Anyone have any experience running a freshwater trolling motor in saltwater? Does it just decrease their life or do they die instantly?

Thanks

Rusty

Rusty,

I have run a freshwater trolling motor in salt water for the past 6 years...The only thing is like anything else on your boat..wash it down thouroughly with soapy water...then wash it again...my motor finally died this past year..but that was because I hit a stump at lake fork REALLY hard which split open the plastic painted over coat...water seeped into the motor head and POOF..gone for good...keep it clean and you should be ok

Thanks barstow i sure appreciate it.

One of the main differences is the saltwater version has a zinc sacrificial anode to fight corrosion....you can add an anode to any trolling motor and it will help, especially with electrolysis.

It depends on what kind of trolling motor you buy.... Because on Motorguides they have a big zinc as mentioned above. But I think on most all of the Minnkota's, you can just change out the washer on the prop with a zinc washer. I heard Minnkota makes the washer.

I have a Minn Kota, so I'll try that


Thanks

Rusty

Been using mine for the last 3 years. Motorguide brute 24v 85. Like someone said go to the car wash when you get out. The flush the outboard evrtime you use it. Plus wash you reels off with water hose. Anything you can do to get the salt off.

Theres also stuff called Salt Away and Salt X you can wash your stuff off with.

I used a MK allterrain in saltwater a few times and the exterior screws/hardware rusted pretty quickly but that motor continued to run fantastically for another year, right up to the time I sold that jon boat.