Things To Consider Before Buying
You dont have to worry if you dont have much knowledge about trolling motors. After reading this buying guide selecting the right trolling motor for pontoon boat will become an easy task for you. Lets get started.
1. Mount Location
The first thing you need to consider before buying a trolling motor is where you are going to mount it. Different models feature different places to mount the motor. the main mount options are bow, transom and engine. Each one of these mount regions has their pros and cons.
The best among the three of these is bow mount trolling motor, as with this motor you will be actually dragging your bait around the lake just by the power of your motor. Therefore, with the help of this trolling motor, you will not have to troll anymore and also the noiseless characteristic of this motor will not drive the fishes away. For fishermen, this trolling motor will be the best fit.
Also, to control the boat with a bow mount trolling is far much easier. But installing a bow-mounted motor can become a little tricky. Therefore, some anglers love the convenience that the engine mounted trolling motor offers.
2. Pontoon Boat Trolling Motor Shaft Length
Many companies offer variable ranges of shaft length. So, finding the shaft of the right length for your pontoon boat will not be not so hard.
3. The thrust of Trolling Motor
4. Advanced features
Extra long cable for flexible battery placement 1-year warranty Saltwater rated
Minn Kota Endura Transom Mount Trolling Motor
6 telescoping handle 2-year warranty
This trolling motor under $100 has all the features that costly trolling motors contain. This motor has a variable speed range of eight, 5 forward and 3 reverse. With 12-volt battery and 30-inch long shaft, it can provide you the pleasure of comfortable ride during fishing.
Its motor system is ultra-quiet and cool, because of this feature fishes will not drive away. It has extended battery life and contains some additional components that will prove beneficial to you, such as, prop pin, prop nut and prop washer. And you can also install your inflatable pontoon boat with a trolling motor like this.
Customer Reviews: This trolling motor has a rating of 4.7 dur to its following features like, easy to install, value for money, extended battery life and low noise level.
Aquos Haswing Mount Trolling Motor
Best Electric Motor for Inflatable and Aluminum Boats
- AQUOS Haswing Cayman B 12V 55LBS 48inch Bow Mount…
- The wireless remote control fits into the palm of your hand…
- Cruise control keeps your boat at the…
- Features a compact wireless remote control
- Quick-release bracket for easy installation and removal
- Cable-wired foot control for precise operation
- Great in freshwater and saltwater
- Features an ergonomic lifting handle for better motor portability
The AQUOS HASWING motor is equipped with a 48-inch aluminum alloy shaft that allows easy switching of boats.
Its wireless remote fits perfectly in anyones palms and allows you to control speed effortlessly. This electric trolling motor works greatly both in fresh and saltwater its construction is corrosion-resistant.
The motors stow and deploy foot pedal allow easy transitioning between the water or on the boat. Because it has an ergonomic lifting handle, you can remove and transport this trolling motor easily.
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What Size Trolling Motor For Inflatable Boat
Bigger is nearly always better. Larger boats need more juice, but when choosing a trolling engine, we recommend considering wave action, wind, and current. Erring on the stronger side has its benefits because stronger motors work at lower speeds more efficiently and offer a safe cushion for wind, waves, and current handling.
Trolling motors differ slightly in the measurements required to purchase correctly. Trolling engines need not be aligned with the bottom of the hull to operate at high performance. In order to perform a trolling motor correctly, the motor compartment must be submerged 10-12 below the water surface. This measurement will be useful later.
You still have to start measuring at the top of the transom, but you only have to step to the waterline. This measurement will vary according to weight, sea conditions, and boat type. In this measurement, add 10 below the water to the recommended minimum shaft length. To make it more comfortable, add 12 to the waterline measurement. If the length is equal to or in between sizes, move into the longer length.
You have to measure from the bottom of the motor head to the propeller housing to measure the shaft length on a rolling engine. This length may vary by an inch or two, but the rated motor shaft length may be round to the closest number.
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Get Your Deck Boat Trolling Motor Today
Along with all the other accessories thatll change your boating life, trolling motors grant you well-deserved peace and quiet while youre out on the water.
Some of the best times Ive had on my boat were with my trolling motor. Heading out with the guys, casting a line, and spending the day looking for fish while enjoying the outdoors.
A trolling motor can change the way you fish, and even your life.
Isnt it about time you invested in your fishing skills?
Max Specht is a copywriter and content strategist from Canada. When hes not busy navigating the Florida waterways, or the open expanses of the Great Lakes, hes in the business of writing and devising content that truly makes the grade.
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Trolling Motor Battery And Charger Recommendation
Get yourself a deep-cycle battery. Dont run off the main battery, as it could drain with you getting stuck out on the water.
Vmaxtanks are very good , and are manufactured to work with 20-foot pontoon trolling motors such as the Minn Kota Terrova.
In terms of a battery charger, you cant go wrong with the Minn Kota range.
I recommend their two-bank charger as it means if you have a starting battery and a trolling battery, you can take care of both.
How to calculate how much thrust you will need?
One of the biggest regrets I read on pontoon boat forums is from people who bought a trolling motor, only to wish they had gone bigger. You need as much thrust as you can get.
There is a tried and tested method to calculate how much thrust your trolling motor needs, based on the size of your boat. It goes like this:
Rough Calculation: Weight of boat in pounds divided by 100. Then multiply that result twice.
Based on that, if your 20-foot pontoon boat weighs 3,400 pounds, then divide that by 100 and you get 34. Multiply that by 2, and you get 68, which is just shy of 70.
But I always want to err on the side of caution, and give me as much power as I can, which is why I recommend taking it up to 80 pounds if you can.
Can I get away with using a 55-pound trolling motor on a 20-foot pontoon?
You will hear of other pontooners using 55 pounds of thrust, but for me its just not worth the investment.
What other pontooners say
Will I Need Special Mounting Brackets
Youll only need special mounting brackets if youre going to buy a bow-mounted trolling motor. This is because transom trolling motors simply clip on to the transom and engine-mount motors clip onto, well, the engine.
Thus, mounting brackets are only needed for bow-mounted trolling motors. Usually, these mounts come with your new trolling motor, but youll have to put some work in to get the motor ready for the water. Often, this involves drilling into the deck of your boat and mounting a special plate that the motor will connect to. This mount allows the motor to flip up and down into the water when you need it.
Even though its a bit more work to install, many boaters prefer the increased maneuverability of the bow mounted trolling motor over the ease of installation of the alternatives.
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Electric Trolling Motor Size Guide
In addition to knowing the length and weight of your pontoon boat, youll need to know the shaft length of the trolling motor. You can read our guide for more detailed information about the shaft length of trolling motors and why that is important.
Minn Kota is one of the leading trolling motor companies in the world. They have created a helpful chart for you to determine what size trolling motor you need. This chart can be found on the Minn Kota website:
| Boat Weight |
| 3 batteries |
What Is The Best Trolling Motor For A 20
For me its the Minn Kota Terrova with Bluetooth wireless operation. This one ticks all the boxes that I would look for in a trolling motor.
It pulls my 20-foot pontoon boat with ease, even in high winds.
It has an 18-foot cord in the foot control, and a cordless remote too, with loads of other options.
The wireless functionality is an absolute must.
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What Is The Best Thrust Selection For A Pontoon Boat
Its important to keep in mind that boat weight is the most important criteria to use when selecting an appropriate motor size for your pontoon boat. Boat length is often considered as a helpful guideline but should not be used as a primary determinant of motor size. If youre unsure how much your boat weighs, you can look it up in the NADA boat directory.
Trolling Motors review guide suggests that multi-use pontoon owners tend to select 40 to 70 lbs of thrust, depending on the boats weight. While propulsion on pontoon boats is relatively easy, keeping them in Anchor Mode or a steady course can be challenging. Especially on windy days when your pontoon acts like a sail on the water!
| Boat Weight |
|---|
Motorguide 80fw Xi5 Trolling Motors For Pontoon Boats
Composite shaft Shaft length of 45, 54 and 60
This Xi5 model is the only model of Motorguide that offers GPS. Not only this, it is the best GPS trolling motor. Also, this trolling motor also features a range of thrust options like, 55, 80 and 105lbs. so, that you can choose the thrust level according to your need. Normally, for boats that weigh 4000 pounds 80lbs is recommended. But for larger pontoon boats 100 pound thrust trolling motor will be needed.
This new quiet model from Motorguide runs smoothly over the water and it can also work in saltwater environment. With LED light you can easily determine the battery power you are left with. It is installed with wireless pedals that are standard with freshwater and its hand remote is standard with saltwater models.
This Motorguide pontoon trolling motor Xi5 model also has the following updates, you can have a look at them to see what kind of update you want.
- Pinpoint GPS
- Advanced GPS powered boat control
- Sonar: built in transducer
Customer Reviews: Here I what one customer had to say about this amazing product, Fishing was already fun, but now with this trolling motor its even more relaxing and productive.
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Horsepower Requirements Of The Boat
Trolling motors are only to be used when maneuvering through the water in fishing hotspots. The size of the trolling motor depends on the horsepower rating of the boat.
Horsepower is the unit of power. It indicates the amount of work done by an engine.
The horsepower requirements of the pontoon boat are not explicitly specified by the manufacturer. You must talk to an expert to find out the power ratings of your boat model. The higher the power ratings, the bulkier will be the trolling motor.
Cloud Mountain Electric Motor Pontoon Boat
Reinforced with Nylon, Aluminum and Fiberglass Durable and powerful Can be used in both saltwater and freshwater 1-year warranty
For your pontoon boat fishing set up, you need a high-quality trolling motor that will make your experience more enjoyable and professional. This trolling boat from Cloud Mountain is strengthened by the Nylon bracket, which has high resistance against abrasion. Because of this factor, this motor promises high strength and good stability for dimensions. Not only the motor, but its shaft is also highly durable as it comes with fiberglass composite. This fiberglass has resistance against high corrosion and provides tensile strength.
The fact that the pontoon trolling motors allow eight variable speed ranges which can be split into,3sp Reverse and 5sp Forward is the reason why people love this product so much.
This motor has some more features also, like the six-inch telescoping handle which allows control over the motor and the 10-LED lights that act as an indicator so that you can keep an eye on your battery easily.
Because of the nature of fiberglass that makes it very resistant against the corrosion, this trolling motor apart from freshwater can be used in salt water also. This feature makes this product an ideal choice, therefore, you can use it on all kinds of boats, kayaks, dinghies and pontoon boat.
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V 55ah Power Boat Pontoon Electric Trolling Motor Deep Cycle Battery Mighty Max Battery Brand Product
- ML55-12 SLA is a 12V 55AH Sealed Lead Acid rechargeable maintenance free battery
- Dimensions: 9.
- SLA / AGM spill proof battery has a characteristic of high discharge rate, wide operating temperatures, long service life and deep discharge recover.
- Rechargeable battery that can be mounted in any position, resists shocks and vibration.
- Backed by a 30 day refund policy and full 1 year warranty
Where To Mount A Electric Trolling Motor On A Pontoon Boat
Dont just slap the trolling motor onto your pontoon boat and think youre ready to go. There are designated places that you will want to mount your trolling motor. You can mount it on the bow, transom, or engine.
The location you place the trolling motor will have different effects on how the pontoon boat will troll, so its important to understand the differences between the locations to decide where you should place your electric trolling motor.
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How To Mount A Pontoon Trolling Motor
Pontoon boats are a great option for boaters and families looking to enjoy the water. They are a versatile and stable boat, they are popular to use for fishing, relaxing or getting together with friends. However, these large boats come with drawbacks, most common is handling. Whether you plan to use it for fishing or you are having trouble docking, a trolling motor is a great auxiliary motor to have on a pontoon boat. The decision to add a trolling motor is easy, but more important is the decision on how and where to mount your pontoons trolling motor.
What Size Trolling Motor For A 20 Ft Pontoon
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What Fishermen Are Saying
i-Pilot is like magic. Like a magician in a black cape standing next to me in my boat sprinkling pixie dust and saying, Abracadabra! More fish! Thanks TrollingMotors.net for making this magical purchase so easy and fun. You guys are the best. Phil in Arcadia, FL
Why buy from Bass Pro or Cabelas when you can buy from these guys? From start to finish this was one of the best, if not the best, online shopping experiences Ive ever had. The owner answered all my questions, the prices were great, and the motor arrived in two days. Dont buy anywhere else. Jason in Lake Charles, TX
“The personal service provided was fantastic. They responded very quickly to my emails and phone calls. The order was delivered faster than expected. I will definitely told others that this is the only place to go for trolling motors. Alan in Metairie, LA
“My $1,700 Terrova 80 i-Pilot purchase was a big investment so I was a little nervous ordering my motor online, but I’m sure glad I chose TrollingMotors.net! Not only did they have the motor I was looking for, but I also saved a lot of money. Oh, and the motor arrived the next day. Keep up the great work, guys! David in Okeechobee, FL
