Minn Kota Electric Trolling Motor

patrickfarley · Feb 25, 2014

I have used a similar electric trolling motor. I used it before I obtained a 10 hp outboard. I had to motor about 2/10ths of a mile to get to open water. It always worked for me even against a wind.
Last time I was in Sarasota my outboard recoil spring broke and I had to mail order a new one. I used the trolling motor to go against the tide at Big Pass and against a good wind at the same time. It was slow. But it was slow and steady. I got back to the loading dock at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron and back on the trailer.
I have never run out of battery power. I have the big deep cycle battery from Walmart. I was always surprised at the capacity of the battery. When I used the trolling motor I always put up sails as soon as possible.
I still keep it on the boat as an emergency motor.
I would not like to have to use the trolling motor for any great distance.

Benny17441 · Feb 25, 2014

The power of an electric marine motor is measured in "pounds of thrust" or the force in pounds it may exert against an unmovable surface. Gasoline engines are rated in "horsepower" or the ability to do work. There is no mathematical conversion factor to compare one with the other but there is a rule of thumb that suggests that the performance of a 75 lbs thrust motor is similar to that of a 1HP engine. Based on this you may conclude that the performance of a 55 lbs thrust would be inadequate for use as reliable and safe propulsion source. Fortunately a sailboat is an ideal hybrid in the sense that if the engine fails you always have the sails. Also to add peace of mind find out if in your area anyone is providing tow insurance. For a moderate yearly fee of around $100 you can call for a tow to shore should your engine breakdown and there is no wind and you don't want to wait.

Jackdaw · Feb 26, 2014

For several years I kept my old First 235 on a mooring on a lake that prohibited gas motors. I used a 55lb MinnKota, and found it JUST adequate. It would move the boat at a couple of knots in a dead calm. It could make some headway against a breeze, but that was not an issue being on a mooring ball. I would have not wanted to get into a slip with it. On the Mac it might be better as the boat is lighter.

I used two 75watt solar panels (from walmart) to keep the two Group 27 AGM batteries charged. I never ran out of power.

The last year I used a Toqueedo, THAT was a motor.

About a thousand years ago, I wrote this up in detail in an old blog.

http://cruisinglakeharriet.blogspot.com/2009/09/motors-electric-only.html

dscribner · Feb 27, 2014

As a friend put it "Well, you'd be able to pick which rock you'd hit". As an emergency, why not? It's better than nothing. But don't count on it for any distance or real assistance on the water.

dj2210 · Feb 27, 2014

I used a 35lb thrust trolling motor on my catalina 27 to move the boat from the slip to the service pier to pull the atomic 4. It moved the boat a whopping 1 knot there and back again.

jepomer · Feb 28, 2014

The Minn Kota and similar trolling motors use a 10" x 4" propeller. They turn at about 1000 rpm. At best expect about 3 knots.

I have used a Minn Kota Endura 50 on an O'Day 19 (1450 lbs) and on a Capri 22 (2250 lbs). For the past three seasons, I have used a Torqeedo Cruise 2.0 and charge the batteries using a 100 watt solar panel with a good MPPT charge boost controller.

The Endura was sufficient for the O'Day 19 for basic maneuvering in light winds and currents. 3 knots was the best I could get it to do.

When the Endura was used on the Capri 22, it could not effectively maneuver the boat when heading into any wind greater than 5 knots.

The Torqeedo (although more expensive as many will remark) is truly equivalent to a 5 hp gas outboard as advertised. With four GC2 6 volt batteries in series, it can go almost hull speed (5 knots) for up to 2 hours (80+ amp draw). If slowed down to 2-3 knots(10-20 amp draw), cruise for up to 16 hours. The solar panel alone on a bright sunny day will provide up to 5 amps extending the cruising range.

I still use my Minn Kota Endura on my O'Day 19 since I rarely need more than maneuvering power with this boat.

You will have to decide what you really want to accomplish. The MacGregor 25 is as heavy as my Capri 22 but has a larger profile that the wind will blow on. If you are primarily a sailor and can sail on to a mooring but want to have a small easy to use motor for close maneuvering with little wind, the Minn Kota may work for you. But most people would be disappointed. Step up to a larger electric motor, then you will be very satisfied.

JVB · Mar 1, 2014

I used a MinnKota 55 pound thrust motor on my MacGregor 26D water ballast boat. It moved 2 or 3 mph with no wind. One day when the wind was about 10 mph I found that I could not make any speed across the wind with the daggerboard up but about 2 mph with the board down.

Once I was becalmed on a hot Summer day and didn't have enough battery left to try to motor all the way in and still be assured on having control in the marina. That's when I went back to a gas engine.

On a Cataliina 250 in Charleston SC harbor I was caught in a squall. Even with a 9.8 hp motor I could not maintain position with the sails down. The propeller came out of the water in the pitching caused by rough seas because it did not have a long shaft. My advice is go with a long shaft gasoline outboard with enough power to push your boat at hull speed. 9.8 horsepower is plenty for a 25 foot sailboat. That's if it is a cruiser. Racing boats are a different case where having a light motor weight is important and windage is generally less of a factor.

Oh, by the way, the right way to handle the problem I had in Charleston harbor would have been to quickly deploy a hefty anchor.

Minn Kota Electric Trolling Motor

mick hodapp

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