I am purchasing a lund 1800 fisherman and I can’t decide what motor to go with. I would like the most horsepower/performance, but I don’t want to put a kicker on the boat. I mainly fish walleyes and would like an outboard that trolls down to around 2-2.5 mph. Any suggestions???
I don’t know what max hp that boat’s rated for. I’d think you could go up to a 50 hp, either 2 or 4 stroke (really recommend 4 stroke), if you plan to back troll to get your 2 to 2.5 mph. I’ve got an old Johnson 35hp 2 stroke on my 16-foot deep V Lund, and it’ll only troll down to 2.5 mph going forward. Really want a 4 stroke, been out with guys who have them, but don’t want to part with the bucks.
Some of you guys with 4 strokes, can you troll down slower with a higher hp model than with 2 strokes because 4 strokes run smoother?
I have a 4 stroke 80 yamaha and it actually trolls just a bit faster than my 2 stroke 75 merc would. On a calm day in no current I can only get down to 2-1/2 to 2-3/4 mph.
I have a ’99 Suzuki EFI 60-4 Stroke. Depending on conditions, it tolls between 1.9 to 2.3mph at the lowest trottle setting.
’03 merc 60 efi 4stroke In moderate current going forward–1.5 to 1.9. Back trolling in same current .6 to 1.0 GPS
Motor is mounted on a Lund 1675 explorer tiller.
Nice boat. I spent last winter deciding between a Fisherman 1800 and a Crestliner Sportfish 1850. I opted for the Sportfish, but they are pretty similar and maybe my experience will help.
I have a Yamaha 150 Carb. Got carb due to cost and the proven track record. The boat moves pretty good, and will troll in the 1.5 – 1.7 mph on the at idle. It is a little hard to control it precisely. If I wanted to go 2.2mph that would be fairly hard to do, but if I wanted to go 3.5 that would be easy.
You may want to consider the 115 4 stroke, it may be able to hold small adjustments in speed. I think Honda has a 135 4stroke. In my opinion anything smaller than 115 would be a disappointment.
I just ordered the Lund Alaskan 1800. Putting a Mercury 75R 4stroke on it. I’m hoping to avoid buying a kicker motor with this choice. Along with fishing for eyes on the Mississippi, I spend alot of the summer fishing for cats on several smaller rivers that can get pretty shallow. I’ve keep my Jon for now but hope this choice in boats can be used there also.
I’d vote for the Yamaha 115 5 stroke if it will fit the Lund. It will easily troll at 1.9 and perhaps lower. Good control because of the prop size and pitch and it performs just great. Nice thing about the 4-strokes is the quiet. You get so little noise, especially at idle, that it often seems as though you don’t have it running. Gas economy is fabulous, too.
The 4-stroke requires a little more care because of the engine itself, but I wouldn’t trade mine.
A lot of the trolling speed has to do with the pitch and prop size. You could check the ratings and see what types of props would fit the motor you’re buying. I think that it goes, deeper pitch, slower speeds. You trade a little bit of the fast jumps out of the well, but if you’re looking for trolling speed, definitely go for the deeper pitch.
Are you going to get an electric bow mount? That always helps, too.
Mike
Hey Mud, a 5 stroke 
I’ve got a Merc 50 HP 4 stroke on a Alumacraft, and I really like it. It trolls down to 1.7 to 2.0 mph. the rig has worked out very well for me. Good Luck, SNAKEYES
I run a 1675 Lund Explorer SS with a 50 hsp 2 stroke, while its a tough motor , it still smokes(nasty when the wind is at your back), it idles beautiful but on the lake it only trolls down to 2.5-2.7mph (to fast).
just my opinion
I have a Lund 1650 with an Evenrude 60 tiller two stroke. Normally trolls1.9 to 2.0 Gps To slow my trolling speed I kick the trim out and I can get her down to 1.1 if need be going forward. When it comes to outboards I beleive in the biggest that will fit the boat you can always slow down but if you ain`t got it when you need it your SH– out of luck.
Good Luck
Tom P
I have a Lund 1700 Fisherman with 115 Yam 4-stroke plus the T8 kicker off the side. The 115 is the minimum I’d put on the boat, and mostly wish it was a 150 with no additional weight. Don’t go lower than the 115, you’ll be sorry. It idles nice at low rpm but movement forward is still 1.5+. I run a 17″ SS prop on this one. The T8 is “the” gem if you want precision trolling with a kicker, fabulous, lots of talk on the forums here about this motor and they are all true..
I would definitly look into a yammy before you choose a motor…i have a 2001 115yam.in my eyes there isnt a motor out there thats better then yahama. 
trolls down to .09 in good conditions…
I have a 2001 Yamaha 4 stroke and I can only troll down to 2.5 mph on my GPS. What are you guys doing different to get down less than 1.5 mph? The only way I can get down that slow was throwing out a drift sock or buy a T8. I went with the T8 kicker.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
