Greetings, I had a thread a year ago about trolling motors, I am hoping to buy a used 60-80 lb thrust, my question is , are there any brands to avoid, and what to look for when buying used??

also I have FINALLY finished working on my boat and about to put it on my lake on my place (about 100 acres), I removed the gas engine and want to just have a trolling motor, my lake is 100% private so no worrries there and I am looking tips to check before shoving it into the lake lol

my boat is a 17foot glasstron, 1977 mfgd, old but solid, been sitting for 3 years tho

I am also wondering if I can use a std car battery over an expensive marine one?

You need to use deep cycle batteries instead of starting batteries.

I have and use both a Motorguide and a Minn Kota. Both are good reliable motors. My motorguide is a foot controlled model from the mid 1990s! Still going strong but only 28lb thrust on a small jon boat.

The Minn kota is a pontoon front mount that is a little stronger built like a transom style. More trouble to put in and out but works o.k.

Try to get a model with a variable speed control that uses less amps. The Motorguide was called a Duramax. I don't know what the new name is.

A car battery will work but the marine deep cycle will take more discharge/recharge cycles and should last longer,

I have a 46lb MinnKota that came with my boat. No idea how old it is, but the dang thing just keeps on ticking. I've replaced the seals a couple of times, and even broke some screws while doing so, but as long as I can keep water out of it, the dang thing just keeps on trucking.

You want a deep cycle marine battery. They cost more, but it'll save you money in the long run.

Both brands mentioned are good. You want a marine deep cycle battery, I prefer AGM. Also depending on the voltage you may need 3 if it's a 36 volt trolling motor, 2 for a 24 volt etc.

Been a number of years since I was a serious fisherman, but in my experience Minn Kota and MotorGuide were of about equal quality. I preferred foot control when I fished from a bass boat with a casting deck. Now I fish farm ponds from an 8' Pelican, and there's no room for a foot pedal, so I use as hand control.

the motor will be a transom mount and I am not needing any kind of foot control, as I plan to use to shuffle from spot to spot on the lake and then just anchor out and fish..i think the hand control will work for me, and I hope to stay on the cheap, just dropped a ton on an engagement ring lol

could a fresh car boat last me until I can afford a nice deep cycle?? I will only fish a few hours at a time and not troll with it per se but just use it as a mini boat motor??

I like Minn Kota.

A car battery will not last when you drain it to nothing.
Marine deep cell is what you need.

Batteries Plus Bulbs has good batteries.
X2 Power deep cell, dual terminals.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/.../x2power/sli31agmdpm

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Min...55Lb-Thrust/15686838

I like this and the price but it says it is a 36v??

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
I like Minn Kota.

A car battery will not last when you drain it to nothing.
Marine deep cell is what you need.

Batteries Plus Bulbs has good batteries.
X2 Power deep cell, dual terminals.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/.../x2power/sli31agmdpm

man I wish I could, I cant afford 500 on a battery

quote:

Originally posted by golddot:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Min...55Lb-Thrust/15686838

I like this and the price but it says it is a 36v??

That 36V is a misprint in the W-Mart specs. That's a 12v. 36v trolling motors cost a gazillion dollars.

You got any Rural Kings around? They sell a decent deep cycle trolling motor battery for around $70. Not the best but you don't need the best for simple operation.

quote:

Originally posted by golddot:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Min...55Lb-Thrust/15686838

I like this and the price but it says it is a 36v??

The entire Endura line is 12v. There is also a rebate available.

https://www.minnkotamotors.com...#transom-mount-promo

My recommendations are a Motor Guide Tour ED. 82lb 24volt or a Minn Kota
Maxxum or Fortrex 80lb 24volt. All three are reliable units. The Minn Kota's are built like tanks.

Replacement parts are available for all three and they are easily reconditioned.

Your boat will not handle well without an outboard to act as a rudder. It will be like driving an unloaded 2wd pickup on ice.

My first bass boat was a '78 Glasstron.

I run a Factory Authorized Minn Kota and Motor Guide repair shop if you have any other questions.

quote:

Originally posted by golddot:

quote:

Originally posted by Excam_Man:
I like Minn Kota.

A car battery will not last when you drain it to nothing.
Marine deep cell is what you need.

Batteries Plus Bulbs has good batteries.
X2 Power deep cell, dual terminals.

https://www.batteriesplus.com/.../x2power/sli31agmdpm

man I wish I could, I cant afford 500 on a battery

A deep cycle battery is only 10-20% more than a car battery as cheap as $82 at Walmart for a group 27 marine deep cycle Everstart. If you're on a budget you want a 12v trolling motor.

12v= 1 battery
24v= 2 batteries
36v= 3 batteries

Get the deep cycle battery. It's not that much more expensive. I got mine at BIG R (like Rural King) for just over $100, and IIRC it was cheaper than my truck battery.

quote:

Originally posted by Mcloud:
My recommendations are a Motor Guide Tour ED. 82lb 24volt or a Minn Kota
Maxxum or Fortrex 80lb 24volt. All three are reliable units. The Minn Kota's are built like tanks.

Replacement parts are available for all three and they are easily reconditioned.

Your boat will not handle well without an outboard to act as a rudder. It will be like driving an unloaded 2wd pickup on ice.

My first bass boat was a '78 Glasstron.

I run a Factory Authorized Minn Kota and Motor Guide repair shop if you have any other questions.

awsome thanks man !

https://www.eastpennmanufacturing.com/


they have a marine battery line...

check the locator on the web page, if they have a distributor near you then you'll find the battery cost to be much less than retail, you'll probably pay a core charge since you don't have one to trade, but that will be just about everywhere you buy a battery for the first time.

If the closest is a bit away, they have been known to deliver when they make a run into your area to deliver batteries to retailers.

Buy my golf cart batteries from them, well made, in the USA and good people to deal with,

Minn Kota buyer's guide

https://www.minnkotamotors.com...uide/trolling-motors