which would you guys get? I know the 80 will hold, but I am thinking it would be nice to have the extra just incase. Also I think I heard that a 36volt system will last longer on a charge than a 24, is this correct? The downfall is the extra cost and added another battery. this will be going on a 18'6" CC, lets hear your thoughts.

its always nice to have more but on a 18 1/2 foot boat i think 80 will be just fine lol i would think a 36 volt system will last longer.

I have a 70 on my 18'3 Champion and have never needed more. I think an 80 will be great. The Terrova...... not so much. Buy a foot control Fortrex. I don't think you will like the Terrova's mechanical head and slow response time around timber and bridges. The Spot Lock is what I bought it for and it would work fine on staying over a school of sandbass or working a point casting jigs but for vertical fishing it does not stay put very good at all. Seemed like my jig was always swimming at an angle. It had at least 10' radius, so a 20' circle.

thanks for the input guys

Bobby,

I have heard many bad and many great reviews for the terrova, i dont know that i would use the spot lock to expect me to stay right over a pile for a extended time, but thats why I would pick the terrova over the powerdrive. This way i can control with the foot pedal still. I think the main reason i like it is for when my wife and kids are up front i can still control from back. I can also just use the spotlock for when i have to run and tie back on or get something from the back. Does this make sense or am i just dreaming with these ideas?

my concern is that you guys are using these on bass boats, but my CC has higher sides and the console picks up alot of wind

Bobby,

do you have a Terrova or a Powerdrive

It makes sense and did to me too at one time. The foot pedal is different than a cable drive. I would strongly suggest going out with someone that has one before you buy one Josh. I think if you try it you will see what I am talking about. I solved my problem by teaching my wife to run the foot control trolling motor.

true, ya i will definately have to find someone that has one first. They are alot of money and I dont want to get something that I am going to hate a week later. thanks Bobby

I had a Terrova and took a $500 whuppin to go back to a Maxxum. If I bought another trolling motor it would either be a Maxxum or a Fortrex period. No more mechanical heads for me. Also that head when on Spot Lock can twist 360 and twist the transducer cable in half if you don't have enough slack. You can take the shaft out and install the transducer wire down the shaft and that helps but you always have to watch it.

thats what I am worried about, I am just a poor ole military guy.....LOL

My boat is a 20' CC with high sides. I am running a Terrova 80# and it holds fine.

I prefer the electric rotate over the cable because it is a much smoother transition for me personaly and i also use the TM more from the drivers seat then i do the front of the boat However with that said Bobcat is correct the cable is much much faster to turn and i do find many times that i wish mine would react faster so it is definatly a trade off I can see where most people would prefer the cable but until my catch numbers go way down im not planning on working that hard to fish. On another note i was going to buy a TM with spot lock and try fishing some brush but after reading this thread with the comments they will only hold you in a 10' radius i guess i will save my money and continue to fish standing timber with the trusty limb gripper and rope Great info thanks for sharing!!!!

thanks chuck and quicksilver...lots to think about before dropping that kind of money

Josh,

In direct response to the question asked, the 80 should be fine. When Ronnie Capps was here for CAT's Extravaganza, I had the opportunity to talk to him about trolling motors.

He uses a Fortrex 80 on his 23' Ranger. He keeps a lot of equipment in his boat - he's 7 time Nat'l champ and he didn't get there doing it one way.

He says he had the 101 but it was too noisy (he's a stealth freak) and turned it in and got another 101 thinking he just got a bad one. He had the same problem so he now has the 80 and told me it pushes him find. As a side note, he places the prop as shallow as he can (towards the surface) that he can get away with depending on conditions. He says it spooks the fish less. I usually leave mine in one position unless I'm in real shallow water like this past Thurs. I've never given this thought but I thought I would pass it along.

I too am looking at the Terrova 80/45/US2 to replace my MK 55. I can't wait for the extra power. I've been in several boats with the Fortrex and it is a good TM. But if you don't have the bow tray for the foot pedal, beware of the difficulty of keeping your leg up all day to operate it. Even with a tray, it will likely be up some.

I fish solo a lot and with the gkids when visiting and I want the spot lock so I am free to do other things. The good think as I see it, the Terrova will have the remote and foot pedal. Just like all other equip there are trade offs. I am aware of the 360 wrapping mentioned and the slower response time. I've operated the cableless ones so I'm sure I'll be able to work around the delay if it becomes an issue. Anyway, it can't be any less than with what I have today with the 55. I am concerned about the wrapping though.

Another thing to consider with the wrapping issue is what sonar you are using. If yours is compatible with the US2 (and if you're getting it) then you will be ok and only have to worry about the wrapping; however, if you have one of the new sonars or thinking about it, the unit may not be compatible. Stringing it down the shaft is an all new set of issues.

Regardless of which model we go with, it won't be a bad decision, that's the good part. Good luck.

Jimmy,

thanks for the great response. I watched that seminar with Ronnie and he has alot of good information on there. I dont think i will be flooding my boat anytime soon though...LOL. I guess i am just going to have to try them out before i make my decision. I talked to quicksilver yesterday and i think we will meet up when i get back so I can check out his 80LB on a big center console. I wont be using the US2, I will be putting an 898 up there, so will have the big SI transducer.

thanks again for the input.

Josh