Is my MinnKota trolling motor too small or just not working properly?

Not Humminbird related, but it is MinnKota. I have a Riptide 70 or 75 on my 17 foot bass-type boat (the boat’s a discontinued one called a “Quantum). Anyway, I used to have a very cheap fish finder, and just installed my first Helix. So, now I know how fast I’m trolling. The TM only gets me up to 1.4 mph or so, and that’s on the highest setting. I haven’t had the boat out since 2012, but it seems to me it went faster, although I can’t swear to it. When I finally went out on Saturday, I found I had to use the engine to troll, because the TM wouldn’t move the boat fast enough (I wanted to troll around 2.7 – 3.0 mph). Is this normal for a TM that size on my sized boat, or should I be trying to figure out if there’s an issue? Thanks.

I’m assuming that you have 2 deep cycle batteries wired in series and both are up to par.

Have you taken the prop off the TM to make sure there isn’t a bunch of old fishing line or grass wrapped around the inner shaft?

To Denny O: Yes, I have 2 brand new batteries wired in-line specifically for the TM. They are Interstate size 29.

Bullcans: No, I haven’t checked for line around the prop. I will do that within the next few days. Thanks.

Again, I’d really like to know if you guys think the TM should be able to actually troll this boat at a reasonable speed (3-4 mph).

Thanks.

Hey Chris is your boat fiberglass or aluminum? The weight could make a big difference.

My old white toped auto piloit 42# or so Minnkota pushed my 1950 Tyee in Rainy River Baudette fairly well both directions. It was a 24 volt. But then I got a 102 Terrova in a 36 volt and that was the cats meow!

It’s fiberglass, and I can’t think that it’s all that heavy. My TM is a 24 volt. Maybe I need to lower the prop a bit, I think I have 6″ or so that I could move it down. Maybe that would help it. Also, I doubt it matters, but I added I-Pilot to it years ago. Keep the suggestions coming, and I’ll keep messing with it.

Specs say it weighs 1580 lbs empty, and I have a 115 Mercury on it. Here’s a photo of the boat, although this one isn’t mine, it’s the same thing.

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