05-03-2006, 03:31 PM
Hey there partner. Let me ask you these questions:
1. How much does the boat weigh roughly?
2. Is the water of primary use tidal? Like a saltwater marsh or inlet?
The reason I asked those questions are for this reason. If you take a fiberglass boat of any proportions in OUR local inlet, and try to navigate it with a 55 pound thrust trolling motor during a tide change, you're at the mercey of the current, and you'd better have a good anchor. Also take into consideration i'm looking at it from a full sized fiberglass boat perspective, which even in just the 14 foot range, can weigh in the general area of 2000 pounds ice down.
My 16 foot basstracker has a Motorguide 45 pound thrust on it, and it moves my boat against wind and current pretty good on the local freshwater rivers and lakes; But doesn't cut the mustard on the inlet. Against the wind, Yes. Against the current and wind, No.
Also if you check out the smaller inshore center console's in the 14 to 16 foot range, the majority of those guys come with a harder pulling 80 pound thrust motor as well. (very expensive though)
Needless to say, if the current isn't too bad, and the boat doesn't weigh too, too much, i'd say a 55 would be fine.
You may also want to bring a battery just for the trolling motor too. Nothing drains a battery down like hard use on a trolling motor, especially fighting current and wind.
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1. How much does the boat weigh roughly?
2. Is the water of primary use tidal? Like a saltwater marsh or inlet?
The reason I asked those questions are for this reason. If you take a fiberglass boat of any proportions in OUR local inlet, and try to navigate it with a 55 pound thrust trolling motor during a tide change, you're at the mercey of the current, and you'd better have a good anchor. Also take into consideration i'm looking at it from a full sized fiberglass boat perspective, which even in just the 14 foot range, can weigh in the general area of 2000 pounds ice down.
My 16 foot basstracker has a Motorguide 45 pound thrust on it, and it moves my boat against wind and current pretty good on the local freshwater rivers and lakes; But doesn't cut the mustard on the inlet. Against the wind, Yes. Against the current and wind, No.
Also if you check out the smaller inshore center console's in the 14 to 16 foot range, the majority of those guys come with a harder pulling 80 pound thrust motor as well. (very expensive though)
Needless to say, if the current isn't too bad, and the boat doesn't weigh too, too much, i'd say a 55 would be fine.
You may also want to bring a battery just for the trolling motor too. Nothing drains a battery down like hard use on a trolling motor, especially fighting current and wind.
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