12 or 24 volts?

I’m tired of fighting for boat control with the transom mount elec. on my Explorer. What are your thoughts on bow mount size? It looks like I can go with the Minnkota 55 series in 12volt or the 65 in 24 volt.

Battery storage in the bow of my Explorer 1600 is limited,so I’m considering the 12volt 55# thrust. What does your experience say? 12 or 24?..Thanks …….B

Brian,

I would highly suggest going to the 24volt if you can swing it with the storage space you have available. You will be much happier down the road, especially when we get those really strong south winds here on the river. You know what they say, there’s only 2 wind directions on the river…………upstream or down stream .

If you are only going to use it to re-position the boat on a jig drift I think the 12 volt would work for you. If you plan on using it to fight the current , for example 3waying up river or trying to hold on one spot to cast a wing dam you should go with the 24volt.

24 volt. Only way to do it and have the power you’ll want for a full day of fishing.

A person can never have enough power. The boat I have now has the 65# 24 volt set up and I like it. On the 1800 Pro V my son Nate had they put a 55# to get him on the water quickly and said they would give him a 65# when one came in. But he chose to stay with the 55# as it worked pretty good. He will probably go with a bigger one next time though. Pulling a boat forward with a front trolling motor is alot easier than trying to push a boat [flat back end of the boat] backwards against the water and current and takes more power. When backtolling though with an electric motor, loosen the screw under the head on motor and turn it so it is facing the opposite way. This way you will have higher power and more speeds pushing you backwards which will give you more power for backtrolling. Thanks, Bill

Hey B…B here…

I have the Angler SS with the 55AP in 12v. I do run two batteried to get me through the day (14 hours) and this works….

But, if I were to do it over again I would be running 24v with at least the 65 for all of the reasons the guys gave above.

I run a 55PD and it works for me but I don’t run the river much and when I do I don’t use the trolling motor. I just keep a spare battery and switch out if needed. If I were to buy one now, I’d go with the 24 volt to make it easier.

B, I’ve got the 1675 explorer tiller with the Minnkota Maxxum 74-24v. Had to separate the batteries to 2 compartments, but both still up front. No complaints from me. Plenty of power. Jolly Marine had a good deal on a Maxxum in another thread.
Don’t allow yourself to be underpowered. When we hit the water this year for crappie, I do not expect this to be an issue!

I have an Alumcaraft 17’Tournament Pro with a 74 lb Minn Kota front mount Maxxum. It will run all weekend bass fishing in the summer and for 2 days drift fishing for walleye in the spring and fall. With the extra power and thrust, you don’t have to run it on such a high setting.

Hey ther B Buddy !!

You know the boay I run. 1675 Explorer SS and I have a 65pm 24 volt system…on board charger make charging the batteries a snap!!! if you get on get the one that charges all three batteries that way in the colder weather you don’t need to pull them all thetime , just leave the charger plugged in !!!

The coolest thing I have noticed with my 24v system is how long it lasts. As long as you don’t use it to troll it will last long weekends in the wilderness. I used mine for manuevering only and plenty of shoreline fishing on a camping trip to Rainy and the guage never read lower than 100%. I was being conservative but still used it alot for 3 days.

I am in the same boat as you Big B (no pun intended). I currently have the 55# AP. I like it, but even with 2 batteries she drians pretty quickly. And the times on the river, she’s toast pretty quick. So, I am moving up to a 24v, with the Maxxum 74#. These guys who ahve posted above also helped me in making my decision.

Brian,

Like everyone mentioned here, if you have the room for the extra battery…do it! Not only is it power you get with the trade off but also the longevity of these two batteries. Everyday is different, especially if you fish a river alot. Like Dustin mentioned, either its blowing up or down the river and never in the direction you would like.

As Koonce mentioned, today’s on-board chargers will charge several batteries over night at a 10amp per battery pace. I have 4 batteries on board that I rely on being charged up each and every day when I hit the water, thanks to my 4 bank/10 amp charger.

Go for the extra juice!

Steve,
I don’t need it but, who makes a 4 bank charger?

Hey Herb, I know that Dual Pro and Minn Kota both make a 4 bank on-board charger.

Guest also makes a four bank charger.

Man, I feel like I just emerged from the dark ages.
thanks

Don’t feel bad Herb, I haven’t told my wife that she doesn’t have to row when I troll yet….

You could always do what I did: Get a 12/24 motor and only hook up the 12V. I have yet to be in a situation in which I would’ve needed more power, but I don’t do a lot of fighting current with it either.

Thanks for all the good replies!!
Staying in position while casting wingdams is the main reason I am going to add a bow mount. It is simply not possible to do it effectively with the transom elec.

After reviewing the information I gathered here I am trying to find space for two batteries in the bow,and the on board charger. I may have to trade boats a couple years earlier than I planned