New Electric Transom Trolling Motor

[FisH_SLaYer24]

I have been looking at purchasing an electric transom trolling motor for my boat. I have been looking at the Minnkota Traxxis 55 pound thrust and the 70 pound thrust. I am not sure if going with the 55 pound thrust will be to whimpy to move the boat anywhere or if the 70 pound thrust will be overkill. The boat that the motor is going on is a 1650 Crestliner FishHawk Tiller Model with a 60 Horse Yamaha. The boat is rated for up to a 115 horse, so I am not sure where the maximum poundage on the boat comes into play. The plate states that one can have no more than 1450 pounds of motor, gear, persons, etc. on board. Please help, so I can make the correct purchase on a trolling motor.

[Northlander]

55 will do fine in most situations. If you go more than 55# you get into a 24 volt system and will then have the added weight of the extra battery to worry about. I would think you could use the electric 55# to back troll until the wind picked up too much than back troll with the 60 and if thats too fast drop a sock out the front.

I have a 70# bowmount and that moves my boat along real nice but my boats bigger and heavier its a 17' Lund Explorer SS with a 115 yamaha 4 stroke and 9.9 4 stroke kicker so theres a lot more weight than you have. I think you will be fine with the 55#.

[Get'n Jiggy]

55's are on the whimpy side, if you don't fish in the wind you'll be OK.

[FisH_SLaYer24]

Thanks for the replies guys! Another question, for those who have the traxxis, is the extended handle and tilt steering worth the extra money or do you wish you would have bought the endura?

[TravP]

Buy the 70lb traxxis.

[ozzie]

I have the 55lb thrust endura and don't mind the handle part but I am thinking of flipping the head of the unit so I have 5 speeds going in reverse rather than 3 speeds. I think this will take care of my under power problem I have in stronger winds. If I were to do it over again I would probably go with a 70 since that is what I want to get for the front of my boat but the 55 is sufficient.

[fivebucks]

Transom mount trolling motors aren't as efficient as bow mount IMO. To back troll with a transom you are pulling against the flat rear of the boat. With a bow you are pulling the boat in a forward direction which is much easier. I have a Lund 1800 Pro V and have a Motorguide 60 lb 24v. If there are whitecaps I need to use my 75hp with a sock. If less I can get by with the electric.

[ozzie]

better control backtrolling with a transom mount.......

[Tom7227]

Isn't the reason why people back troll is because it allows them to go more slowly when using the motor? The motors wouldn't run well at low rpm and so your minimum speed were to high for running things like a Lindy. Back trolling was the answer because the boat move less efficiently backwards. If that's correct then why back troll with an electric?

[kg2]

The benefits of backtrolling isn't just speed, but all around boat control.

[TruthWalleyes]

I can't believe what i'm hearing. Better boat control backtrolling...

[Down Deep]

My buddy has a Lund Angler with a 75 Merc. He bought a 55 Traxxis and it is way underpowered for that boat. I think your boat is similar in size and weight. I'd go with something much bigger. Remember you can always power down. If you have a 24v system all the better.

I have a 17' Lund Explorer with a 115-4s Merc. I have both a 94lb bowmount PowerDrive and 80lb Vector stern mount trolling motors powered by a 24v system. Both motors give me adequate power.

The bowmount is great for pulling forward for bass fishing or trolling spinner baits or cranks for walleyes. The transom mount shows its worth when I want to go virtical. I like to bump around a reef or point with the jigs for walleyes especially when the wind is blowing. Wavewackers helps a lot for this type of fishing.

[kg2]

Truth... only for vertical jigging or trolling, not for those that stand up at the bow and cast, flip, or pitch! lol

[TruthWalleyes]

Gotcha! That i could agree with-i suppose.

You won't see me in Sunglasses (Bass) Forum flip'n or pitch'n or worm'm or whatever else you can 'm

[fivebucks]

I backtroll with my transom mount electric almost exclusively for boat control. The only times I can get away with going forward is if I am straight line trolling and there is no wind. If I am following structure it's backtroll all the way.