16 replies to this topic

[fowlskies]

I have a 12' rowboat with a 3.5 hp motor that isn't much but I enjoy fishing out of and it gets me and my daughters off the shore and out on the water. The only thing missing on my setup is a trolling motor but I'm a budget fisherman with the family and all, which means buying on the used market. On craigslist today they have a 17 lb thrust trolling motor thats in my budget ($50), is this to little of thrust for my little 12 footer???

Its not like this motor is whats going to get me from point A to point B, but to tool around the area that I'm trying to fish silently. So what do you think, is it too little?

[J Francho]

Too low. I'd look at 45 lb. minimum. We used a transom mount 45 lb. for 12' and 14' semi vee row boats. Perfect, with enough oomf when it got windy.

[fowlskies]

45 seems a bit much, I was thinking 28# being the minimum with 35#s being ideal. The 17lb thrust just got me thinking I could get by with, especially with my budget.

Although I fish on the upper Hudson quite a lot which is pretty fast flowing every once in awhile depending what they are doing with the damns.

[slonezp]

The wind is your enemy. 17 would be ok on a calm day but that's about it. I think you're in the ball park with 35

[Hi Salenity]

Too small if your in any wind or current. I'd look for a 30 or bigger.

[mhtranger]

I have a 12' boat as well and all I have is a 30lb from Minn Kota and it moves the boat with two big guys in it and all the gear. I fished it on a big lake and it is always windy and had no problems.

[Shawn Dompierre]

I'm with Mhtranger , I have a 13' loaded with 3 guys and a 30 lb motorguide its PLENTY even on a windy day.
17 pounds could be enough depending what kind of body of water your on, I paid 100$ for my TM

[jig]

im with franco on this,get the 45 if u can.i have a 45 on my 10 ft sears aluminum boat and its not to much.

[J Francho]

You can always throttle down, but you can't make max and maxer.

[fowlskies]

You can always throttle down, but you can't make max and maxer.

Very true, but its more finding something in my budget, if a 45lb became available in my price range I would snach it up in a second.

[Shawn Dompierre]

Very true, but its more finding something in my budget, if a 45lb became available in my price range I would snach it up in a second.

I bought a 70lb with 2 deep cycles for 200$ just last week, its all about getting to the deal first and of course keeping your eye on local forums and craigs list/kijiji

[fowlskies]

Well I bought it today. Offered the guy $30 and he agreed. I'll let you know how it works out in a couple weeks after tax season is over. For $30 I couldn't pass it up and if its too little I'll just put it on my brothers canoe.

Its a Minn Kota #35 17lb thrust. Runs well with 4 speeds forward and 4 speeds in reverse. I read a couple articles that said to figure your max weight and divide it by 70 for the minimum lbs of thrust for your boat. I figured my max weight with three guys, the weight of my small 3.5 hp motor and the weight of my light tin and came up with 740 lbs and then rounded up to 800 and it only came up to 11 lbs of thrust.

I'm pretty confident this should work for my intended use and might have to go back to tossing an anchor on fast current or really windy days. But then again I fish for a break from the real world, relaxation and to spend time with my girls and won't let an under-powered trolling motor bother me when the condition aren't right. Although, the more serious I've been getting into fishing the less relaxation I have been getting.

[scrutch]

You can NEVER have too much thrust. Especially with your daughters in the boat. That thrust might be needed someday to get you out of a jam. Be careful with that small motor. I wouldn't quit watching for a good deal on a bigger motor.

[Zoff]

Stay away from the 28. I have a 28 MK on a 10 footer. Barely will push me across the river. Moderate current and I have to go to the gas motor.

[ww2farmer]

Seriously, why did you even bother asking for advice? It's too small. Other people in this thread told you it was too small, and you bought it any way. There is a reason why even the smallest 12v motors today are 30+ lbs of thrust.