[size 1]I had a great trip out on the water yeaterday (I LOVE my 'toon) I had it out about 4 times since I got about a month ago and I REALLY enjoy it. You can read about my latest adventure by clicking below. Anyway for the benefit of those that don't want to read my linked post I'll just ask my question... Should I get a trolling motor? My 'toon is so easy to row even in a breeze and I get places pretty quick. (My bro in law in his tube says he turn around for a couple of minutes and when he looks again I'm a 1/4 mile away ) anyway I don't mind rowing it's great exercise and I'm feeling a good kind of burn today after my trip yesterday. But in stiff winds I would like to have a some help that a trolling motor might give. I have a couple of questions would a trolling motor even help in a wind? Is is it worth the extra weight of the motor and battery? What kinds of speed could I expect if I wanted to troll a little? Do any of you 'tooners run a trolling motor? BTW I'm looking at a 40 lb minnkota. Any info you have would be great.[/size]
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[cool][blue][size 1]Not being a tooner, a troller or a motor propelled guy, I can't provide any first hand input. However, I have been trying to keep up with what is going on in those areas.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]If you like trolling, the only negative to getting an electric motor on your craft is the requirement for registration once you are motorized. After that, go head on 'til your head hurts.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]True, adding a trolling motor and the battery or batteries necessary will add weight. However, if you can drive up to your launch area, a couple of extra trips to load up ain't a problem. The key will be setting up a secure box or frame to hold the batteries and a proper mount for the motor. A lot of 'toons these days come with a rear deck and/or motor mounts. If not, they are easy to fashion and attach to a good frame.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Propulsion with a trolling motor is a matter of thrust vs drag. This is not flying, so we do not have to consider lift, as with an airplane. If your toon rides high, and you do not have baskets, nets or too much of your anatomy dragging in the water, a decent electric motor will propel you across the water nicely.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]What if the wind comes up? Most of us can deal with a certain amount of wind. A motorized toon can cut through small waves and power you against a modest breeze. However, because it rides high and is prone to catch a lot of air, it can be a summagun to power in a straight line against the wind. Still, it is better than trying to work a canoe into the wind, with a side mounted electric. The "catamaran" stability of a toon actually aids in straight tracking.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The 40 pound thrust motor would be a good choice for a toon. It will still run on a single 12 volt battery and it will move you up to about 5 miles per hour. That's plenty fast for trolling. For walleyes (and even picky trout) you sometimes need to slow down to a crawl. Most trolling will be best at about 1.5 to 3 mph.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]The fun part comes in rigging the trolling motor so that you can reach the controls easily without cracking your back. If you had a bass boat, you could rig it up with a bow mount and foot controls. In your pontoon, you will have to work with it until it fits and works well for you.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]By the way, that is a tale of woe about the two kitties being given an unscheduled release on Bountiful Lake. All you can hope is that somebody else snags the bag and either releases or makes good use of the fish before they die.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I once caught a stringer with six lively trout on it. I also caught a five pound channel cat with a rope stringer in its mouth. Also, when there used to be water coming from the Geneva bubble up, people waded out in the spring and caught lots of white bass and kept them on stringers hanging off their waders. On one cast, I hooked a stringer with what must have been over fifty small white bass on it...all still alive. Nobody else was around so nobody claimed it. I donated it to some kids fishing along the shore who hadn't caught anything.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]You might PM Jedburton. He just got a used Minn Kota 47 pound motor for his toon. He is also working through some of the same issues you are.[/size][/#0000ff]
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Thanks TD as usual a great response with lots of things to think about. My craft is already set up with a battery rack and a motor mount so I won't have to mangle the frame for this project. But I'm still wondering if it's worth the 30+ lbs of weight to row around if I'm not even sure if I'll use it on any particular trip. Of course this is Utah and the wind seems to blow pretty often... My other fear is having the motor on I might not be as inclined to row as often.
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[cool][blue][size 1]My suggestion is that if you can pick up a system at a reasonable price, go for it. There is nothing that says you have to have it with you on every trip. If you are going to Strawberry and want to troll, charge up the batteries and hook up the trolling motor. If you are just hitting a small pond, or staying within a short distance of your launch area, then don't bother with the trolling motor.[/size][/blue]
[#0000ff][size 1]I still like the hands free fishing of basic tubing, but I am planning to add a toon to my arsenal as soon as I get back to Utah. However, I think I will not go beyond the oars. My mama got rid of all the dumb ones in the litter. I do not stay on the water when the wind comes up, and I do not launch if the wind is likely to blow. I time my trips for early in the day, when there is less chance of wind, or time them so that I go out with the morning breeze and return with the afternoon breeze.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]I have always enjoyed rowing. Back in the "olden days", as a college student, I often rowed an old wooden boat across Utah Lake for exercise...trolling a hammered nickle spoon on the way. Sometimes the darned fish kept me from making it across the lake. Other times I got to surf my way back in strong west winds. On one occasion, I was stranded for several hours on the other side while waiting for a freaky east wind to lay down.[/size][/#0000ff]
[#0000ff][size 1]Unless somebody is badly restricted by budget concerns, there is no reason not to have more than one kind of craft, or not to have an electric trolling motor as an alternative for the days you want to drag lures without getting a hernia. Since your toon is set up to accomodate a motor and battery, you don't have to do too much to get in the game.[/size][/#0000ff]
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I put a 30# minnkota on my tune, and I like it for the reasons you mentioned. It's a pain to row in wind and waves.
I don't mind rowing or kicking around on calm or semi calm waters, but i like to occasionally go to bigger lakes, and getting blown across willard or strawberry didn't appeal to me.
I can get up to about 3 mph with my setup, and 1 deep cycle battery lasts me for at least a few hours. I haven't run out of juice yet. The battery itself weighs about 50 lbs though, plus the motor, which isn't light either. Now that I'm done experimenting with it, I'll probably go back to rowing more, since I like a little bit of exercise.
Oh, when I have the motor mounted, I don't even take my oars. I do have the fins on in case I want to kick around somewhere or the battery gives out.
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