Got a question..I have three 80lb thrust trolling motors on the back of my 17ft tracker for all electric lakes..I am going around 5mp with all three..I am running a total of 6 batteries for these..Does it make more sense to get the briggs and stratton electric motor with four batteries or should I just keep these motors..I am kind of torn..The trail we fish has about 3 lakes you can use a 9.9 hp outboard, so I am debating on getting the 9.9 and keeping trolling motors or selling trolling motors and using briggs on all the lakes..Need some advice on this..Ryan

Ryan

There are many variables to consider when deciding between gas and electric outboards.

I use to have a Briggs and Stratton electric outboard and was pleased with it. It would push my small pontoon boat (16') at 5.3 gps mph, running 4 twelve volt batteries. There are a few problems you could run into though as Briggs and Stratton pays a licensing fee to use the the patents of Lynch electric motors to produce their electric motors (the engine part of it), and has stopped producing them from time to time making it very hard at best to replace the electric motor (engine) if you ever had too.  This motor draws 80 plus amps, so your run time at full throttle will be only about an hour or so...

Advertised as 150 lbs of thrust.

Price around 1500.00+

Another alternative would be a Ray electric outboard. On the same boat mentioned above the gps mph was 7.8, but it runs at 60volts not the 48 volts as the briggs outboard. This would mean an additional battery for you. This motor is the cream of the crop as far as electric outboards are concerned and are Top quality in every aspect. This motor also draws about 80 plus amps.

Advertised as 270 lbs of thrust. This would be more then a 9.9 gas engine!

Priced around  5000.00 (yea, that's five thousand dollars).

For the money you would be better off replacing your current three electric motor set up for a 9.9 gas motor if your allowed to use them. It would also be much easier to sell if you ever wanted to. Unless you have a bow mount trolling motor you will want to keep one of your trolling motors to fish with while using the gas motor to run around.

If your interested in purchasing a Ray Electric Outboard send me an Email  or PM...

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Ryan, Why don't you consider a larger trolling motor. I have one for sale that was meant for what you are doing. It's a 130 lb thrust. PM me I'll fill you in. I had it on a boat similair to yours. Your killing yourself with all the weight of those batteries. This one runs on just 2 or 4 and you will get more speed this way. I was getting at least 8-9 mph on mine with a full touny load.

Rob

It's a 130 lb thrust.  I was getting at least 8-9 mph on mine with a full touny load.

Dizzy I think you had better check your numbers as there is NO WAY you are going 9mph in a full tourny loaded 17ft tracker boat with just 130lbs of thrust. NOT going to happen...

Ray Electric motors will be hard pressed to reach those speeds.

You would be lucky to go 5 to 6 mph at best with all things being perfect.

When I put a 80 lb MinnKotta  Maxxum on my 18' Stratos  I had just about the quickest around 2.8 MPG GPS. Then a buddy put a 101 Maxxum on his 19' Ranger.  We had a miny drag race and within 3 boat lenghts he had me by 20' he gets 3.6 mph gps with 1 motor on a 19' ranger 461V and can go 8+ hours no problem.

109# motorguide tour, on a 17'6" sea nymph, best I see is 4.3mph on the gps

Tryed it on my 14 footer, got around 6 and has a nice wake too.

This was not on a tracker it was a 16' jon boat. I said similair. The motor has power tirm which helps greatly. The motor is a neptune and  was designed to push a pontoon boat. 130lbs at 24 volts is a lot of torque. Once you get moving just trim it up a bit and it acts just like an outboard. I was almost keeping up with guys running 9.9's At least they were'nt blowing me away anyway. Hey it was just an option for you.

Keep in mind that the Briggs outboard is no longer being made. If you find one in the future you may have a hard time finding parts or getting it repaired. I would get a Ray Electric if I was going to buy one.

Briggs electric outboard no longer being made?? It's still on the Briggs& S. web site???

I have a 55lb MK side mounted on a 14 old towne osprey double ended canoe.

canoe wght = 66 lbs.

battery = 43 lbs

TM = 44 lbs.

I don't know the exact speed, but I move along perty quick.  

Hey Randall,

That was my biggest issue with the stratton in that it is not being made anymore..I would like the ray outboard but 5000 for a 4 or 5 hp motor is quite about expensive..I have checked into these, and i like them, I just dont like the price lol..I bought a 9.9 gamefisher gas this week for the gas lakes..Thanks for everyones input...The problem I am running into  about the trolling motors is I could go the 101 x 2 trolling motors by minn kota but I am hearing about these burning up..or overheating

Got a question..I have three 80lb thrust trolling motors on the back of my 17ft tracker for all electric lakes..I am going around 5mp with all three..I am running a total of 6 batteries for these..Does it make more sense to get the briggs and stratton electric motor with four batteries or should I just keep these motors..I am kind of torn..The trail we fish has about 3 lakes you can use a 9.9 hp outboard, so I am debating on getting the 9.9 and keeping trolling motors or selling trolling motors and using briggs on all the lakes..Need some advice on this..Ryan

for a day of fishing how many hours did the old setup last you?

thanks

Just my 0.02 worth.. but I am running a 14ft. jon with 3 50 lb. thrust Minn Kotas.  I have one battery hooked to each motor, and it will get me anywhere I want to go all day long... I have found that by keeping my Large A$$ ;D : in the front of the boat, it runs a lot better and quicker.  this is with a cooler, tackle, rods, and rest of the gear..

Before I would spend 5 grand on an all electric motor, I would look at the bigger TMs available...  or go with the 9.9 gas motor.  

I have the 9.9 gas motor..I stopped my order on the briggs..I may just fish out of my riverhawk b-60..It moves pretty good with a 40lbs on front and 80 on back

Hey Randall,

That was my biggest issue with the stratton in that it is not being made anymore..I would like the ray outboard but 5000 for a 4 or 5 hp motor is quite about expensive..I have checked into these, and i like them, I just dont like the price lol..I bought a 9.9 gamefisher gas this week for the gas lakes..Thanks for everyones input...The problem I am running into  about the trolling motors is I could go the 101 x 2 trolling motors by minn kota but I am hearing about these burning up..or overheating

Ryan, dont get the 101.  I was 5 minutes away from buying it at Bass Pro in Nov. against what everyone had said.  Then, then the guy who was getting it for me told me not to get it.  Trolling motors have no cooling system.  When you think about how much heat is generated by the 101 then it makes sense that they burn up.  I've heard it happened to alot of people, and Minnkota is withdrawing the 101 maxxum 3x from there lineup of transom mounts.  I caught my 55 on fire last year from overheating.  I pulled of the head and all the wires were melted together.