What size trolling motor do I need?
 

I have a gatortrax 18x50 with a huntdeck. overall length is 19'8". I am wanting to buy a trolling motor to use for speck/reds in delacroix and freshwater sacalait fishing. What pound thrust do yall think I'll need?

I have an 18x60 with a 55lb saltwater series motor guide and it does well, I think it's the smallest saltwater motor that motor guide makes.

does it use 1 battery or two?

I had a 18x42 with a 55lb minkota riptide and it did really well the one I had was 12volt and took one battery. Good luck!

what does the boat weigh? Are you planning on running a 12v or 24V system?

If your planning on running it in wind or heavy grass, I wouldn't go with anything less than 70lb. Also, being 24v, the charge will last longer.

Im wanting a 12v system.

1, and the charge lasts a very long time when the battery is good... I got switch this interstate junk. When the battery was new though I could get at least 3 good trips out of it.

I've thought about a 70, but when it is calm that 55 on a light, low sided aluminum boat is almost too fast at the lowest speed. Constant on off is a fish spooker on a real calm day if you are close in on the sacs.


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Thats a heavy boat....in the wind you will want a 24v. 70 or 80 pound minn kota

I'm looking at the hull differences and mine is lighter, plus I don't have the added drag of the hunt deck when I'm in the wind. No way to avoid 24v if going with 70 or 80lb?

55lb is the biggest 12v made. You will never wish you had less trolling motor power. I have a 24 volt on my 15 foot duracraft,really is nice on windy days or covering water.

A little more weight and cost for 24v is well worth the advantages over the 12v sys.

I have a 70lb minn kota on my 17x44 tunnel and love it but if I was buying a new trolling motor I would get the 80lb.... would be same weight and only a little more money but well worth it in wind or grass. I think you will be wanting more then a 55lb very soon so just spend the extra now and be done

1648 with an 80lb. Its digital so it varies. Not like most with preset speeds

I've got a 55lbs Riptide with variable control and its plenty on my 1754 Gator Tail hull. The extra power is always nice but the with the extra weight of another battery was the reason I didn't go with a 24V. That hull should weigh between 550-650lbs. so I would say you shouldn't have any problem with the 12V 55lbs. motor.

Agree 110%

Get a 70 or 80, a 55lb on that boat in the wind is gonna suck...

To give you an idea my buddy got a 1660 center console that weighs about the same and a 55lb is hard to keep up in the wind. We drained his battery twice fishing cypremort point last fall.

Low freeboard 1652, 40 tiller, with 55 lb Minn Kota Maxxum Digital foot control.

No complaints, mostly fish at lowest settings and saved the weight of an extra battery...

Good luck with your choice !

55 is good
 

I run a 55 Motor Guide on my 1652 Tidecraft Fiberglass marsh skiff... it pulls it just fine and you can run two batteries if you need more trolling time..... just hook them up in parallel... just like having a huge battery lol