Looking to upgrade trolling motor, one that will keep me still in the wind. I think hand control is better for brush pile fishing.
I have a 40LB thrust now and on windy days it is a fight out there.
Looking for advise Minn Kota, Motor guide, ipilot, how big????
It will go on this 16' boat.

Up until a little over a year ago I had fished nothing but hand control motors for almost 40yr. I decided to try a foot control looking for more control especially over brushpiles. I started with a 70# motorguide but didn't like it, then switched to a MinnKota Maxuum 70# and love it.

I believe you can't have too much power in a trolling motor. This motor has plenty of pull for my 16'8" Champion and I can fish hard all day and never run my batteries down.

If I ever changed it would only be because I got a bigger boat, then I would move up to the MK Fourtrex; more power, stronger mount but same foot control.

Steve

I use a 70 lb Maxxum foot control on my boat and it is an 18.6 Champion. I tried a Terrova with I-Pilot and did not like it. The only time I ever had trouble was in 35 mph winds with Stucky and T Dub in the boat. I know it was stupid to be out there then. It did provide one great memory though.

T-Dub -->

Rangerbobtx,
Thats the stuff I'm looking for, keep em coming!

Bobby,
I remember you posting about that trip, was pretty funny.
So would you go foot or hand control, if you had to change motors?

Foot no doubt. I used to be died in the wool hand control back in the 80's. I really like the foot control now and like the freedom of using it. With the maxxum you can dial up the power with your foot also. If I ever had to change from the Maxxum I would go to an 80lb Fortrex for the easy up and down. Cliff has one and loves it.

I would think a 55 would work just find. Try to find a 24V one though so you can run it all day.

I'm in the same boat as you. It has come time for me to get a new hand control trolling motor. For the type fishing I do a hand control works better than a foot. I have a 16.8ft Nitro and have been looking for a used motor for awhile. Looks like I will have to break down and get a new one. I want a bigger motor so fishing in the wind want be a issue. When it comes to trolling motors bigger is better.

Reggie

FOC,
I was going to go the 24V system. Just need to know if foot or hand will suit me better. I'll let everyone weight in before laying down the cash. Since bigger is better first indications is it will be a 70lb thrust motor.

Minn Kota is hard to beat, I know you dont need a 101 lb. 36v foot control, which is what the trolling motor that I am running, but the Maxxum 70lb. 24v foot control in the 62" shaft will suit you just fine in that boat. Easy to operate and will take some punishment in rough water. I love my minn kota and wouldnt trade it for any other make! Good luck!

I feel ya. Just said 55 minimum was all. Bigger is better for sure. I use a hand control on my boat and it works mighty nice. Just make sure to add the hot foot and extension wand or you'll be having to fish one handed more than you would like. But that's just this man's thoughts on the matter. What do I know.

FOC,
If I do go hand control extention wand and hot foot will be part of the set up.
Thanks,

How old is your current trolling motor?
Like your 40#, my 46# was not cutting it on windy days. Even when it was not windy it felt like we were barely moving the old motor.I just had Boris Marine and Electronics upgrade it from 46# @ 12V to 76# @ 24V and 42" AL shaft to a 52" stainless shaft.The new motor flies. The upgrades were about 1/2 the price of buying a new motor. And he warranties the work for 1yr. A new Motorguide would only be 1yr too.

I've only used Motorguide so I cannot compare it to Minn Kota.And, I've only used foot, so I don't know which is better. I like that you can set the position on the hand control, leave the motor running and it will run in that one direction. Except for the electronic pedal control, I don't know of any foot controlled trolling motors that can do that.

I have a 16.5ft deep V with a 50lb trolling motor....on a windy day I wish I had more power....but more than anything I think I need a longer shaft model as the wave action pulls to prop out of the water. Is it common for deep V type boats to run with longer shafts?

About a month ago I decided to install a new TM. I replaced a Minn Kota Maxxium 80# foot controlled with a Minn Kota Fortrex 80# foot controlled. In other words, I just replaced what I had with a newer version. My 18.5' Lund is a heavy boat and I never have trouble controlling it in whatever strength wind with these Minn Kotas. You'd be hard pressed to do any better than a Minn Kota 24V.