Trolling motor circuit breaker question

Greetings all,

I have a 11′ inflatable boat/dinghy I am adding a 30# Minn Kota trolling motor to with a 35AH Deep Cycle AGM SLA battery that will get me around at a slow speed for a couple hours and a self resetting (cheap $8) 50A circuit breaker. I am using an automotive plastic battery box, and some 4′ 10 gauge extension cables. The motor only comes with 5′ of cables and I needed more to get to my desired location for the battery toward the front of the boat. I know the usual set up for this would be from the positive side of the battery connect a short jumper cable to the circuit breaker and the positive side from the motor to the other side of the circuit breaker. Problem is I don’t have a short jumper for this and don’t readily have the means to make one (and frankly don’t want to spend more money as I’m a cheap SOB) and anyway for the life of me I can’t find this type (8 to 10 gauge +- 4 to 6″ with ring type terminals) jumper online for any price. Maybe I’m using the wrong search terms but I have tried a lot. So what I was going to do was connect the circuit breaker between the pos cable directly from the trolling motor to the pos of my 4′ extension cable, and then to the battery. Maybe wrap in electrical tape or heat shrink for water resistance. What I did not like about this was that it would end up laying in the bottom of the boat where water might end up and/or might get stepped on etc. (I know my extension joint is going to end up there too regardless but I feel more comfortable about being able to water proof that joint) Then I thought why can’t I just bolt the circuit breaker directly to the positive battery post and connect the pos cable to the other side of the breaker. I hope the photo I took will be visible here, but the post/nut on the breaker on the battery terminal and the post/nut and ring terminal on the cable do not touch each other when connected, there is a good gap between. Is there any good reason not to use this setup? I like it much better because it will put the breaker inside the battery box and be pretty much water proof.
Any comment/suggestions/etc. are very welcome.
Thank you, and happy fishing!

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Can’t answer all of your questions but the circuit breaker you have is not correct size for 10 gauge wire. The breaker is supposed to protect the battery and wire from a possible fire. 10 gauge wire should be fused with a 30 amp fuse. If you are using the 50 amp breaker you should be using a 6 gauge or larger wire.

Thanks much for your reply Supercat. See screenshot of Minn Kota website. The way I read this was if you have the 30# thrust motor, you use a 50A breaker and for 10′ or less of cable, use 10 gauge wire. Did I read it wrong?

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Minnkota chart says it’s for 105c insulation. 30a is 10awg with 60c rating. Really depends on the wire you have and how hot you’re comfortable with it getting. Yours looks like 200c? If so that is 75 amps capable according to chart I have.

You are correct on the 200 rating Reef. What do you think about the circuit breaker bolted directly to the battery in the original post? Good/Bad? Any reason not to? It will be inside a battery box and I don’t think it will get too hot. I intend to cover the battery box to keep out of direct sunlight. Thanks in advance!

The CB will be fine bolted on the + post but unless you already have the CB just buy an automotive in line fuse for $5.
I personally tin all my marine and must motorcycle wiring projects.
Gauge of wire has been beat to death.

Thank you for the reply Bladepuller. I do have the CB thus the photo in the original post, but how to you tin them if not tinned already?

With a soldering gun & non acid core flux. Strip the wires an equal amount, fit them together and drip solder on them.

Got it. TY sir.