bow mount advice

I recently purchased a boat and I’m looking to add a bow mount trolling motor. I haven’t owned one of these before, so I’m looking for some advice. The boat is a Crestliner Discovery 1650 tiller with a 60 hp outboard.

I was looking at a Terrova, and wanted to see if anybody has experience with a similar setup. Wondering if I can get away with a 12V/55 pound thrust or if I need to spend the extra money to upgrade to a 24v system/80 pound thrust. The boat is currently set up for a 12V, but I’m concerned if that will work alright on windy days or in current.

The boat also came with a Humminbird Helix 7 G2N, and I’m wondering if the extra money to get the “link” option is worth it. For anybody that has it, do you use the added features often?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Congrats on the boat purchase and welcome to the forum! You are on the fence IMO – technically the 55 is appropriate for your boat, but the 80 will move you faster and last longer (obviously). I generally say you will never regret the additional power, but it’s easy to spend other peoples money and the 80 slightly overkill for your size boat.

If you plan on trolling cranks, fishing heavy current, or fishing 5-6+ hours in a row I would get the 80, otherwise you are probably fine with the 55. Others here likely have similar boats and can offer better insight.

As for the link – sweet feature, but I didnt splurge for it and am content with my decision. I would go with additional power over the link or ulterra feature, but again thats just my opinion.

Agreed, right on the border of both.

55# certainly will be adequate enough, but it will need to be recharged each night on a weekend fishing trip. If you troll all day everyday it will run out of juice, but it suprisingly goes a long way.

I’ve been in many times older 1650 tyee that had a 55# 12v. Also in a 1650 Lund explorer that runs the 80#, 1750 fishhawk that runs the 80 as well, and a 1750 impact with 80 just for reference

How you fish and where you fish can depend on both of those decisions. Are you slowly working pieces of structures on smaller lakes? Trolling long stretches? Fishing in rivers with significant current? Mostly fish lakes that have HD Lakemaster maps, or off the beaten path unmapped lakes?

Here’s my take, I have an Alumacraft Tournament Pro 170 with a 60HP tiller. My boat has a 24V 65# power drive and does very well, lasts along time and can move the boat faster than I need. The nice thing with a bigger motor is that you can run it at a slower speed, thus making it last longer and not work as hard.

My Dad’s boat is a 1600 Lund predator with a 50hp tiller. His boat had a 12V 45# power drive and it was doggy, you had to run it at a high speed to keep the boat moving in any wind. I found a used 55# power drive that had a bad board for $25 on craigslist, I took the motor off that and put it on his. It’s better but still not the best.

One thing to note is you can always hook another battery up to your 12V system and have more capacity with the 12V, but I think you’ll be wanting to upgrade before long.

No doubt that bigger is generally always better but with this set up a 55lbs will be plenty. I’d go with the 55lbs and a good quality AGM battery. The extra cost in batteries, charger, weight wouldn’t be worth it to me for that boat.

If you need more run time, buy a second battery and hook it up parallel.

Sorta depends on current and wind.

I’d suggest the 80lb Terrova.

I had a 24 volt Powerdrive on my old Crestliner Angler (16 foot) and on the river it was great – and I’d never have wanted to use a 12 volt. But if you’re on small lakes etc., not as critical.

You could look into an on-board charger too. When you run the main outboard it sends power back to the battery. I have separate on-board chargers for both my cranking battery and my 24 volt bow mount and often times the batteries are almost full of power by the time I get back to the landing to leave.

Thanks for the input everyone.
mnfisherman – I think you are probably right that I wouldn’t regret the extra power. I am just cheap and was hoping to save some money.

Hoping to use the boat on a variety of lakes & rivers, so flexibility is a plus.

Going to look into the onboard charger as well.

Older TMs aren’t as effecient as newer ones fwiw. Wouldn’t be fair to compare my 10 year old 45# PD to one that can be purchased today.

gimruis wrote:

You could look into an on-board charger too. When you run the main outboard it sends power back to the battery. I have separate on-board chargers for both my cranking battery and my 24 volt bow mount and often times the batteries are almost full of power by the time I get back to the landing to leave.

Are you talking specifically about a DC alternator charger? Because a common on-board charger doesn’t get charged by the outboard.

look for a slightly used 80# to save cash. Someone who maybe upgraded to a 36v

Another thing to think about is the physical space of a 2nd battery for a 24v motor. Do you have the space for one?

Specifically to iPilot Link, I have it and fish lakes 95% of the time, which most are Lakemaster HD surveyed. I use Link maybe half the time for trolling along a breakline, or working around a piece of structure that has steep drops. For gradual stuff I personally don’t use it for that. It’s a nice feature and works really well, but I could certainly live without it just fine.

Another question, are you going to have a more than one Humminbird (or other sonar) in the boat, with one in the back and one at the bow? That might complicate things some more, specifically with iPilot Link.

Not apples to apples but I have a 1600 pro sport (similar in size but heavier due to the dual console and windshield) and I’ve not regretted one minute going with the 80#. Had times even with the 60″ shaft that the prop has come out of the water, usually about the time I call it quits when it’s that rough.

I upgraded the head for mine with the link, wasn’t impressed with the follow the contour feature (biggest reason I got it), really now the only benefit I get from the link is the big pink line it puts on my map showing me which way the head facing, that does come in handy trolling but would work without it. Otherwise I just use the autopilot, anchor mode and cruise control, all things the standard i-pilot will do without the link.

blank wrote:

Are you talking specifically about a DC alternator charger? Because a common on-board charger doesn’t get charged by the outboard.

Ya that was my mistake. Standard on-board chargers do not re-charge as I previously stated, thank you for correcting me.

Andrew Gilberg wrote:

Thanks for the input everyone.
mnfisherman – I think you are probably right that I wouldn’t regret the extra power. I am just cheap and was hoping to save some money.

I have had both Terrovas with and without link. I never used the link much so last motor i got without link. My choice would be the 80 lb.

Spend $$$ right the FIRST time.Spending twice never saves any $$$. JMO

Go with the 80.I don’t think you would be happy on windy days or in river current with the 55.

I run a 165 alumcraft tiller.
Same boat. Basically.
I have a 24v terrova.
I would not like anything less for power or runtime.
I have never ran out of batery and is fishing all day on Mille Lacs fishing bass without ever starting my tiller. It is fast enough when going from one stop to another, most guys would fire up the main but I will turn it to high, grab a sandwich and beverage sit back and enjoy my couple minutes.
Yes you will feel the difference when adding another battery but it is easily worth the slower holeshot.
Ron

Thanks everyone. I do have the space for a 2nd battery up front.
I think I am going with the 80lb w/o the link.