Trolling motor

[Lund79]

I'd like to know what you do for storing trolling motors. Do you bring them in the house in the basement or keep them on the boat during storage?

I have a new MK PowerDrive i just purchased and the dealer told me to bring it in over the winter. I haven't done this with other trolling motors and has me wondering if I am missing something. Do you bring them in the house in the basement or keep them on the boat during storage?

[fishnowworknever]

I just got a new one this year as well, it'll be in the basement over the winter.

[TruthWalleyes]

My boat goes into a farm shed in the winter, TM Stays on the boat. This winter i might try to make more trips to the Mississippi, which means the boat will sit out and TM will sit out all winter under a cover.

I see no problem storin the TM in the cold...I wouldn't store it out in the open where moisture could work its way into the unit and possibly cause damage. Under a cover should be OK.

No problems when stored in the house.

[Kyhl]

On the boat, which is stored inside a pole barn.

[PerchJerker]

The only reason you might want to take your trolling motor off your boat is if you have an AutoPilot trolling motor. Freezing cold can wreck the compass control board. But if you don't have an AutoPilot .... then there is no reason to take it off the boat.

[Raider4ever]

On boat in pole building. No problems for the four years I have owned it. '98 Minn-Kota 24v.

[TruthWalleyes]

The only reason you might want to take your trolling motor off your boat is if you have an AutoPilot trolling motor. Freezing cold can wreck the compass control board. But if you don't have an AutoPilot .... then there is no reason to take it off the boat.

Really?

Mine has auto pilot and hasn't been stored inside in the 4 years i've owned it.

[delcecchi]

I have a terova and have brought it inside the cabin every year. But the cabin is on lake vermilion and has no heat all winter. So far no problems.

[Northlander]

I have had Minnkota Auto Pilots since they came out and always stored them on the boat in the unheated garage and have never had a issue. Even with the co-pilots it hasnt been a issue since they came out. I see no need to take the TM or batteries inside. Just make sure they are fully charged and check on them every few weeks.

[gunner55]

2 boats,2 powerdrives-older boat(88 or 89)-same year TM never been off either of the boats.Stored in a pole barn,no problems.

[Down Deep]

My boat is now stored in an unheated garage and I leave everything in the boat. Before I built this garage I stored my boat outside in the winter. I always laid the TM inside the boat and then covered the boat. I never had a problem with the Auto Pilot I had at the time.

[Lund79]

Thanks for the responses. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something since I don't want to wreck the new trolling motor.

I have never taken my older trolling motor inside. I have an unheated garage where I store the boat. As Northlander mentioned, I charge the batteries up and keep them in the boat as well.