See full version: What size trolling motor for 16ft boat
I think it's absolutely the most goofy idea to have two batteries in parallel and run a 12v. if you are putting the extra weight in your boat with two batteries, spend the extra $300 and go with a 24 volt system. it's really a no-brainer as far as i'm concerned.
I have a 2012 Alumacraft Classic 165 with a Maxxum 12V 55# thrust TM. I have never run out of power on the water. I don't use it for trolling, just positioning. I have it hooked up to a group 31 battery with a high RC rating. I also have an onboard 10 amp battery charger that I plug in as soon as I get home. I take care of my battery very well, which does make a difference.
Like I said earlier, everyone has a different outlook, or goal when going fishing. That's why being an old geezer is so great. We don't really care.
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I used to fish tournaments and always had to have the power, so I always ran a 24 volt system. Now I really don't care. If my trolling motor goes dead (which it never has) I would just drift along and suck up some rays and enjoy the day. [links]
You can't go wrong with more power. If you can afford it, get the 24 volt. And that advice about the longer shaft is spot on. here
I ran for many years on 12V with an Alumimum boat, lighter than yours on the big river systems. WIND, high current and i'd burn through two batteries by 1 PM. I always had to run in, put a battery on charge. If you intend on fishing and fishing hard, you have some thinking. If you don't care and won't beat on the 12v, then save the money and go 12V. simple as that.
Trolling motor speed depends on your boat design and weight. Top peed for a trolling motor can be 2 to 4 mph.
He also believes that the supposed 100 pounds of thrust is a vast underrating. “I can’t prove it, but it’s way more powerful than anything else I’ve ever used. Even with my 21 foot Phoenix boat loaded heavy, with the trolling motor wide open I’ve run it as fast as 4.1 miles per hour.” here
Little did I know that 25 years later my new trolling motor would have more than 100 pounds of thrust at my disposal, drawing from three marine batteries. I’d link it to my electronics, including GPS, and it could autopilot me from one spot to another, or hold me steady on a predetermined waypoint. Furthermore, I’d be able to outfit it with various accessories—including levers, cable jackets, specialized prop nuts and aftermarket props—to enhance its performance. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, today’s trolling motors are more durable that those of a generation ago. It used to be that if you hit a stump, or even just got bogged down in grass, steering cables and shafts and other internal parts would break. With today’s beefed-up build quality and breakaway mounts, you can just keep on trucking.
According to pro bass angler Chad Morgenthaler, the Garmin Force is the most powerful trolling motor. He believes that the supposed 100 pounds of thrust is a vast underrating. “I can’t prove it, but it’s way more powerful than anything else I’ve ever used. Even with my 21 foot Phoenix boat loaded heavy, with the trolling motor wide open I’ve run it as fast as 4.1 miles per hour,” he said.
He also likes the fact that the motor does not interfere with his four Lowrance HDS12 sonar units, and moreover pairs easily with them to maximize the use of his DownScan Imaging and Active Imaging technologies, with a minimal learning curve. It’s how he makes his living, but he said that’s critical for the weekend warrior who wants to get out on the water and start finding and catching fish immediately. Finally, he said it’s durable, and the composite shaft has a lifetime warranty if for some reason the 360-degree breakaway mount doesn’t protect it. more
12 to 16 foot boats need a 55 to 70 pound thrust trolling motor. 16 to 21 foot or longer boats need a trolling motor with 70 to 100 pound thrust.
Here is where we will need that boat weight because we are going to do a little math. You see, for every 100 pounds of boat you are going to need 2 pounds of thrust. So, let’s say that your boat weighs in at 3500 pounds with all your gear and your buddies loaded inside. This means we need to divide it by 100 like this: 3500/100 =35 Next, we will want to multiply that by the 2 pounds of thrust needed for each 100 pounds. 35 x 2 = 70 So, for that boat weight you will need a 70 pound motor. See, that wasn’t so bad. There are a few mort things to consider, however. more
In order to determine what kind of power we are going to need we need to factor in your boat weight. This is important, because with a deck boat you are going to need a little more power in your trolling motor but you still don’t want to overdo it. You also want to factor in your gear as well as the maximum number of passengers that will be along on any trolling trip. It is important to establish at least a ballpark figure. If you are not sure about your boat’s weight, check with your vendor or with the paperwork which came with your boat. A simple Google on the make and model will also do just fine.
Voltage is another important factor when it comes to your motor. Voltage is going to have a direct effect on your thrust. The voltage rates are typically going to be 12, 12/24, and 36 volts, respectively. A lot will depend on your boat’s size but you still don’t want to overdo the voltage. We are mentioning it, however, because there are some scenarios when a higher voltage than the weight calls for might be needed. You will also want to consider the amount of time which you usually spend fishing so that you can get a good idea in regards to how often you might need to recharge with your model. This way you can ensure that the power is going to be sufficient for your average fishing trip and avoid any frustrating downtime.
When you go on your trolling trips do you prefer to run in calm, placid waters, or do you prefer a little bit of a rocky ride? Is it often quite windy where you do your trolling? These are important things to know because you could select the perfect motor for your boat’s weight and yet if you prefer a bumpy ride in rough waters while you are trolling then you might run into performance issues. The same applies for the wind, as it will take additional power from your motor to keep the wind from knocking you off your proscribed course. If you like to fish where it’s rough or windy then consider selecting a higher voltage. This directly increases your thrust level so you can make things simple by selecting the next ‘tier’ of thrust in the motor which you select so that you have a little extra thrust to keep you on course and cruising along at the optimal 3 – 4 miles per hour to keep those fish interested. more
We are breaking down the complex question into 3 different parts including how much HP a boat need with trolling motors, electric outboards, and petrol outboards.
Again, you might ask: Is there a general horsepower to weight ratio formula for boats? [links]
There is no exact answer, but generally speaking, you should have between 40 and 25 pounds of weight for each horsepower. And in most cases, 8-20 hp motors will provide plenty of power to effectively propel your boat, and you’ll find you get better fuel efficiency as an added bonus. [links]