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New User
Posts: 1
| Noticed alot of guides or pros on this site and I need some trolling motor help on what to buy. I have a short shafted Minn Kota on my 16' Sylvan Pro Fisherman & when I'm trolling on bago for walleyes with any kind of chop on the water, the blades don't stay in the water.
So, looking to buy either a new or used but fairly new 4 stroke kicker motor or a longer shaft descent trolling motor. Don't really want to spend any more than $1000 -$2000. Something good for the money. What are your best opinions on what to buy.....kicker and what kind or how big OR bow mount and what kind & how long of shaft with what kind of thrust. I troll with harnesses and flicker shads. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! Mike |
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Member
Posts: 3899
| 3 Options here.
The least expensive option would be to get a Terrova with iPilot. 60" shaft will keep the prop in he water, 80 LB 24V model would be plenty. You have to go with the wind with this option. S turns will be possible, but no way are you going to turn into anything blowing harder than 3 or 4 mph. Also, you might not get to 2-2.5 mph for any length of time trolling cranks.
So that leaves the Kicker. I'd go with a real kicker. As I see it, you have 3 options. Merc ProKicker, Yamaha or Suzuki. All are dedicated kickers with low gearing, hi thrust props, power tilt, and heavy duty mounting bracketry to take the abuse it's going to see. Don't consider the Etec kicker as it's a just detuned 25HP, and is a very heavy motor.
Kickers will get you good speed control when coupled with a ProTroll, and you can add steering linkage to connect to the main motor. I'd go with a tiller version, but that's just me. It would be less expensive. You would likely need a drift sock or two in certain situations when pulling meat. But that's easy and cheap to do.
3rd option would be an engine mount electric TM. Minn Kota makes a great EM. Awesome for trolling harnesses and cranks. Especially stealthy, and awesome in big seas when big drift socks would otherwise be used to slow you down. Just put the EM in revrese, and you have speed control and direction control. 80 lb should work well on your boat. 101 lb would require an additional TM battery for 36V.
I'm not sure what I would do here, but my next boat will definately have an EM on it.
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Member
Posts: 1314
Location: Menasha, WI | A less expensive version of Shep's first option would be a transom mount 80# Traxxis. About 1/3 the cost of a Terrova. You'd lose little in maneuverability compared to the bow-mount but it would work very well for pulling harnesses all day and cranks for few hours. |
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Member
Posts: 49
| if your trolling motor is in good shape and has enough thrust go to any authorized repair shop they can put a 60 inch shaft on it last time I had it done was under $100 then go by a kicker and ya got both you will find there are times when one works better than the other . |
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Member
Posts: 6
| When figureing fuel for you boat its a 1/3 rule. 1/3 out, and 1/3 back, and most important 1/3 in reserve. Ergo, always get more than you figure you will need. If you figure you can get by with a 60 inch 12 volt, go with the 80 inch 24 volt. It may cost a buck more, but you won't be sorry. |
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