What size trolling motor.

[Rogue Hunter]

I'm sure this question has been posed to the board a hundred times, but please indulge a first time boat owner!

This last summer I bought a 14ft Lund Rebel; I think it weights around 650lb. What would the experienced boater suggestion, regarding...bow or transom...lenght of shaft...POUNDS OF THRUST???

Thanks in advance,

Rogue Hunter

[mnrstrider]

Lakes or rivers?

I have a 1650 ss rebel, I'm running a 55# minnkota, the biggest 12 volt out there and I'm happy with it, 90% of the time, though 95% of the time it does it's job, but it's not enough in the rivers with some decent current I make do. It'll move me along at 3 mph gps with little or no current, and my main motor takes it from there. I think I have about the shortest shaft and it works fine for me. I'd buy another (of course I'd go a tad bigger next time)in a heart beat if I needed another. I'd also suggest saving for the auto pilot, well, well worth the money, and adding a co-pilot down the road. 55# would probably do you good. IMHO

[efgh]

I think Rouge gave you good advice on the size of trolling motor to get, get the same size he mentions in his post, it will handle your 14 ft. boat in pretty near any situation. If you can aford it, get a power drive with remote control, I just love mine.

[guideman]

I would recommend getting the longest shaft with the most power you can afford. Even if it's more than you need most of the time. I have used the

Minkota power drives for 30 years and they are in my opinion the best out there. The PD auto pilot feature is well worth the extra money and I have been using the new co-pilot for the last couple seasons and I really like it.

[Animal]

Thus far you have been given excellent advice and I would like to add one more thing. You have enough room in the Rebel to add a battery and make the system a 24V. You will get twice the battery life, and therfore can stay out there for a long long time.

[Rogue Hunter]

Thanks for the replies thus far! Can someone discribe this co-pilot feature for me?

Thanks again,

Rogue Hunter

[efgh]

I wil try, you have a comand board built into your trolling motor that the foot pedal hooks onto via a plug, to add a copilot to a power drive you remove the right hand base cover, add a new base cover with a factory install radio reciever board and plug in the receiver board plug into the foot pedal plug, there is another plug coming out of the receiver board to plug in your foot control if you want to. a real small transmiter, about 1-1/2 by 3 ins.by 1/4 in. thick is either worn on a wrist band or mounted on your rod. the transmitter has all the control option the foot pedal has on its face, doesn;t really sound too clear to me but its the best I can do. I would not be without mine.

[andy j]

I agree a 55 lb 12 volt with a good battery should be fine for 99% of your fishing needs on a 14 boat. I have a buddy that has a 40 lb. powerdrive on a 17ft boat and he makes due fine. The kind of lake you fish should be considered. Bigger lakes need more trust and smaller lakes usually don't. Stick with a Minn Kota. Good Luck AJ

[Rogue Hunter]

I'm thinking the 55lb would be the right choice, as I'll be going to Mille Lacs quite often.

Still wonder about the shaft lenght, however. The prop depth can be adjusted in the water, but my concern is when its not in use, stored on the deck. Would the head of the unit stick out past the gunnel too far...to put a cover on the boat, or while on the highway?

Rogue

[Northlander]

If you fish rivers a 55# is a must. You wont need any bigger and if you do its time to fire up the outboard. For sure get auto pilot and as said a long shaft.

[mnrstrider]

If you locate you trolling motor correctly if really shouldn't cause any problems witht the cover, mine stays on my boat all summer, witht he cover comming on and off all the time. Shaft length probably isn't that big of a deal, I've only had it not long enough a couple times, and only because of the big waves, in which case waves like that usually mean it either time to stop fishing or find a quieter area.

[CanOCorn]

RH,

Some good advice so far. As far as length... go long. As far as storage, get the Quick Release bracket for the PowerDrive. I have one and with the cash I dropped on the motor after getting the AP and CoPilot, there is NO WAY I am leaving it outside. The quick release is great, costs about $40 and your motor slides right off and can be stored inside the boat, back of the truck or you can add a lock and leave it right on the boat.

[set the drag]

i would suggest a 30-40 POUNDS OF THRUST!!!!!! transom mount trolling motor.

[WALLEYENUTZ]

55lb thrust is right on the money!! If you need more battery life, wire another battery in parrell and you won't regrett it. (it will still be 12volt)

[Northwoodsdon]

Now for somthing compleatly diffrent,

16'Lund SSV 25hp Johnson,4hp Johnson,42lbs minkota(transom)

looks like a lot BUT on big water and wind the 4hp is perfect bought it used and when I want to sneek up on them the minkota steps up to the plate

[TNFL]

I have a 16 foot lund deep V. I didn't know what size shaft to get so I got a 54 inch shaft and it is way too big. It sticks up about 1.5 feet above the bow and it gets in the way of casting. with a 14 ft I would recomend the 42 inch shaft.