I have a question regarding boat launching. I have a shorelander trailer for my Alumacraft Navigator 175. My neighbor is in the marine and small engine repair business, and from day one he has told me to launch my boat without backing the wheels under water for the simple reason that I will not have to worry about repacking the wheel bearings every year. I have for the last two seasons taken his advice and have never had any problems. I sometimes fish on 3-4 different lakes in a day and I can see his point as far as the bearings go with the water seeping in (I do have bearing buddies) and washing the grease out. On a few occasions I have been scolded and cursed for not having the sense to "FLOAT THE BOAT" In my defense I could care less from the stand point that it takes us no more then 5 minutes to get the boat loaded from the time the trailer hits the landing, far less time then I am noticing others taking. My question is this......For those of you who back under water, how often do you have to repack your bearings? Do you at least have to do it after the season is over? It's not real bad cranking the boat on but if I backed up further it would be very simple. I ran this by the dealer I bought it from and he told me my neighbor was right. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Chamois passed away this weekend a couple days short of her 13th bday.
What a great dog to hang out with here at home and on distant adventures.
Gonna miss ya big time my little big girl.
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.
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Whopper Stopper
Launching a boat.
I have a question regarding boat launching. I have a shorelander trailer for my Alumacraft Navigator 175. My neighbor is in the marine and small engine repair business, and from day one he has told me to launch my boat without backing the wheels under water for the simple reason that I will not have to worry about repacking the wheel bearings every year. I have for the last two seasons taken his advice and have never had any problems. I sometimes fish on 3-4 different lakes in a day and I can see his point as far as the bearings go with the water seeping in (I do have bearing buddies) and washing the grease out. On a few occasions I have been scolded and cursed for not having the sense to "FLOAT THE BOAT" In my defense I could care less from the stand point that it takes us no more then 5 minutes to get the boat loaded from the time the trailer hits the landing, far less time then I am noticing others taking. My question is this......For those of you who back under water, how often do you have to repack your bearings? Do you at least have to do it after the season is over? It's not real bad cranking the boat on but if I backed up further it would be very simple. I ran this by the dealer I bought it from and he told me my neighbor was right. Any thoughts? Thanks!
WS
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