
How to tell what size of trolling motor to buy for your boat
- Thrust. One of the key considerations when deciding on the size of the trolling motor to buy is thrust. ...
- Voltage. Trolling motors are available in three different voltages: 12v, 24, and 36v. ...
- Shaft Length. Shaft length is of key importance because choosing the incorrect length can cause your trolling motor to cavitate and lose thrust.
What size trolling motor do I need for my Boat?
To let you know, the standard shaft length is 42 inches. Longer shaft is recommended for the rough water area. So we saw few things that you should keep in mind to get the appropriate size motor for your boat. If your boat is much large then you should go with a bigger trolling motor.
How to choose the right trolling motor for your boat?
What to Look For When Selecting a Trolling Motor
- Bow-Mount Motors. Bow mounted motors are convenient if you fish primarily in an open bow-rider or on the fore-deck of a bass boat.
- Transom-Mount Motors. ...
- Fresh vs. ...
- Shaft Length. ...
- Thrust. ...
- The Right Size. ...
- Power Consumption. ...
- Advanced Features. ...
What sized trolling motor do I Need?
What size trolling motor do I need for a 15-foot boat? You will also want the motor to run on 12 volts. The size of the motor is also determined by the boat’s weight. For a 15 foot boat, you will want 40 to 45 lbs (in terms of thrust). If your boat weighs more than 2,000lbs, you will need a larger boat.
How to install a trolling motor to a paddle boat?
- Decide on a mounting location for the motor.
- Mockup the motor and battery locations
- Clamp or bolt the motor in place
- Secure the battery
- Run and secure the wiring
- Make sure the propeller is clear and test the motor
- Make corrections if needed
- Test your boat on the lake
- Enjoy resting your legs!

How much weight should I put in a trolling motor?
As a basic formula, I add 70 pounds for the motor and 140 pounds for the batteries . Every system is different, but this is a safe starting point.
How do you use your trolling motor?
First, let’s narrow down your options by figuring out how you use your boat. They call it a trolling motor, but do you use your motor to troll, or are you mostly stationary?
How fast will a 55lb thrust trolling motor go?
You can expect your 55lb thrust trolling motor to travel roughly 5 miles per hour. The speed of 5 mph will depend on the conditions of the water. You will only see the top speed when you are riding in perfect conditions, along with the best fuel and weight of the load.
How do I know what size trolling motor shaft I need?
To know what size trolling motor shaft you need, you will need to do some measuring! You must get the size right so that your motor can run properly and not make any noises that will spook the fish!
How much thrust do I need for an electric trolling motor?
A simple formula of total weight divided by 50 equals the minimum thrust required for your boat weight. Don’t forget the weight of your boat includes everything in your boat; your fishing gear, fuel, yourself, your buddies, and your cooler.
What is stern mount motor?
Stern mount motors, like gas trolling motors, push your boat through the water from the back of your boat. The main advantage of this is the simplicity of operation and installation. Smaller stern mount motors clamp on to the back of your boat in minutes are simple to attach to your battery.
Why does my boat pop out of water?
The reason for my recommendation is simple. As your boat bounces in the waves, your motor will pop out of the water, resulting in loss of control . Remember, you will need to be aware of objects in the water like logs or grass.
How much thrust do you need for a trolling motor?
You need to calculate how much thrust your boat needs. Trolling motors are rated in pounds per thrust. And the general rule is, for every 100lbs of the weight of a fully-loaded boat, you need a minimum of 2lbs of thrust.
What voltage is trolling motor?
Trolling motors are available in three different voltages: 12v, 24, and 36v. When a battery has a high voltage it means it has high power output. So a 36v trolling system produces more power than a 12v system but its also bigger in size.
How many batteries does a 36V trolling motor use?
36v trolling motors use three deep cycle batteries, 24v uses two batteries, and 12v uses one battery. So depending on the dimensions of your boat in terms of size and weight, you can determine whether you need a 12v, 24v, or 36v. So if you need your boat to have more thrust, all you need to do is add the number of batteries.
What are the different types of trolling motors?
There are two types of trolling motors: bow mount motors and transom mount motors. And trolling motors come in three configurations: 12volts, 24 volts, and 36 volts. Knowing what type to buy depends on how big or small your boat is. Bow mount motors are ideal for large and medium-sized boats like bass and bay boats.
Why is shaft length important in trolling?
Shaft length is of key importance because choosing the incorrect length can cause your trolling motor to cavitate and lose thrust.
How long should a boat's shaft be?
So here are the recommended transom and bow motor shaft lengths: Distance Between Transom and Waterline. Shaft Length. 0 to 10 inches. 30 inches. 10 to 16 inches. 36 inches.
How to figure out how much thrust a boat needs?
So to know just how much thrust your boat needs, take the weight of your boat, and divide it by 100 and then multiply by 2.
The Newport Vessels Thrust Eight Speed Trolling Motor
Do you want a high quality motor with enough thrust to power the average pontoon? If so, this Newport Vessels model is perfect for you. Its easy to set up built from durable aluminum as well as composite fiberglass materials, which means that its able to withstand the wear-and-tear from saltwater fishing.
Trolling Motor Recommendations For 16ft Rebel
The side by side location as in the picture didnt work as well as the front to back.
What Size Trolling Motor For Inflatable Boat
Bigger is nearly always better. Larger boats need more juice, but when choosing a trolling engine, we recommend considering wave action, wind, and current. Erring on the stronger side has its benefits because stronger motors work at lower speeds more efficiently and offer a safe cushion for wind, waves, and current handling.
Operating Deck Boat Trolling Motors
What about when actually putting;the motor into practice? Deck boat trolling motors have two forms of operation: Foot-control and hand-control. Its exactly what youre expecting:;A foot-controlled trolling motor is pedal-operated,;and the;hand-control is manually operated.
Recommended Motor Thrust Levels
You can see a rough guide on how much thrust is required for different boat sizes in the chart below.
How Important Is To Get A Trolling Motor With The Correct Shaft Length
Choosing the right shaft length for a bow mount trolling motor is one of the most critical aspects of shopping for the best product.
Using A Fuse Instead Of A Circuit Breaker
You may receive recommendations for using a fuse instead of a circuit breaker for short circuit protection. However, the two are not interchangeable. In the case of a fuse, the extra current flowing through the circuit causes it to heat up. Once the melting point of the conductor is reached, the fuse blows out, and the circuit is broken.
