what size trolling motor should I use for a 16/48 aluminum boat? It's an f&f with a yamaha 50. i have a friend that has a brand new motorguide 45 foot control that he would even swap with me for my quantum smoke 150. will this motor be strong enough?

i would think it would be. I had a 45# trolling motor on my 17' nitro 750 and it did fine until it broke. Then i upgraded to a 54# and it does really well.

It'll do the job.

I'd say it shoudl be fine. I run a 70 lb. on my 18' Xpress, and it's plenty powerful enough. The only time I found it lacking was during a bad day on Erie, and it was too rough to stay anyway.

It will be great when used for boat control only. BUT, here is the kicker,,,, I use my tin boat on a few "electric motor" only lakes. Sooooooooo, get as much as you can afford if you have some small lakes that you intend to fish.

Biggest you can afford! I run a 24v 80lb on my 1648!

Jeff

Buy the biggest you can afford. I would rather have 10 times too much than 1 time not enough.

Kelley

It will be great when used for boat control only. BUT, here is the kicker,,,, I use my tin boat on a few "electric motor" only lakes. Sooooooooo, get as much as you can afford if you have some small lakes that you intend to fish.

Good suggestion, I have a 105# 36V bow mount on my 16' Tracker and supplement it with a 80# 24V transom motor when fishing electric only waters.

This summer I upgraded from a Motorguide 46# to a MinnKota 80# (24V) specifically to get a little more speed on electric-only lakes. With the 46#, I barely moved my 17' Tracker and, in a wind, I was basically standing still. I am 100% happy with the MinnKota 80# (of course, with the new batteries, this change cost about $2K).

Get it & try it out if you don't like it sell it.

btw, I'd buy it from you.

I'll second the "buy as big as you can afford" suggestions. I currently run a 50lb MK on my 1236 jon boat and its "just right". I'm looking to buy a bass boat in the next year and it will more than likely be getting a 100+ if it doesn't come with it already.

Just remember when your throttle is on 80% and the thing is pointed hard to port....

Just remember when your throttle is on 80% and the thing is pointed hard to port....

I won't say that I haven't fallen out before But it was only once and wasn't even in this boat. I thought I was turning the handle in reverse and instead went forward as I came sharply around a fenceline in the water. The initial thrust didn't throw me out but the resulting rush of water over the side and sloshing across the other side did. This was in a smaller jon than I have now. I really need a bigger boat.

I ran a 45 lb 12V Motorguide on my 17' Tracker PT170 for 4-5 years. It was a dog. Not enough power on any speed but high to move against the wind, bogged downin the weeds all the time. Ate batteries. Went with a 24v Variable speed 70lb Minn Kota Maxxum last spring. Worlds better. I can fish all day in wind and not even touch the batteries now. 30-50 is about all I use. 70-90 blows through the thickest slop like nothing, and I could ski on 100.

I ran a 45 lb 12V Motorguide on my 17' Tracker PT170 for 4-5 years. It was a dog. Not enough power on any speed but high to move against the wind, bogged downin the weeds all the time. Ate batteries. Went with a 24v Variable speed 70lb Minn Kota Maxxum last spring. Worlds better. I can fish all day in wind and not even touch the batteries now. 30-50 is about all I use. 70-90 blows through the thickest slop like nothing, and I could ski on 100.

Same experience....05' Tracker Pro V16, came with a 40lb stock....Was ok in glass calm conditions. Otherwise, in wind, you would get blown off the lake.

Upgraded to a 65lb 24v motor, and even though it was only 25lb more thrust, it made a WORLD of difference. And was big enough for fishing about any wind. (especially in conjunction with the kicker motor)

With that in mind, I upgraded from a 55lb motor to a 70lb motor, but haven't used it yet.

I never had one to big

it's not just about the speed. a 24v will get you far more time on the water.