Trolling Motor Selection

[DaRangeFinder]

I have finally saved up the money and obtained approval from my wife to get a bow mount trolling motor, only one problem.

I am looking at getting a powerdrive v2 and I cannot decide between a 50# or 55# thrust motor.

I have a 1985 Alumacraft Lunker, it is an interesting boat. It is wide and heavy, i ended up putting a 40 horse johnson on it, which is the max rating, to get it to plane. At any rate I dont want to get a trolling motor that cant pull me around but the price difference is big enough where I am considering giving the 50# a shot.

I know going bigger is best, i learned that with the outboard, but I only have enough to get the 50# right now and need some experts to chime in on whether it will work.

I will mostly use it for casting muskies, jigging walleyes over structure, and slow trolling

any help or opinions would be great

[MikeG3Boat]

You said your boat is an Alumacraft lunker, but how long is it? If its the 16 ft I would definitely go with the 55# IMO

[DaRangeFinder]

its a 14 footer

[bobbymalone]

They have a 50 and 55?

That seems dumb.

What's the price difference?

[DaRangeFinder]

about 100 dollar difference

[bobbymalone]

no way dude. you got pounds of thrust wrong. they don't have a 50lb v2.

[DaRangeFinder]

they sure do look it up

[bobbymalone]

huh. I guess they do. BPS only has 45, 55, and 70 available on their HSOforum.

Minnkota has them listed for the same msrp on their HSOforum... hmmm??

100 bucks seems steep for 5 lbs.

[Chris Barlage]

From what I saw on minn kota's web site the only way you get the 50 is just a plain jane motor in a 48 in. shaft. MSRP 579. The plain jane 55 in a 54 in. shaft is 589. So if that is what you are comparing go 55 lbs. I see the 55 with the us2 ducer is 679 in a 48 shaft and 689 in a 54 shaft. They don't list the 50 lber having a us2 option. So if the transducer is not a selling point for you get the basic 55 for 10 bucks more at 589.

[DaRangeFinder]

Maybe I should rephrase the question.

would a 50# trolling motor be sufficient enought to haul a 1985 14ft alumacraft lunker with a 40 HP outboard?

[Deitz Dittrich]

even if its $100.. I have yet to talk to someone who complained about having too much power... but have heard countless people complain about not having enough.

[DaRangeFinder]

gotcha I accept cash or check

Right now I can get the 50# thrust for 459.00 brand new at a store in my neck of the woods, I havent found a 55# for under 579.00 yet, once you add in tax you are over 600.00

[CaptainMusky]

The difference between 55 and 50 performance-wise would be negligible. Go with the 50 since its what is in your budget.

I always love how people like to spend other peoples money.

55 is the biggest 12 volt motor you can get and I used a 55# on my 17' Alumacraft with a 90HP motor on that back for years. I would have much rather had a bigger motor, but it worked fine.

Your boat is considerably lighter than the one I had and would be just fine.

Save the money, get the 50#. The ONLY thing I would be relatively concerned about the 50# is the 48" shaft length. Since you boat is a 14' it SHOULD be fine, but the 54" shaft is nice when you get into bigger waves to keep the head in the water.

[Fish Tales]

DRF I have a power drive 50 lb. thrust i would sell u alot cheaper if u want. nothing wrong with it just moved up to a I-Pilot Just a thought. U can e-mail me at [email protected]

[BIGRED07]

sent you a pm

[TruthWalleyes]

100 bucks seems steep for 5 lbs.

Cheap compared to an Inch on depthfinders

[liebs]

A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a Power drive V2 50lb thrust and 54 shaft for $429 plus $50 in store bucks. Used that $50 to buy the quick release mounting plate. That was an online sale that I had shipped to the store. I then was able to get a used co-pilot from TruthWalleyes for $50. Don't ever pay MSRP.

[TruthWalleyes]

Did you get that installed and working?

[DaRangeFinder]

Liebs can you give me some info on that sale or what HSOforum, is it still going?

I would purchase that today

[bobbymalone]

The difference between 55 and 50 performance-wise would be negligible. Go with the 50 since its what is in your budget.

I always love how people like to spend other peoples money.

55 is the biggest 12 volt motor you can get and I used a 55# on my 17' Alumacraft with a 90HP motor on that back for years. I would have much rather had a bigger motor, but it worked fine.

Your boat is considerably lighter than the one I had and would be just fine.

Save the money, get the 50#. The ONLY thing I would be relatively concerned about the 50# is the 48" shaft length. Since you boat is a 14' it SHOULD be fine, but the 54" shaft is nice when you get into bigger waves to keep the head in the water.

+1

I don't think the perfomance increase is worth 100 bucks.

[Fish Tales]

I didn't get it?

[liebs]

DaRange - Try Cabela's. It's $419 online now without the Cabela bucks. Still a good deal.

Truth - Not yet. The boat is up at the cabin. At this rate, it'll be another month.

[DaRangeFinder]

Thanks Liebs took a look and pulled the trigger

appreciate everyones advice

[DooWap]

I don't think the perfomance increase is worth 100 bucks.

The extra 6 inches of shaft length might make the difference though.

[Duffman]

The extra 6 inches of shaft length might make the difference though.

That's what she.........nevermind.