Trolling motor thrust?

Hi guys,

I am planning on buying a trolling motor for my boat. The total weight of my boat + full load is around 1450lbs. I’ve seen recommendations from Minnkota that the minimum amount of thrust is 2 lbs. of every 100lbs. According to my calculations a 45lbs trolling motor would give me around 3lbs of every 100lbs.

So, on to my question. Would a Minnkota Powerdrive 45lbs 54” be enough for me or is it a BIG no? In which way would a 55lbs trolling motor benefit me? Does it give me more power to fight the wind and would It give me more speed?

Thanks in advance!

If you will name your boat, length, brand ,ect. River or lake usage, big or small water, you will get a better response. Hi, DK.

I think you are making this a bit too hard. What hull style you have? What is boat made of? How long is the boat? What is the hulls max HP for gasoline outboard. This info would translate easier for me and maybe others into how much thrust you need to be comfortable.

Sure. I mainly fish in the inner finnish arghipelago, so in calmer water.

Boat model: Buster L
Length: 16’ (4,9meter)
Weight: 749lbs
Engine: Honda BF50 (weight around 200lbs)

Boat is made of aluminium and has a deep v hull. The maximum gasoline output is 50HP.

You’ll never wish you had something smaller. I’d think that a 24 volt 70lb. thrust Minn Kota Power Drive with with a 54″ shaft would be ideal for your boat if you can swing it and fit the batteries in your boat.

You will be fine using the calculations they recommend. If you go out in windy conditions a lot or frequently fish in current, it would make sense to go up a size or two. I have 16′ deep v that weighs approx 1600lbs wet (boat, motor, gear, etc .) and I have a 55lb bow mount. I have found it to be plenty sufficient and the only time I thought more would be better was in heavy flow conditions in the main channel of the Mississippi.

If you can afford it, get one with IPilot. You will never regret it.

Thank you for the answers!

A lot of variables here. I have a small 16’ boat with a 25 hp Yamaha (guessing the boat, motor, batteries and related gear weigh a bit under 1000 lbs without passengers) and I have a 55lb thrusts 12 volt terrova and will say that there is no way I would go any smaller than that. It does what I need most of the time but there are times that I wish I had an 80lb 24 volt motor. Mostly just short on power when the rivers are high and the wind is blowing. If it were me I wouldn’t even consider the 45 lb unit for the minor cost difference to the 55lb. If you can fit and afford 2 batteries for a 24 volt system with 70 or 80 lbs I would definitely consider it.

Christoffer, if you fish with a top up on your boat I don’t feel like even a 24v motor will save you. I run my electric on calm days and my kicker on windy days.

More thrust will give you more power but not necessarily more speed.

If you got room for 2 batteries go bigger.I’m certain at some point you will wish you did.You can always run on lower speeds but when you need more it’s there.

Don’t forget to factor in the additional weight of jumping up to a 24v (extra battery, heavier trolling motor)

50hp four-strokes aren’t known for neck breaking acceleration.

If your boat is slow to plane out right now, adding 100 pounds (2nd battery and heavier trolling motor) isn’t going to help your cause.

But if it pops up on plane right now, the additional weight wouldn’t be a deal breaker.

Thank you for the answers, really appreciate it! Just curious about bigger/heavier boats. If for example the wet weight of a boat (deep v hull) is around 3300lbs and has a 100lb trolling motor the ratio would be the same as in my case (3 lb vs 3 lb of every 100lbs). I know that these recommendations about thrust are not that sufficient, but I guess they tell something or am I totally wrong?

Would my trolling motor/boat fight the wind or current as good as the bigger one? Obviously the bigger one has more thrust/power but the weight/size of the boat is also on another level compared to the smaller boat.

IF you don’t plan to do a lot of trolling with the motor, I would get a 54 inch 70 lb thrust 24-volt cable steer like a Minn Kota Maxium. bulletproof. DK.

Ideally,I would go with 24V,but would go no less than 55lb thrust.You will definitely want more thrust if fishing in any kind of currents.
I use a 12V 55lb thrust Terrova,but with the way the Miss river has been the last few years,it isn’t enough in many situations.

I have a liitle light Jon boat and I have a 50lb-here is another variable, how flexible are you about picking the day you fish? For me I work all week and then if I have plans with the boss….anyway if that one day is windy I fish anyway, If you avoid the wavy side of the lake you are missing some great fishing.

Is there current in that sea you fish?

I see no reason why you’d need more than a 55# 12v system. Newer TMs are super efficient on battery and handle most conditions, river fishing is a whole bucket of worms you need not worry about if you don’t have those conditions.

With that said, and if your boat is similar to what’s in pic I would seriously want to measure the height from water line to the decking where TM is going and make sure it’s adequate. 12v only comes in so long a shaft.

Good luck.

x2. Make sure the shaft is plenty long.

So often people will tell you to go big, 24v, but with that size of a boat I don’t think that’s necessary for the vast majority of times, or unless you’re going to be trolling at speeds of 1.5 mph+. With 24v you need another battery and for ease a two bank on-board charger, thus more weigh, cost and minor complexity.
If you can afford it, I’d go with a 55lb Terrova, 54″ shaft, with ipilot so you get spot-lock. One concern would be making sure that shaft length is long enough.

If you have the room for 2 batteries go 24v. I wish I would have. I went 12v because that was all I thought I need and wanted to save weight and the cost of an extra battery. I didn’t fish the river at the time when I bought my trolling motor. Now I do and like milemark said, wish I went 24v.

Don’t go 55lb…you will regret it…i have a 95 fish hawk tiller with a 55lb and i regret ever day not going bigger. My dad has a 90 lund tyee walk thru with a 70lb and it will get that thing going 4 to 5 when you hit rabbit on the ipilot control

Lot of energy spent looking at what is minimal. Not once ever did anyone gripe about having more than enough power. Do yourself a favor and up the lbs a few to make sure you have plenty. Additionally, you suck the life out of your batteries if you are continuously running max. Size it so you can run 3/4ish of max power and you get a crap load more hours out of your batteries