Is there such a thing as having too much trolling motor on a pontoon? After getting a real workout rowing against the wind the first and last time I was out, I’m putting a trolling motor on my 'toon. I live in Kansas and we have wind more often than not. I have a 55 lb thrust, transom mount, variable-speed Minn Kota Maxxum, but I’m thinking about getting a smaller motor. The boat is rated for 30lbs of thrust. Would the 55 be too much? I’m a little concerned about the torque. I guess just because I have all that power doesn’t mean I have to use it.
What do you all use and how do you have it mounted? I plan to turn the head around so it will pull the 'toon backwards. I also will move the mount to the center.
Any thoughts and advice is appreciated.
How big is your pontoon? I wouldn’t think 55 is too much. I have a 40 and could definitely handle more. In fact, we have a 5 hrs Nissan showing up tomorrow. Gonna love not worrying about the battery.
**Having a larger (thrust) motor does not add significantly to the weight. As long as you have the other weight on your toon properly balanced the added power should not be a problem. You probably won’t need or use the top end unless you really wanna fly from one place to another…or in a severe wind. **
I have heard that running a larger motor at low speeds actually sucks less juice from the battery than running a smaller motor at a speed high enough to get the same speed on your craft. In other words, bigger motors are more efficient.
Bigger motors are more efficient, but they all have the same prop. My 40 has the same prop as the endura 30. It is just that I have a reo-stat. I can turn mine to wear the prop is barely turning.
But if I run it at 75% all day, it will only run for maybe 4 hours, same as that endura 30 on 4 or 5.
That is why I am waiting for delivery of my Nissan 5 hp four stroke…
Is there such a thing as having too much trolling motor on a pontoon?
YES. THE WEIGHT BALANCE AND CAPACITY CANNOT BE EXCEEDED FOR YOUR PONTOON. TROLL MOTORS WERE DESIGNED FOR 2000 LB BASS BOATS AT 2 MPH MAX. THEY ARE VERY INEFFICIENT WHEN USED FOR OTHER PURPOSES, ALTHOUGH THEY WORK ON TOONS, THEY ARE FAR FROM IDEAL, BUT NOTHING ELSE IS AVAILABLE AT THAT PRICE. RATHER THAN VERY LARGE TROLLS, BETTER TO GET A( DORY) AND GAS ENGINE (LIKE FG)!
After getting a real workout rowing against the wind the first and last time I was out, I’m putting a trolling motor on my 'toon. I live in Kansas and we have wind more often than not. I have a 55 lb thrust, transom mount, variable-speed Minn Kota Maxxum, but I’m thinking about getting a smaller motor. The boat is rated for 30lbs of thrust. Would the 55 be too much? I’m a little concerned about the torque. I guess just because I have all that power doesn’t mean I have to use it.
55LBS SHOULD BE OK IF THE TOON CAN HANDLE THE WEIGHT AND BALANCE. MOTOR MOUNT HAS TO BE STRONG ENOUGH AND SO DOES THE FRAME AND PONTOONS FOR THE EXTRA WEIGHT.
What do you all use and how do you have it mounted?
HAD TO MAKE MY OWN MOTOR, SINCE NOTHING ON THE MARKET TODAY EVEN COMES CLOSE TO FITTING MY NEEDS FOR THE SHALLOW CREEKS, I PREFER EXCLUSIVELY. DON’T LIKE OPEN WATER ANYMORE IN MY SENIOR YEARS- WIND, SUN, STRANDING, ETC. HAZARDS. BUT THAT’S JUST ME, NOTHING WRONG WITH THOSE THAT DO OPEN WATER AS I LOVED TO DO MANY YEARS AGO…
I plan to turn the head around so it will pull the 'toon backwards. I also will move the mount to the center.
Any thoughts and advice is appreciated
CENTER SOUNDS GOOD, JUST TRY TO KEEP THE WHOLE THING LEVEL.
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Hope this helps, sorry about the easy to read caps above.
Pon
I use the minn kota 34. Works well for what I want it to do.
I’m fairly new to pontooning and have a 40# motor with 5 fixed speeds. I normally use it on 1 or 2 except when heading back for the day.
The only thing that I can see as a potential problem is if you like to either troll using your motor or use it to hold position in the wind. A larger motor with fixed speeds might not be “slow” enough on “1” to do what you need.
FG’s infinitely variable speed motor avoids that issue. Unfortunately, they’re now charging a premium for that function.
Jim
Thanks for the replies. I’m going to use the 55 and see how it works. The boat is 8’6" in length and rated for a total of 400 lbs, so I 'll be within its capacity with a decent margin to spare.
This motor is a variable speed so that will work nicely for my needs, also.
I have my pontoons’ frame set up in my shop with the tm attached, and the tm just looks big mounted on it that way. I made a mount similar to the one already on the boat and bolted a 2x4 to both mounts across the back. As long as the 2x4 can handle the torque, I think it will work fine.
Like I said earlier, if it is Minn Kota, you can get (or use to at any rate) smaller props.
The only other thing is bigger the motor, longer the shaft. In my case I needed the longer.
I don’t plan to change out the prop… with the variable speed, it shouldn’t be necessary. Besides, I’ll also use this motor on my big boat and changing out props could be more of a hassle than its worth.
Have fun with your Nissan. Are you planning on getting your pontoon up on plane?
Got no idea. Never done this, but it will be a ZODIAC and they nevr look like they are planing out…LOL
FG,
I’m anxious to hear how the motor works. I’m considering one but I’m looking at the 2 and 3.5 hp due to the lower weight for carrying around. I have to assemble my boat every time I use it.
Curious just how small you can go and still get back to the launch. I mainly plan to use it in the bays so you have both tidal swings and wind to contend with.
Jim
Will post.