|
|
| Does anyone have the Minnkota em's that are mounted on you big motors? How would you compare them to front mount trollers? Pro's? Con's? Costs? |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 53
| One word AWESOME!!!! I have an em 101 on my 620 225 opti and love it. |
|
| |
|
| I love mine. Wouldn't be without it.
BUT...you should think of them as a motor with a different purpose that your front trolling motor. The front will always be more precise when working structure, or jigging. The MK autopilots on the front do a nice job of keeping you going in the same direction.
But, for open water trolling (most of what I do), the EMs are hard to beat. Quiet, powerful, and obviously fuel efficient! I have a 9.9 back there that used to be my main trolling motor, but I hardly ever start it anymore. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 580
Location: Green Bay, WI | I love mine too. I have an 80lb on my 19' Ranger.
Pros: I don't have to mess around deploying and retracting the bow mount. I can take off and not worry about breaking or bending the bow mount shaft.
Con: My trails aren't as straight as an AP.
Cost ? I don't know the difference between the EM and a Power Drive with AP, but the EM has to be cheaper than a Tervora(sp?).
For me there wasn't a choice because I like my Maxxum on the bow for vertical jigging and working structure.
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 3899
| The biggest advantage of the EM vs AP on the bow? When the wind is pushing you too fast, you can put the EM in reverse to slow down, and keep the boat pointed in the righ direction.. Can't do that with a bowmount. Gotta use socks, and put the big motor in gear.
Straight trails are not necessarily a good thing. I'm con\stantly changing the direction of my Terrova AP. That changes speed of the boards/baits.
Edited by Shep 7/14/2008 3:32 PM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 80
Location: Lake Erie | I have the 101 36V on my 621 mounted on a 250 pro xs, I love the EM, no complaints whatsoever, I also have a terrova with AP but alot of times I like to steer with the wheel for structure fishing and getting dead on my marks and find it a little easier at times as well as night fishing. I use both of them, the EM is 800 cheaper than a comparable Terrova, I think I paid 850 for my EM a terrova in a 101 with US2 and Ap is 1600. It does work well in reverse as well. |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 344
Location: Manitowoc WI | Ive been in a split decision if i should buy a new kicker or a em electric. How often or how much will an EM take the place of the kicker,? I was thinking if you needed an extra boost, your main motor is just a finger stroke away and you dont need to worry about pulling a shaft up, lifting and ratching a kicker and or removing a steering bar. They seem slick for price, better then a kicker..
I defin would only consider a 24v or 36v. i have an 18ft boat, anyone recommend a minimum thrust i would need? |
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 1406
| I don't have one but been in a few boats with them, they work great in "calmer" shallow waters where noise might be an issue but, I think that until they come up with a way to deploy them so they are in the water more than not, your better off with a kicker and a bow mount.
Good Luck
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 3899
| I've been on Erie and Green Bay with them in some big waves, and they worked great. Never had an issue with them coming out of the water anymore than a kicker does. Keep the big motor trimmed all the way down, and the prop would be about the same depth as your kicker.
I know some guys who will pull cranks with their EM, and the batteries last a long time. Now, that is going with the wind, and maybe going up to 2 MPH. These are the 36V models they have. 101 pound, I think, on 621 Rangers.
Edited by Shep 7/16/2008 10:50 AM
|
|
| |
|
Member
Posts: 580
Location: Green Bay, WI | Bud,
If you have room for the extra battery, I'd go with the 101. If I had room for four batteries that's what I'd have. That is a hidden cost of the EM vs. a gas kicker, the battery cost and the on-board charger cost.
Tyee,
Deploy which one, the EM? If you mean on windy days it will "spin" out of the water when the bow drops off a wave - that is true. I just look at it as a way to slow down. |
|
| |
