Engine Mount Trolling Motor

I am looking at a new (to me) boat. Taking it for a ride in the morning and making a decision, though I think it’s already made. As I put my financing together want to include all the options. It has a 115 Mercury four stroke on it and a 55 pd 12 V bowmount. I’m guessing I won’t be able to troll slow enough as it sits. Thought about a troll plate, but have heard mixed reviews. Found a thread from last year discussing the Vantage and there were some comments about the engine mount trolling motors. I’m looking for something that I can troll with (cranks, spinners, bottom bouncer) in a 17 foot Lund.

Those who are using the engine mount trollers what do think? Can you pull cranks all day on a full battery charge? What speeds can I expect? Does it affect the big motor’s performance? How big a deal is it to mount? Looking at the Minn Kota site they suggest a 24 V 80 lb unit. Can I add a second battery and run both trollers off the pair or will I need three batteries, one for the front and two for the back? Anything else I should be thinking about?

I don’t want to rehash the older thread, but could I do the same things with the Vantage? I fished with someone who has one and they are pretty cool. Spending a little more on the boat than planned so am looking for a less expesive option than a kicker.

Thanks for the help,

Dave

If saving money is important to you than a set of drift control socks, or any other brand, might be the best option for you. If you do a search on here you should find a number of threads on the subject.

I would also consider the effectiveness on the current setup of your boat motor. Specifically the depth of your cavitation plate when the motor is all the way down. I have seen situations where the EM trolling motor is not submerged enough for it to run very efficient. You would hate to find this out after spending the money.

To answer a few of your specific questions.
Can you pull cranks all day on a full battery charge? I think that this truly varies on the conditions. River versus Lake. How much current or wind to deal with.

Can I add a second battery and run both trollers off the pair or will I need three batteries, one for the front and two for the back? Both of those scenarios are possible. It all depends on the boat’s storage/battery setup. I personally would go with the biggest batteries possible AND the least amount of batteries. More batteries means more weight.

Anything else I should be thinking about? If you plan using the bow mount very often, I think that you will find that you are going to want more lbs of thrust( 70-80lbs) and a 24 volt system so that you don’t run out of juice. Don’t forget to consider a onboard charger.

Hope this helps.

FDR

If you don’t have the funds for a kicker, I would upgrade to a bigger bow mount trolling motor or eithier use drift socks. Then save up for a kicker motor

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I would also consider the effectiveness on the current setup of your boat motor. Specifically the depth of your cavitation plate when the motor is all the way down. I have seen situations where the EM trolling motor is not submerged enough for it to run very efficient. You would hate to find this out after spending the money.

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I have the EM-80 and love it. Use it every time I’m on the water. But with that said….

I can almost guarantee you will have the above problem with a 17 foot Lund/115 set up.

-J.

I would negotiate out the 12V bowmount. I can almost guarantee you won’t be happy with it. Upgrade that and get a couple trolling bags by Drift Sock. You’ll be much happier with the setup and then you can start saving for a kicker.

I have a similar rig with same motor and a 74lb Minnkota bow mount. The Minnkota is fantastic for trolling and drifing live bait with or without drift socks. As for pulling plugs, my Mercury 115 4 stroke idles down to .8 mph with no problem. I only wish I had a Troll Master on it. It is difficult to manipulate the throttle to keep me in the 1.5 – 2.0 mph range. When I bought my boat I considered, like you are now, an EM motor vs a trolling plate vs socks, changing prop pitch, adding a hydrofoil, and found that I needed nothing for complete boat control. The ONLY help I can offer is that IMHO I would buy a 80-100lb Minnkota and replace your 55. The Terrova is a monster motor.

Well, I took it for a ride on Wissota this morning and forgot to bring my handheld gps to check trolling speeds, but we made a deal so I have a new ride.

It sounds like Dog2th went through the same analysis I have been agonizing over and his rig works fine. I just thought that if I was going to finance part of the deal, I might as well get it set-up the way I want. Ultimately, I suspect I will end up with a kicker, but with a daughter getting married, think that will wait. Not sure how excited she will be riding around the lake in my new boat that she will see as her wedding expenses. I’ll keep peace in the family for a year and then Dad can go play.

I did stop to see Kevin at Absolute Power and he made similar arguments to what is listed here, so I may upgrade the bowmount yet this year.

Now I just need to find some time off to use it.

Thanks for the input,

Dave

Congrats on the new boat!

-J.

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Congrats on the new boat!

-J.

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Dito.
You will have to post some pics.

Thanks,

Pics will have to come later, but for now it is a 2005 Lund Mr. Pike 17 (silver and black)single council with a 115 Merc four stroke and a 55 lb Minn Kota Power Drive. It also has a power deckmate anchor on the back, but don’t know how much I’d use that unless I’m looking for panfish. I picked up a used Lowrance color graph with gps for the helm and a color graph for the bow and am still working on an upgrade for the trolling motor. It’s in really great shape, but I suspect the money pit is just starting. There will always be one more thing to add or change.

I’m heading to Winnebago in the morning as a co-angler for the last Wisconsin League event, so won’t get it out til next week, but now I have the option of going as a boater next year if I want to.

Congrats on the new boat – for and EM101 I was able to pull cranks @ ~1.8 mph for 8 hours one day last year – I had three group 29 deep cycle batteries in the boat. to pull for a full day on a 24V might be a challenge. As others have suggested, either a trolling plate or a pair of small drift bags would be a smaller investment to try as a solution.

Good luck and enjoy your new ride!

-ted