04-13-2015, 11:29 PM
[quote boatfisher]Ok here is my dilemma: I have a 12 volt Minn trolling motor that is done in no time on speed five. I am thinking of getting a 24 volt. And dumping my 12. Here is the problem I just watch The old coot (Ralph) on the outdoors show Second time. I am guessing they were using his kicker to troll with because I noticed the trolling motor was up. So do I invest in a new 24 volt trolling motor for longer time. Or do I buy a kicker. if so how big. I have the same boat sylvan 16 ft that Whiperhunter (Curt) has. So which way do I go.
Looking for information. never had or used a kicker. [fishin][/quote]
Boatfisher, I had the same dilemma when I had my 1700 Lund ProSport. I couldn't afford a kicker, so I trolled with the big 115 HP Merc. But I couldn't get down slower than about 3.0 mph. I bought a 12 volt MinnKota on sale at Smith & Edwards (was a end of season hold over). The boat had 2 battery wells just forward of the windshield, on either side of the walk-thru. And they were factory wired into the plug in in the bow for a bow mount electric motor. But I found that after about 3 to 4 hours of use running at 2 mph, the battery would be used up. Being an old aircraft electrician, I put in 2 deep cycle batteries in battery wells, hooked them up thru a Perko switch and ran them thru my main cranking battery in the transom. With the 2 trolling batteries wired into a dual Voltage meter (from West Marine) I could monitor the volts of each battery individually. When it started getting low, I just switched the Perko switch to the other one. When the second started running low (below 8 volts) I turned the Perko switch to "BOTH" fired up the main 115 HP motor and ran up at speed to another spot on the water, or cruised to blow out the Willard bugs, and charged the trolling batteries from the motor charging system. Never had another problem with batteries dying, and the output amperage of the 115 HP Merc charging system was way more than enough to recharge all 3 batteries when selected correctly. Saved me the cost of those expensive on board chargers that you have to plug in somewhere.
So....it is possible to keep your 12 volt MinnKota, and keep the battery recharged as needed without the investment of more batteries, or a kicker.
Having said that, if you can afford a 4 stroke kicker motor, the Mercury 9.9 Bigfoot is a good choice and will run all day long on less than 3 gals gas.
And with a trolling plate attached, you can run from .5 to 3.0 mph with no problem. Above 3.0 mph, I would lift the trolling plate back in full up so you don't risk "curling" it. OK, all just my opinion.
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Looking for information. never had or used a kicker. [fishin][/quote]
Boatfisher, I had the same dilemma when I had my 1700 Lund ProSport. I couldn't afford a kicker, so I trolled with the big 115 HP Merc. But I couldn't get down slower than about 3.0 mph. I bought a 12 volt MinnKota on sale at Smith & Edwards (was a end of season hold over). The boat had 2 battery wells just forward of the windshield, on either side of the walk-thru. And they were factory wired into the plug in in the bow for a bow mount electric motor. But I found that after about 3 to 4 hours of use running at 2 mph, the battery would be used up. Being an old aircraft electrician, I put in 2 deep cycle batteries in battery wells, hooked them up thru a Perko switch and ran them thru my main cranking battery in the transom. With the 2 trolling batteries wired into a dual Voltage meter (from West Marine) I could monitor the volts of each battery individually. When it started getting low, I just switched the Perko switch to the other one. When the second started running low (below 8 volts) I turned the Perko switch to "BOTH" fired up the main 115 HP motor and ran up at speed to another spot on the water, or cruised to blow out the Willard bugs, and charged the trolling batteries from the motor charging system. Never had another problem with batteries dying, and the output amperage of the 115 HP Merc charging system was way more than enough to recharge all 3 batteries when selected correctly. Saved me the cost of those expensive on board chargers that you have to plug in somewhere.
So....it is possible to keep your 12 volt MinnKota, and keep the battery recharged as needed without the investment of more batteries, or a kicker.
Having said that, if you can afford a 4 stroke kicker motor, the Mercury 9.9 Bigfoot is a good choice and will run all day long on less than 3 gals gas.
And with a trolling plate attached, you can run from .5 to 3.0 mph with no problem. Above 3.0 mph, I would lift the trolling plate back in full up so you don't risk "curling" it. OK, all just my opinion.
[signature]
"OCD = Obsessive Catfish Disorder "
Or so it says on my license plate holder
Or so it says on my license plate holder