Trolling Motor Advice

pmueller	Sorry you're reading this and not fishing. I'm looking for advice for a trolling motor to use primarily as a back-up in case the main motor fails (ok, I could stand and wave, blow horns, and get the wife to row...but I figure a motor is cheaper than a marriage counselor and it's a lot easier to justify as a safety item, than a fishing aid). So, you get the picture; engine fails, pull trolling motor out from side storage, attach to transom, clip to battery, away we go....heck, may as well fish on the way back! Anyway, the boat's a 17' runabout, boat and motor with people/stuff might be around 2100#s. I'm mostly in a large, relatively shallow lake that can get windy with 2'+ chop (Houghton Lake for you Michigan folks). What thrust would you recommend? I've read everything from get the most you can afford, to around 40# should be enough. Since you're not fishing, you may as well give me your opinion. Thanks.	2002-07-18
pmueller	Bump ^	2002-08-22
djohns19	PJ57, Know Houghton well. Anyway, you can get 12 volt troll. motors in the 50# thrust range. I wouldn't go with a 24 volt if you are going to use it as a backup. Transom mounts are a lot cheaper too. I'm a Minn Kota man. Never had a moments trouble with any of them.	2002-08-22
J.B. Cornwell	Ahoy, PJ57. I, too, am a Minn Kota user and like DJohns19 I have never had a moment of trouble with them. However, as a backup to get you home, maybe in a blow, I would get a 1.5 to 3hp outboard. Much more thrust and doesn't need a battery. Good luck.	2002-08-22
sfels	Here on Pend Orielle most folks use gasoline motors for trolling. I have a 20ft. Trophy and it's got an 8hp Tohatsu for trolling which does just fine. Our lake's deep (1200ft) and we get some good wave action and wind. My father-in-law has a 25ft boat and he trolls with a 9.9hp Tohatsu. One nice thing about a gasoline motor is you don't have to worry about the battery and if you have it hooked to a separate fuel tank you always have gas too.	2002-08-23
FISH'N101	Howdee, I too am a Minn Kota boater 50lb thrust, but would strongly suggest a gas motor backup. I have a 16' Crestliner with 9.9 Merc as backup. Before I got the Merc I had motor problems ( I fish big water) and had to use my 50lb thrust motor to get me back while a storm was blowing in. It was very tough getting back even using the highest speed setting to make headway coming home. A trip that would normally take about 10 minutes took an hour.... The Minn Kota works great & use it all the time but for fishing. Big lake backup is too much to ask it to do. When it comes to safe error on the side of safety. Good Luck.......	2002-08-27

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