i am in the mits of decking my tri-hull i wish i had pics so that yall can give me pointers...but...anywayz i am looking to put a TM on the front of it i belive it is 16 ft. long and all fiberglass its a pretty heavy boat but....i can stand at the bow and lift the tounge of the trailer up without to mutch problem...my question is this...what size trolling motor am i going to need to efficianly pull myself around the lake? if at all possible i will upload pics soon to give you an idea of how heavy the boat is...but...is there any general rule of thumb for size of tm on your boat?? and also what would be a good fishfinder to stick in the bow???

thanx

      hillbilly

also...what is a typical size of a livewell in a bass boat...i know the size by looking at one but i am trying to buy one offline and it is just hard to guess, i dont know if 18 gallon would be good enough or 44,14,10 is big enough...so...i am just wondering thankz!

first MY OPINION on the livewell...

the smaller aluminum boats usually have 16 gallon wells or there abouts...

but the wells in other boats come as big as 35 gallon...

so I would size your live well based on what kind of fishing you plan to do. If you are going to be mostly bass and or crappie fishing...or putting bait in it...then the smaller will likely do ya. The 16 gallon is really cramped with 5 keeper fish though...so if you are going to fish tourneys or anything I would definately go larger. Too small of a live well, even with circulation, and without fresh water intake or water exchange will spoil the water very quickly.

The trolling motor...

you should size the motor to the wire you plan to use.

The rule of thumb explained to me is that each pound of thrust is roughly one amp of electrical usage. So a 30lbs motor with draw around 30 amps on full speed. ( my 52 lbs motor draws 46.7 on full speed according to my amp meter)

The wire is more important than it is usually given credit. Keeping in mind you will likely not be running around wide open all of the time...there will be times when you are...and active DC motor loads like a trolling motor induces alot of heat. ( the wire and connections heat quickly) Heat causes resistance...and resistance causes heat...it is a self replicating problem and round and round you go on your way to a problem. If you over heat the wire and add resistance to it...your amperage goes up...and battery life goes DOWN. You use more battery power to the same amount of work.

It is an electrical efficiency thing...

Do yourself the favor as well to use welding wire ( other something similar) rather than typical house wire. Typical house wire is 19 strands...welding wire has a multitude more strands ( electricity travels on the outside of each strand)....it is more flexible, more resistant to heat, and operates more efficiently in these kind of conditions.

#10 gauge wire for 30 amp

# 8 for 40 amp

# 6 for 60 amp

yadda yadda

I would go with a 50-55lb motor, simply because you can run it 12v. Any higher, and you're getting into 2 battery setups and such. Hence, on my 14 ft Aluminum (bearing a 20 gal livewell) you'll find a 55lb motor with a 54in shaft. I have a MinnKota just because I got a super deal on it (about 400 dollars off, and it was new). Its common knowledge to get the most bang for your buck on a TM, cause you really can't go too high, but consider things like wiring, extra batteries, maintainers, all these things that appear (or at least appear more often) in 24 and 36v setups. Thats my 2 cents.

You could get by with a 55 but would probably want something closer to 65 or 70.  You will run closer to 3 times as long as the 55, but only use twice the battery.  I was recommended a 50ish for my 15 foot Lund.  I don't know how it will work as we are restoring the Lund, and it hasn't seen water since 93.  But, I had the 50# on my 12 foot vee, and am wondering if I want a little more oomph on the Lund when I can afford it.  We'll see, when it gets on the water.  Being fiberglass, your boat is a bit heavier than my 'loominum rigs.  You are probably want more.  But, if you cannot afford it, and cannot justify spending 600 bucks for a motor and another 200 for batteries, on an old trihull, you could probably live with a 55 pound just fine.  And, if you are not gonna be fishing rough water, I would just go with a 55.  But, remember, in the winter, even small and medium lakes can have 3 foot swells.  I am not sure a 55 would control you all that well.  We have been in 3 foot swells on a reregulation lake that is less than a mile across.  And, it is protected by a 400 foot high dam on the main lake half, and mountains all around.  If you like large wintertime bass, go for broke and buy a bigger motor.  It gets windy!!

 

Go with what you can afford. I've got a 17'Ranger and I'm pulling it with a 40 lb. Minnkota Edge a little slow on your more windy days, but it was all I could afford at the time. You should be good with  55-65 foot lbs.

I have what you need.

1st Motor- Motor Guide Brute 767 12/24 volt 67lb Thrust. 47" shaft with gator flex 360 mount. This motor is in GREAT shape and works perfectly.

$375 OBO

2nd- Minn Kota All Terrain 40lb Thrust with 39" shaft. This motor came with the boat I just bought and it works great.The bottom of the top cove does have a crack but this thing works great.

$285 OBO

PLUS SHIPPING !!!!!!!!!!!!1

I am open to trades becasue the only reason I am selling these is to get a new 24 volt with a 40" or shorter shaft. I can be emailed at gmuscat@comcast.net.

EMAIL ME IF YOU WANT PICS

On TM get the biggest you can afford, if you can handle 2 batteries then get a 24 volt. 12 volts are nice, but you can go father, fast, longer with a 24volt. And since you decking the boat you will have to run wires anyway so get good wires.

I have 55# on my 14 footer and its OK, but if I fish tournaments out of it, the 55# will not last long enough.

On Live wells, If you going to fish any tournaments, look to see what the rules for live wells are. I know in BASS federation rules, and most other tournament circuits fallow BASS rules, live wells must be a min, of 10 gal each or 20gal divided. I know 10 gal seem OK, but you put 5 fish, even 12 inches, in there its tight. One other hint. when you put your live well in put a recirculation pumps on it/them. Once I added them t my livewells I haven't lost a fish.