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Author Topic:   Trolling motor damage?

GUNFISH posted 05-13-2003 11:41 PM ET (US)
I have a Dell Quay Dory 13' with a 46lb. Minnkota transom mount trolling motor. Will I damage it by using it to troll all day or is it just designed for boat positioning? How many hours of use can I expect per 12 volt battery if used for trolling? Thanks, GUNFISH
GUNFISH posted 05-15-2003 11:08 PM ET (US)
I have been told that the electric motor may get too hot if used for trolling instead of just moving along and stopping to cast. Has anyone experienced a problem like this? GUNFISH
Whalerdan posted 05-16-2003 09:04 AM ET (US)
I use to live in Mission Viejo, Ca. We had a lake there that all you could use on it was electric motors. They had these pontoons there that you could rent and ride around in that had trolling motors. Those pontoons were always loaded down with families so the motors were pushing a heavy load.
Seems like the motor would have to get awful hot to damage it, being its submerged in water.
John W posted 05-16-2003 09:22 AM ET (US)
They are designed for continuous use. I've used mine all day at a time for years. The issue isn't the motor, it's the battery...if your battery is not a deep cycle type, the deep discharge that results from using it all day will dramatically shorten the battery's life. If you have a deep cycle battery, deep draining it will be OK & you should get (hopefully) 150-300 deep discharge-recharge cyclesout of your battery. Make sure you recharge your battery as soon as possible after a day's use, and I would reccommend a smart charger. You should wear out a bunch of batteries before your trolling motor wears out from too much use (many years).
How long you get out of a charge will depend on the reserve capacity of your battery, and how high a power setting you use on the motor. Mine lasts much longer when I use it on less than max settings.
Duckin Whalers posted 05-20-2003 09:25 PM ET (US)
I use my electric Minn Kota for hours on end. It is 4 years old and I use it in fresh and salt and usually go through 2 deep cycle batteries a day if I am out after salmon in the Puget Sound or trolling in the Columbia. I have had not problems with it. Just take care of the batteries, recharge them regularly and don't store them on cement, it will ruin them.

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Author	Topic: Trolling motor damage?
GUNFISH	posted 05-13-2003 11:41 PM ET (US) I have a Dell Quay Dory 13' with a 46lb. Minnkota transom mount trolling motor. Will I damage it by using it to troll all day or is it just designed for boat positioning? How many hours of use can I expect per 12 volt battery if used for trolling? Thanks, GUNFISH
GUNFISH	posted 05-15-2003 11:08 PM ET (US) I have been told that the electric motor may get too hot if used for trolling instead of just moving along and stopping to cast. Has anyone experienced a problem like this? GUNFISH
Whalerdan	posted 05-16-2003 09:04 AM ET (US) I use to live in Mission Viejo, Ca. We had a lake there that all you could use on it was electric motors. They had these pontoons there that you could rent and ride around in that had trolling motors. Those pontoons were always loaded down with families so the motors were pushing a heavy load. Seems like the motor would have to get awful hot to damage it, being its submerged in water.
John W	posted 05-16-2003 09:22 AM ET (US) They are designed for continuous use. I've used mine all day at a time for years. The issue isn't the motor, it's the battery...if your battery is not a deep cycle type, the deep discharge that results from using it all day will dramatically shorten the battery's life. If you have a deep cycle battery, deep draining it will be OK & you should get (hopefully) 150-300 deep discharge-recharge cyclesout of your battery. Make sure you recharge your battery as soon as possible after a day's use, and I would reccommend a smart charger. You should wear out a bunch of batteries before your trolling motor wears out from too much use (many years). How long you get out of a charge will depend on the reserve capacity of your battery, and how high a power setting you use on the motor. Mine lasts much longer when I use it on less than max settings.
Duckin Whalers	posted 05-20-2003 09:25 PM ET (US) I use my electric Minn Kota for hours on end. It is 4 years old and I use it in fresh and salt and usually go through 2 deep cycle batteries a day if I am out after salmon in the Puget Sound or trolling in the Columbia. I have had not problems with it. Just take care of the batteries, recharge them regularly and don't store them on cement, it will ruin them.