I’m replacing a small 12v Minkota with a 72Lb. Maxim 24v 60 inch shaft unit on my 16ft flat. The small motor didn’t need any extra support and there was just enough room for four holes on the flat area at the bow but the new motor is twice as big. If you’ve done this before I’d appreciate hearing how you supported a bigger motor and also how you rigged for two batteries. My Exspress doesn’t have any battery compartments.
Minn kota makes several different types on quick release plates, I actually have two on my boat to get my terrova mounted, I bet these plates can help you get it installed.
As far as the batterys go you will need 2 deep cell batterys hooked in series. Your trolling motor will have 2 leads coming off it a positive and a negative. On the batterys you will hook a jumper wire from the negaive on one battery to the positive on the other battery. Then your leads go to the open terminals left on the batteries. Its always a good idea to use a voltmeter to check the voltage on the two empty terminals before you connect your motor. Might not be exactly 24v could be a little less or more depending on your batterys. Also fuses are a must they are cheep and will save that motor if you have something wrong or a sharp edge gets a wire or about a million other things that happen to boat wiring. They also make circuit breakers instead of fuses which are nice if you dont want to carry extra fuses. But keep in mind if it keeps triping theres something wrong.
Let me google that for you…………
You will need 6ga wiring and a 50amp fuse. My preference is to get the self resetting fuses that connect directly to the battery terminal.
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Let me google that for you…………
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=minnkota+quick+release+brackets
OH SNAP! 
I’d claim I was posting from my phone, but that time I was on my laptop….
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Let me google that for you…………
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=minnkota+quick+release+brackets
OH SNAP!
I’d claim I was posting from my phone, but that time I was on my laptop….
Wow! That was kewl!
I have an Xpress 16 foot drop deck. I added an extra gun box so I have two and I also put the gas tank up front and enclosed both batteries alongside the gas tank. My power drive is bolted right on the boat with only 3 bolts. I also shortened the shaft by about a foot to make it ride better. I will try an snap a picture tonight so you can see what I did. My boat goes like a raped ape on the 65 # thrust tm. at full out I can get over 4mph. You could have gotten by with a lesser TM for that boat.
I took this motor off my Ranger 617 and plan to put an I-pilot unit on it. I’m familiar with the wireing part of it but am trying to find the best way to secure and protect the 2 batteries before I just had the one strapped down on the deck in a battery box. Also the raised area at the bow is very short before it drops down to the front deck leaving a lot of the motor bracket unsupported so I wondered what others have done to make this more secure. Would especially be interested in pictures. Thanks
Not many folks go from a Ranger to an Xpress and I must compliment your taste in fine boats. The onboard charger has made my deep cycles last twice as long. I highly recommend one. I could only get 3 bolts in the small space. I locked them on and then painted them. They haven’t moved a 16th in 6 years. If you have this same rig, you are going to hate a 60 inch shaft. You can trim the shaft on a PD. I don’t know so much about the one you have. you just use a pipe cutter but be very careful around the wires once you are close. I suppose one of these years I should get around to fusing it but right now and since I’ve owned it, wired direct hasn’t been an issue. I did have a hot wire that wore through and had to be replaced in year 4. I’m on my second foot pedal and love the copilot.
Thanks for the pictures Whiskerkev. I’ve thought about moving the gas tank forward also. May have to se if my welder buddy can make a compartment for me. I’d be careful making battery conections and chargeing batteries that close to your gas tank. I still have the ranger but the Xpress is great for duck hunting and spring/winter fishing.
I never remove the connections on the battery and I charge with the cover open. The charger does get a little warm but it is several inches from the gas tank. When working in tight spaces you get to make compromises. If I had to do it over again, I would weld some light aluminum in the floor and put interlocking rubber matting on top of it. The wood is heavy. I have twin boys age 5 and will soon need a larger boat, garage, and truck to pull it with. If you enclose it, it is no longer condidered a boat of “open contruction” and you need a fire extinguisher on board.
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If you enclose it, it is no longer condidered a boat of “open contruction” and you need a fire extinguisher on board.
Required or not – There’s a piece of mind you get for free when you have an extinguisher on board.
A couple follow up questions regarding the wiring… the Terrova 24v manual calls for a 60 amp circuit breaker & 6 guage wire.. question
1) anyone know what guage comes rigged standard on an alumacraft trophy 175 (I’d look, but its not here right now. I’m guessing smaller than 6). A guy at Cabelas said I would be fine running what is standard (but he was pretty sure it was smaller than 6 – a second opinion would be nice)
2) How necessary is it to put 6 guage in?
3) If I left a smaller guage wire in, would it be smart to put in, say a 50 amp breaker instead (at least until I put the bigger wire in) to avoid a problem?
4) Specs say it draws a max of 56 amps, in what cases (only max speed or very close to it while turning?)would it draw over 50 amps to break the circuit breaker (if a 50 was used)?
Thanks in advance
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