First off will a 40# thrust be enough for a 12' jon ?

or should I look for a 70#

this will be the only motor on the boat . I fish small ponds so no need for a lightning point A to B . Just want to putter around the pond while I fish .

suggestions for batteries

the best way to charge / discharge

Yes 40# is fine. I can cover a mile in about 15 minutes with 40# and 12ft jon. Some brands of battery are better, but most batteries are killed by their owners. The brand name is irrelevant at that point. Get a cheap deep cycle battery and follow these do's and don'ts and you will be fine. I underlined the Key ones.

DO's AND DON'Ts WHEN HANDLING BATTERIES:

DO perform regular inspections and maintenance, especially in hot weather

DO recharge immediately after discharge

DO add ONLY distilled water to electrolyte

DO recharge completely

DON'T add new electrolyte

DON'T overcharge

DON'T use starting batteries for deep cycle applications

DON'T place in storage without some type of device available to keep them charged

DON'T delay in recharging

DON'T add tap water to electrolyte to avoid contaminating it

DON'T discharge any deeper than necessary

DON'T let them get hot to the touch and boil violently when charging

For more info

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=deep+cycle+battery+maintenance

Hey Surfer ...

Thanks for the info .... greatly appreciated .

Any suggestions for a affordable charger ... I see so many out there

I havent done any research in that area.  Guest is a popular one on this forum though.  

One easy way to answer trolling motor size questions is to go to www.minnkotamotors.com, click on products and Select-A-Motor.  Answer the questions about your specific boat and it will tell you what pound thrust is correct for your boat.  

I have a 30# on my 12 footer.  It gets me around, even in strong wind.  Just not as fast as I'd like.  I would get at least a 40#.

Yes 40# is fine. I can cover a mile in about 15 minutes with 40# and 12ft jon. Some brands of battery are better, but most batteries are killed by their owners. The brand name is irrelevant at that point. Get a cheap deep cycle battery and follow these do's and don'ts and you will be fine. I underlined the Key ones.

DO's AND DON'Ts  WHEN HANDLING BATTERIES:

 DO perform regular inspections and maintenance, especially in hot weather

 DO recharge immediately after discharge

 DO add ONLY distilled water to electrolyte

 DO recharge completely

 DON'T add new electrolyte

 DON'T overcharge

 DON'T use starting batteries for deep cycle applications

 DON'T place in storage without some type of device available to keep them charged

 DON'T delay in recharging

 DON'T add tap water to electrolyte to avoid contaminating it

 DON'T discharge any deeper than necessary

 DON'T let them get hot to the touch and boil violently when charging

For more info

http://www.batterystuff.com/tutorial_battery.html

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=deep+cycle+battery+maintenance

Solid stuff a lot of people overlook.

Yes 40# is fine.

A 40 will use less amps than a 52 or bigger motor. I think MinnKota says that most motors correctly sized for your boat will not move a boat faster than 5 MPH.

Bah your thinking too hard, yes a 40# will get you around just fine.  Be super redneck and just use your truck battery as your TM battery, when you feel the battery getting weaker and the motor getting slower then its time to go back and your alternator will charge it back up.

okay I don't really suggest that, but you could if you wanted to, just hope you don't capsize and loose your battery =)

Livingston,

70 pounds?

You will fly like a rocket in a jon boat with 70 pounds of thrust set on a "5" setting.

Like fly across the water.

40 pounds should be sufficient.

And you are looking for an affordable charger?  I don't know if they exist.

Check out your BPS and Cabella's catalogs to see what they have and then go to the Flea Market site and post a request to purchase a small battery charger with one bank.

Have fun.

;D

thanks for the input guys

the only reason I had a 70 lb in mind ... was because it will be the only motor on the boat .

I thought being able to fly across the water would be a great option  

all kidding aside ... BPS is having their Sale starting Friday . And they have a 40 lb thrust for 120.00

I would spend some extra coin on a decent used one if I could find one . I've been hawking my local Craigslist and ebay is a joke these days . Everyone wants to charge you 10 times what the actual shipping cost is .

Last night I wish I had a 70#.  I was racing back to the ramp just ahead of the storm and the gears went out on the main engine.  My 40# couldn't keep up with the 25 mph wind and I was loosing ground.  I hid in a cove four about an hour as the rain poured down and the lighting snapped. When the weather cleared it took me 40 minutes to go up 15mph wind half a mile.   That sucked.

I can't wait to put the 55 on my Crawdad....

Since your not gonna be installing a charger in a boat.   I recommend going a getting something with a warranty.

I have one for other batteries that came from Sears, lifetime warranty.

Also, this charger has 2amp, commonly called Trickle charge.

Also, my charger has 10amp setting for quick charge and a last setting was 50 amp for jumping dead batteries.

One thing that takes the life out of a battery is 10 amp chargers, like alot of the installed ones in boats.   For that Quick overnight charge.

When ever possible, always trickle charge your batteries.  Slow 2A charge when possible will sustain the life of your batteries.

Walmart Batteries are good, cheap, and free testing with good warranty.    Buy two, there may be a day when you need the extra battery such as fighting a late storm with 25 mile an hour winds.   Extra weight will help stable the boat.  Since were gonna save you money on the 70#.