Trolling Motor Questions??

[muddywaters]

I have a 17ft.fiberglass runabout, walkthru windshield,convertible top and a 115 motor.I want to buy a trolling motor.I`m thinking of getting a 54lb thrust 50"shaft bow-mount motor. 1.Will it have enough power? 2.Will shaft be long enough to keep motor in water in waves? 3.Do I tilt up gas motor when trolling with electric?
Thanks!!

[gofishingtom]

muddywaters,
if you are only hooked up for 12volt get biggest 12volt you can 55lbs..but if you can hook up for 24volts i would go with the 74lb.never can have to much thrust..and would go with the bigger shaft you want it in the water in big waves..not much more to step up alittle and get the bigger unit you will be happier in the end and wont be saying i should have got the bigger one one or two years down the line..and no you dont have to tilt the big motor unless you are trolling in shallow water... goodluck

[sandman469ss]

Muddy,
I had a 17 foot Ranger bass boat that had that exact setup on it and it worked just fine. It had a maxxum 55 with the short shaft, and I never had a problem with it coming out of the water except when there were 4 foot rollers on Winnie. I would go with an autopilot motor if you're going to spend the money. Thing I hated about the footpedal, you take your foot off at the higher settings, and the troller goes where it wants to.
As far as tilting the big motor. You can use the motor to your advantage. I found that if I had the motor out, the boat moved quicker and the battery lasted longer. I used to tilt the motor til the prop was just out of the water, leaving the skeg under, and it helped the boat track straight as long as the big motor was straight. If the wind started pushing the back end around, I'd drop it til the prop was under, and that would keep it from coming around. If your trolling or drifting with the wind and want to slow down a bit, drop the big motor down even farther.

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Takin it easy! & if it’s easy, I’ll take it twice!