Posts: 2687
Location: Hayward, WI | While your batteries may be showing their age, you might need to check into a bigger trolling motor. That's a pretty good sized boat to be pulling around with a 56 pound motor. I'm guessing you have to use at least 50% of the motor's power on most days, and probably close to, or the max power when it gets windy.
I run a 70 pound motor on a 16 foot aluminum boat that ways 800 some pounds (hull only), and would not want much less. On a 19 foot glass boat, I would go no less than 80 pounds.
Even though it's a bigger motor, due to lower efficiency running at high speeds, a 80 pound motor will run longer at 20% than a 56 pounder will run at 50% or more.
Either way, you should get a lot more life out of your batteries. I usually fish two whole days before charging my batteries, and a few times I have fished three without charging, and my batteries have never been run down enough for me to notice. And, I'm not a drifter, I head my boat into the wind pretty much all day long, so I am constantly on the trolling motor.
Might not be a bad idea to try new batteries to start with. If you still have issues, you might need to get a bigger trolling motor. OK, I'm done rambling now!
curleytail |
