Fishing Minnesota is sponsored by Marcum Technology and helps keep this site free for all of us to have fun on.
In another thread there was discussion about battery charger indicator lights that don’t work correctly, and we know there’s chargers that have no indicator lights at all. One option that I’ve had the chance to use is the Marcum BCI-100 battery tester. This portable tester displays the percentage of charge left in any lead acid battery; like those from depth finders, ATVs, snowmobiles, automobiles, deep cycles. The BCI-100 is not a battery charger; it’s a battery tester. This may be an alternative for checking the battery’s condition for those of you who do not own a voltmeter and like to know the battery's charge status. For more information you can check out this tester and others at
Attach the black negative clip of the tester to the negative battery post and probe the positive battery post with the red probe. The display shows the percentage of charge left in the battery.
If you really want to treat your wife (and yourself) with a remote operated trolling motor, the Minn Kota Ulterra is about easy as it gets. Auto stow and deploy is pretty awesome. You just have to turn the motor on when you go out and that the last time you have to touch it.
24V 80lb. 60 inch shaft is probably the right length for your boat. They ain’t cheap - about $3k - but neither one of you would have to leave your seat to use it all day.
Wanderer, thanks for your reply. I do intend for it to be 24 volt, with a thrust of 70-80. Spot lock is a must (my wife is looking forward to
not being the anchor person any more). With my old boat we did quite a lot of pulling shad raps and hot n tots, using the trolling motor. Unlikely
that we will fish in whitecaps, did plenty of that when I was younger. I also need a wireless remote, not going back to a foot pedal. We do a fair amount of bobber fishing.
I don't think I will bother with a depth finder on the trolling motor. I am leaning toward moving my Garmin depth finder from my old boat to the
new one, just because I am so used to it and it works well for me. I am 70 years old and kinda set in my ways...
Dang, new content and now answers.
First, congrats on the new boat!
My recommendation is to get the most thrust you can in 24V, assuming a boat that size isn’t running 36V. 80 might be tops? I’m partial to MinnKota.
How do you plan to use the trolling motor is an important question too.
All weather or just nice weather?
Casting a lot or bait dragging?
Bobber or panfish fishing?
Spot lock? Networked with depth finders? What brand of depth finders?
We have bought a new boat, which we will be picking up this spring. It is an Alumacraft Competitor 165 sport with a 90 horse Yamaha
motor. I will be buying and installing a trolling motor, wondering if I can get some recommendations on what pound thrust I will
want for this boat? Also, I will be selling my old boat, is there a good way to determine the value on an older boat ( mid-80's with a 75 horse 2-stroke
Mariner motor) I will appreciate any help with these questions.
I went ahead and watched some of the MLF coverage. Wheeler didn’t make the cut but the bigger story was the Poche/Avera fallout.
Kinda funny listening to both sides of the story and putting together the scenario, reading between the lines.
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Dave
Fishing Minnesota is sponsored by Marcum Technology and helps keep this site free for all of us to have fun on.
In another thread there was discussion about battery charger indicator lights that don’t work correctly, and we know there’s chargers that have no indicator lights at all. One option that I’ve had the chance to use is the Marcum BCI-100 battery tester. This portable tester displays the percentage of charge left in any lead acid battery; like those from depth finders, ATVs, snowmobiles, automobiles, deep cycles. The BCI-100 is not a battery charger; it’s a battery tester. This may be an alternative for checking the battery’s condition for those of you who do not own a voltmeter and like to know the battery's charge status. For more information you can check out this tester and others at
Marcum Technology
Attach the black negative clip of the tester to the negative battery post and probe the positive battery post with the red probe. The display shows the percentage of charge left in the battery.
Depth Finder Battery
Small ATV Battery (a known dead battery)
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