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Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | So, I think I messed up. With all the good deals right now, I pulled the trigger on a new Terrova 80# ipilot. The problem is, I bought my "new to me" 681vs this fall, took it out one time and stored it for the winter. I was thinking I would need a larger trolling motor shaft length and assumed the one that was on there was a 60", but after looking at the new one, it is huge.
What have others that owned a 681vs used, and did you feel you should have gone longer/shorter?
Thanks for your help! |
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Posts: 431
| I would stay with the 60" shaft. better for windy days. |
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Posts: 1767
Location: Lake Country, Wisconsin | Yeah....going too long is usually not the issue <insert joke here>. As long as it is not hanging way over the side of the boat when not deployed then you should be in great shape |
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Posts: 100
| You can raise the 60" up on the days when you don't need it deep...but you can't extend the shorter shaft on the days you need it to go deep in waves. |
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Posts: 1209
| They seem much larger when there not mounted on a boat, you'll love it, and have to lug my 60" terrova downstairs when I'm using my fortrex on my bass boat, love them both. Both are huge in the house. |
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Posts: 323
Location: In the slop! | I've got a 42" on my 681 and it is fine. When I bought the boat in 2001 I put a 45" genisus on it. Loved that thing but they had their issues. Changed to the 42" maxxim, it's plenty. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | sledge51 - 1/15/2016 8:32 AM
I've got a 42" on my 681 and it is fine. When I bought the boat in 2001 I put a 45" genisus on it. Loved that thing but they had their issues. Changed to the 42" maxxim, it's plenty.
Until it gets rough on big water. You will love the 60. |
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Posts: 323
Location: In the slop! | Propster - 1/15/2016 9:19 AM
sledge51 - 1/15/2016 8:32 AM
I've got a 42" on my 681 and it is fine. When I bought the boat in 2001 I put a 45" genisus on it. Loved that thing but they had their issues. Changed to the 42" maxxim, it's plenty.
Until it gets rough on big water. You will love the 60.
Ok, I'll explain a little farther, my opinion, your milage may vary.
If you fish shallow rocks a lot, (I do, think LOTW) you don't want the trolling motor buried three feet deep. If you have a long shaft set to fish shallow the head will be sticking up a long way. Now you have an obstacle to fish around. I don't want to hit my rod on the trolling motor when setting the hook.
If you fish mostly big open water where shallow rocks are not much in play the long shaft would be the right choice. |
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Posts: 897
| I have a 54" on my champion bass boat, and there are days I wish I had a 60. 60 is the right length for your boat. It won't get in the way as much as you're thinking. And yes, I use mine on LOTW all the time and sometimes hit rocks. Then it mark them, cast them next time, and catch fish off them!
Edited by whynot 1/16/2016 3:28 PM
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Posts: 279
Location: Central Wisconsin | I mainly fish central and northern Wisconsin, so I'm typically fishing a little shallower waters. I do plan on fishing some larger waters, but that would be the exception. I could see it being in the way due to not wanting it down "3' in the water", and when I'm not using it, I could see it being in the way on the deck. I guess I won't know till I mount it, but I guess I can always cut some off the top of the shaft and customize the length. Has anyone ever done this? I'm guessing that ideally I might want to be around 48"-54". Thanks for the replies so far! |
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Posts: 483
| i didn do it but i changed parts that made me open it up all the way ! it is not that difficult ! i too bought a 60 inch thinking it would fit the next bigger boat ! didn t buy it yet so i have the head sticking up a lot in very shallow water ! you can get used to it but it is in the way sometimes ! now you try it and see if you can live with it ! ive read it is often done by troll motor thech without any problem . |
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Posts: 298
Location: Not where I want to be! | I have a 618VS and bought a 60" terrova and had the minn kota service guy shorten it to 54". It is plenty long enough besides the 618 has a deeper hull than the 681. |
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Posts: 1901
Location: MN | sledge51 - 1/16/2016 1:50 PM
Propster - 1/15/2016 9:19 AM
sledge51 - 1/15/2016 8:32 AM
I've got a 42" on my 681 and it is fine. When I bought the boat in 2001 I put a 45" genisus on it. Loved that thing but they had their issues. Changed to the 42" maxxim, it's plenty.
Until it gets rough on big water. You will love the 60.
Now you have an obstacle to fish around. I don't want to hit my rod on the trolling motor when setting the hook.
If you fish mostly big open water where shallow rocks are not much in play the long shaft would be the right choice.
We fish a lot of big water where shallow rocks are in play. We make multiple trips to LOTW each year and while we've never hit the trolling motor on a hook set, we have run the motor all the way up and all the way down on the same trip many times. |
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Posts: 323
Location: In the slop! | My point being that in 15 years of fishing out of a 681 with a short shafted trolling motor it has never effected my fishing. It has helped way more than hindered.
I have fished into wind that the boat wouldn't even move forward, sometimes the prop will pop out of the water. Small concern for the convenience afforded. |
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Location: Contrarian Island | keep the 60, you can always just raise it up.. on big water you'll be glad you have it... |
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