery gauges are also available.

The Final Word

Just as an underpowered, gasoline-engine-powered boat will not perform up to expectations, an underpowered fishing trolling motors will be just as dissatisfactory, so be sure you get enough thrust. And don’t shoot yourself in the foot by scrimping on battery power. If you plan on using your fishing trolling motors
a lot, opt for more high-tech, energy-efficient models.

Tips About Electric fishing trolling motors

Tips About Electric fishing trolling motors

Electricfishing trolling motors are being found more and more often onboard many fishing boats. Boaters are discovering the many benefits electric motors have to offer. Most notable the fact they operate in silence and that they are environmentally friendly. In addition, their popularity is not hurt by the rise in gas prices. These motors do require care that is different from the average gasoline powered motors.

Electric fishing trolling motors operate differently than gas motors, so it is no surprise that they need different care. Electric fishing trolling motors use batteries to supply them with power. This means they have a whole different way of powering up. Any fisherman that has or is buying an electric fishing trolling motors needs to check out the follow list of tips.

- Charging replaces filling with fuel. It may be extremely simple to pour in a little gas to get the motor running, but with electric fishing trolling motors it does not work that way. Electric fishing trolling motors must be charged. They require a battery charger. This can be an onboard piece or a piece that is kept on shore. That is up to the individual fisherman. The batteries are made to be run down and charged often so there is no concern over ruining them. However, the manufactures directions should be followed to ensure the motor batteries are not ruined.

- Always check the motor out before use. Stray fishing lines can easily tangle in the motor and cause major damage. It only takes a brief moment for the damage to be done, but it also only takes a brief moment to look over the engine to prevent that from happening.

- Do everyday maintenance. Like any type of motor an electric motor requires checks and routine maintenance. Parts should be checked to make sure they are secure and in good shape. Fisherman should not assume that electric means no worries. Maintenance is still important.

- The motor should always be supervised when charging. This prevents it from getting turned on accidentally. A motor that is left running can easily overheat and burn out.

- Be friendly to the motor. Electric fishing trolling motors have parts that are kept cool by being under water, so it is important that the fisherman does not run the motor out of the water. It is also important to keep general care in mind by not using the motor is weeds or mud.

These tips offer ways to prolong the life of and protect the electric fishing trolling motors. Fisherman who are using an fishing trolling motor will benefit greatly from following these tips and any instructions offered by the manufacturer.

Electric fishing trolling motors Tips For Big Walleyes

Electric fishing trolling motors Tips For Big Walleyes

Using these electric fishing trolling motors tips to catch big walleyes will give you some great memories while on the water. Let's dive in and look at a few situations where using the fishing trolling motors bow mount motor will make you a better troller.

The first situation happens in shallow water. Big walleyes will be spooked by the noise of a kicker engine running 2 or 3 feet over their heads when you're trolling skinny water. Keep that gas motor shut off and use the bow mount electric to silently slip spinners or crank baits along a prime rocky shoreline. Daytime is good on the stained lakes in spring. But this tactic is deadly at night on your clearer classic natural lakes.

You'll also catch more fish if you use the electric to pull cranks or spinners over the tops of weeds in the summer time. These lakes are clearer watered and heavy recreational boat traffic can really put these fish down. Combining the use of the electric fishing trolling motors along with planer boards will really increase your percentages for swimming baits over weed tops.

Moving out a bit deeper and changing lakes types. Now we're fishing a reservoir with busy contours and those walleyes are hugging the 15 foot edge. Get the gas kicker moving you along just a few tenths shy of the speed you want to maintain. Now, use the electric fishing trolling motors to fine tune your speed and steer the boat. By using a remote control like a co-pilot system you will be able to absolutely stick to any contour on the lake. The kicker is the main power source, but the bow mount electric fishing trolling motors will push the bow instantly giving you unparalleled steering control.

Some anglers simply don't have money in the budget to purchase a gasoline kicker engine. Or many anglers fish smaller walleye lakes where large waves and wind aren't very common. In these cases it can be very effective and peaceful to pull cranks around the lake using the bow mount electric fishing trolling motors. You obviously will not be in a large walleye boat so a 24 volt system will give you ample power for pulling cranks around a lake for long periods of time. Steering is snap if you have a console boat. Simply keep the main engine shut off, and steer using the main motor's skeg as a rudder. This will avoid the sometimes constant adjustments that need to be made by trolling in a fairly straight line. You'll also find it advantageous while using the bow mount fishing trolling motor for trolling, to keep your passes downwind.

Electric fishing trolling motors Tips - Part 2 of 2

Electric fishing trolling motors Tips - Part 2 of 2

Props

Electric fishing trolling motors props typically come in either 2, 3 or 4 blade versions. A 2 blade electric fishing trolling motors prop is made for speed and power. This would be the prop of choice when fishing open water, deep water, and/or big water.

However, a 2 bladed prop does not fare well in the weeds. The weeds will simply get wrapped up around your 2 bladed prop, and will eventually prevent it from spinning. This means you will need to constantly stop fishing, take your electric fishing trolling motors out of the water, clean the weeds off your prop, and then get back to fishing.

Not much fun and definitely not how you want to spend your time especially if you're in a tournament! Besides absorbing your invaluable fishing time, your fishing trolling motor will also be working much harder, trying to turn your prop which is choked by weeds. This will end up using double the amount of battery power, meaning you will run out of power sooner.

A 3 or 4 blade prop will actually eat through weeds, chewing them up along the way. This will allow you to fish the weeds very effectively. Your boat will go where you want it to go, and the prop will remain generally free of weeds allowing you more time to fish.

So although a 3 or 4 blade prop does not have the same power as a 2 blade prop, it gets the nod for fishing weedy areas and typically shallow water lakes or bays.

Bow Mount or Transom Mount

Whatever your preference, bow mount or transom mount, be sure to have a fish finder in close view. It is essential to be able to see the structure you are fishing, as you are moving along with your electric motor... it's actually a must!

Personally, I prefer a bow mounted electric fishing trolling motors as I like to fish form the front of the boat & I find that the boat is easier to control from this position. A bow mounted electric fishing trolling motors also gets the nod if your main use for your electric motor is working structure.

If you are actually using your electric fishing trolling motors to slowly & quietly troll along, then a transom mounted electric fishing trolling motors is ideal for this situation.

Brands and a Key Tip to Consider

I personally use a Motor Guide, but Min Kota also makes a good electric fishing trolling motors. These 2 brands seem to be the top 2 on the market. I would suggest that if you are comparing the 2 brands, pay close attention to the foot pedal.

The foot pedal is the key part of the operation and you will be spending most of your time using the foot pedal. So you will want to look at both models & ask if you can "test drive" them. Select the one you are most comfortable using.

Foot pedal comfort and ease of operation are important factors to consider when choosing an electric fishing trolling motors.

Electric Fishing Trolling Motors Tips - Part 1 of 2

Electric Fishing Trolling Motors Tips - Part 1 of 2

One of the most useful pieces of equipment on any boat is an electric fishing trolling motors. Although they can be used to troll with, their main purpose is for boat positioning, or for working structure.

Size

When looking to buy an electric fishing trolling motors, there are a couple of things to consider. The first of which is size/power. You will want to ensure that your electric fishing trolling motors is not undersized... oversized in this case would be better.

Keep in mind that fiberglass boats are heavier than aluminium. Therefore on a typical 17' ½ foot fibreglass boat, an electric fishing trolling motors with 60 lbs of thrust (or more) would be ideal - but for a 17' ½ foot aluminum boat, 50 lbs of thrust (or more) would do.

Some other factors to consider when deciding on which size electric fishing trolling motors would be best, would be to consider the type of fishing' 'angling you will be doing. If you are using your fishing trolling motor in river conditions with heavy current - or in tidal conditions or heavy wind conditions, you will want a strong fishing trolling motor in order to fight the current.

Shaft Length

Another very important feature to consider is the length of your shaft on your electric fishing trolling motors. If your shaft length is to short, as soon as you coming upon some wind and wavy conditions, your prop will be constantly bouncing in and out of the water, with each wave. (assuming your electric motor is a bow mount)

Not only is this bad for your electric motor (i.e. it is not recommended that your electric motor be operated out of eater) but you will also be loosing boat control. An fishing trolling motor with a longer shaft may be more cumbersome to lift & retrieve, but it sure does have many rewards.

How high the bow of your boat will be above water, must also be taken into account. The bow of a bass boat will sit very close to the water, so a shorter shaft size on your fishing trolling motor may be o.k. Where as a "deep V" boat, like a walleye boat, will sit higher on the water and a long shafted electric fishing trolling motors is almost crucial.

Power

If you have a choice between a 24 volt and 12 volt electric fishing trolling motors, the edge should always go to the 24 volt model. The difference between the 2 models is that the 12 volt model will use 1 deep cycle battery, whereas the 24 volt model will use 2 deep cycle batteries.

The biggest advantage of a 24 volt electric fishing trolling motors besides offering more power, is the simple fact that it will last at least twice as long. There's nothing more frustrating than running out of electric power half way through your day of fishing... especially if you are fishing a tournament!

Until next time, good fortune and good fishing!

Fishing Trolling Motors

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