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Thread: 30lb thrust enough ?

  1. #1
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    Default 30lb thrust enough ?

    Anyone have any experience with a high tide 1503 and a 30lb transom trolling motor ? I need just enough to move around in some backwaters. I do a lot of anchoring and casting, but it might be nice to have a trolling motor just to scoot around to different spots, or get in and out of areas without disturbing the area with the big motor.
    Its a 15' fiberglass boat, not that heavy and I am not using it for long stretches. But would a 36lb be THAT much faster ?
    Last edited by duckz; 06-03-2019 at 07:27 AM.

  2. #2
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    You won’t “scoot” with a 30, but you will move around.

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    Better hope it's not windy or you'll be going backwards.

    You need a 55 lb thrust.

    Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk

  4. #4
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    jwilliams is offline 2th Doc's Fishing understudy
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    Listen to CD. I have a 48 lb thrust on my one man "the sneak".
    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn View Post
    Does Elton John know you have his shotgun?

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    I had a 45lb minnkota edge on mine and would not go with less.

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    all the above
    You need to think about wind and current
    and less battery drain when sized correctly

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    Dang. Well I appreciate that. Glad I asked.

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    Quote Originally Posted by duckz View Post
    Dang. Well I appreciate that. Glad I asked.
    I have a 45 on a 1542 Duracraft. Wish I had bought the 55 thrust.

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    Also- if you want to be able to control the boat with any accuracy- get a bow mount.

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    Quote Originally Posted by Catdaddy View Post
    I have a 45 on a 1542 Duracraft. Wish I had bought the 55 thrust.

    Sent from my moto z3 using Tapatalk
    I have a 55 on my 1548 Duracraft. It can be slow going against a strong Edisto creek current. Otherwise it is great.
    It's not enough to simply tolerate the 2nd Amendment as an antiquated inconvenience. Caring for the 2nd Amendment means fighting to restore long lost rights.

  11. #11
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    You're gonna be disappointed with 30lb
    "Hunt today to kill tomorrow." - Ron Jolly

  12. #12
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    We used to run 40-50 lb thrust TM on 18' bass boats all the time 40 years ago- that was about all that was available. The 30 lb will be fine on that boat for what you want.

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    conventional wisdom is 2 lb thrust / 100 lb load. add a little more for current/tide. that's minn kota's position as well.
    source: internet.

  14. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by avuncularben View Post
    conventional wisdom is 2 lb thrust / 100 lb load. add a little more for current/tide. that's minn kota's position as well.
    source: internet.
    so...If my sneak boat weights 150 lbs. I weigh 200, I need a 7 lb thrust trolling motor? hmm. Must be for guys that like to paddle. You would get passed by humpin turtles.
    Quote Originally Posted by Glenn View Post
    Does Elton John know you have his shotgun?

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bad Habit View Post
    We used to run 40-50 lb thrust TM on 18' bass boats all the time 40 years ago- that was about all that was available. The 30 lb will be fine on that boat for what you want.
    I like your answer, but your the only one saying yes :/
    I remember fishing in the 90s when my grandad just got a foot pedal motor. I guarantee it wasn’t over 50lb and we thought we were cruising. I guess if you don’t know what you don’t know, 30lb might be alright for me since I have nothing right now!

    Does flat bottom vs V make any difference to needing more power or not?

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    I’ve got a 55 on my 15’ Boston whaler and it moves me against wind and tide pretty good
    867-5309

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    Quote Originally Posted by duckz View Post
    I like your answer, but your the only one saying yes :/
    I remember fishing in the 90s when my grandad just got a foot pedal motor. I guarantee it wasn’t over 50lb and we thought we were cruising. I guess if you don’t know what you don’t know, 30lb might be alright for me since I have nothing right now!

    Does flat bottom vs V make any difference to needing more power or not?
    flat bottom needs less- I had a 12v mid 40 lb on a 14' skiff and we would bass fish it all day on the lake and in the Cooper river with 2 guys and gear no problems and my tourney partner had a 47lb Evinrude on his 201 pro stratos for many years- never an issue

  18. #18
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    I had the most powerful 12v trolling motor I could find (55 ft/lbs.) on my flats boat until I finally decided to bite the bullet and add another battery to get a 24v motor.

    I can't think of a single good reason to go with anything less than 55 ft/lbs. A powerful 12v motor takes up the same room and weighs about the same as a weak one. You'll never regret having more power than you need.

  19. #19
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    What they say

    https://www.trollingmotors.net/blogs...r-thrust-guide

    https://www.minnkotamotors.com/learn...rolling-motors

    Of course there’s a difference between trolling to fish and using a trolling motor to travel
    Last edited by avuncularben; 06-05-2019 at 08:40 AM.

  20. #20
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    55lbs if you want a 12v. Really anything over a 16ft boat I’m running a 24v and over 18ft a 36v.

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