Montauk 17: Stern-mount Electric Trolling Motor

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Author Topic:   Montauk 17: Stern-mount Electric Trolling Motor

Morgan posted 03-05-2012 02:26 PM ET (US)
I have a 1979 Boston Whaler Montauk 17 and I want to add an electric trolling motor to the stern. I'm am thinking about getting the Minn Kota Riptide Transom Mount Saltwater series (link below).
What thrust and shaft length will I need for this boat? I've heard you are supposed to measure from the top of the transom to the water line and add 25 inches. I'd do this, but my boat is currently in the shop. I figured I would check with you guys to see if you have any suggestions or experience with this. I'll mostly use this for controlled drifts and slow trolling.
Will I need a dedicated batter for this trolling motor? I already have two Group-27 Deep Cyle Batteries and a plug in trickle charger in the console. I'll plug the batteries in after every fishing trip. One for starting the boat and the other for the bait tank pump, navigation electronics, fish finder, sump pump, and navigation lighting. I have the space to add another batter in the console, but I'm a little concerned about the weight.
http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/trolling_motors/saltwater_transom_mount/riptide_transom.aspx
Teak Oil posted 03-05-2012 08:25 PM ET (US)
Any trolling motor with any kind of power is going to be 24volt. I would use a 12 volt marine starting battery for your engine and the two 12 volt batteries you already have to power a 24 volt trolling motor.
Not sure on shaft length, but I know a 20" shaft outboard mounted on the upper transom of a Montauk works just fine.
You will find that having the motor mounted in the bow would give you substantially better handling if you ever try to head into the waves. Maintaining a heading into the waves with a rear mount electric motor is nearly impossible in anything except calm conditions
RandyV posted 03-07-2012 10:02 AM ET (US)
A couple of weeks ago, I went Walleye fishing in the Saginaw River (Michigan) and the winds were 15- to 20-MPH. In those winds, using my 6-HP Nissan four-cycle engine would have been the correct choice, but I was using a 24-lbs 24-inch-shaft Minn-kota motor and it barely held the 1979 Classic Montauk 17 for vertical jigging. I used up [the stored charge in] a Group-27 battery in less than three hours. The motor was barely deep enough in the water to work properly.
Since that trip I have purchased a 45-lbs 36-inch shaft Minn-Kota 12-Volt, which will be a much better fit for this boat. I also paralleled an additional Group-27 battery for longer running. This motor will only be used on this boat for keeping the boat correct with the current for vertical jigging and probably won't be used for trolling as the Nissan fits that bill perfectly.
Landlocked posted 03-07-2012 11:55 AM ET (US)
I went with a 12-Volt motor and actually used the battery connection in the motor as a junction point to avoid running an additional set of wires. Put a selector switch in the console so I switch to the deep cycle when trolling. Wired a simple trolling motor plug recepticle to a short lead connected to the motor and attached the recepticle to the stern below where the motor sits on the starboard side.
See http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002228.html
I've had this setup for a couple years now and it's worked great for me. Can't remember now what the thrust on my motor is but it's a great white 12v white water series.
I'll try and look it up for you when I get time. Don't know if Mercury would approve but like I said, It's worked for me.
Ll.
Landlocked posted 03-07-2012 12:04 PM ET (US)
It's the 54-lbs-thrust model. Works good for me inland. You might want more thrust in heavy current.
Ll.
KDW posted 03-08-2012 03:45 PM ET (US)
Have you ever tried to drive and steer a boat using a stern-mounted trolling motor, especially into the wind or against the current? It's kind of like trying to heard squirrels.
I never like to talk bad about Whalers because I like them so much, but for me this particular part was a bad design for the Outrage. I put the factory Minn-Kota on the stern of my 1991 Outrage and quickly decided a bow mount is the ONLY way to go.
My research tells me that a Minn Kota Riptide ST55 12 volt system should work well enough for my 1991 17' Outrage, which is close to the same weight as a Montauk. Of course, the 24 Volt systems offer more power, but who has enough room for the extra battery in a 17' boat?...not to mention the weight.
Now, a kicker motor on the stern is a little different animal and I've used this with good success on my 1998 Montauk.
Just 2 cents worth...
Kenny
Mike Kub posted 03-13-2012 01:37 PM ET (US)
The inherent design flaw with Whalers is the lack of provision for a bow mount troll motor.I had a custom made bracket and have a 54lb Great White on the bow and it works great.(12 volt).I have always been amazed that Whaler engineers could have such a great boat and kept their heads up their butts on the troll motor issue.
RandyV posted 03-15-2012 06:08 PM ET (US)
Just had the chance to spend a day on the water with the new 45-lbs Minn-Kota trolling motor. The shaft length of 36-inch is perfect, and 40-inch would not be too long. The thrust is acceptable but 55-lbs-thrust might be better. We held the boat fine with about 5- to 10-MPH winds for verticle jigging in very fast current. Fished for about seven hours with the motor on almost 100-percent of the time. Two Group-27 batteries were still going strong at the end of the day, but, if the wind were stronger, we would have probably used all those batteries had to give; larger batteries would be better.
Of course, a remote control bow mount would work much better but then you have the mounting [problems] and much much higher price tag. [The process of selecting an electric trolling motor] is all about compromize and how much you plan to use [the electric trolling motor].
jimh posted 03-15-2012 08:31 PM ET (US)
A designator like Group-27 is a physical size measurement. It does tell much about the electrical capacity of a battery. Electrical capacity is measured in Ampere-hours.
Teak Oil posted 03-15-2012 09:42 PM ET (US)
To get [the electrical charge stored in the battery that operates the electric trolling motor] to last that long I assume you have a 12-Volt system wired in parallel?

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Author	Topic: Montauk 17: Stern-mount Electric Trolling Motor
Morgan	posted 03-05-2012 02:26 PM ET (US) I have a 1979 Boston Whaler Montauk 17 and I want to add an electric trolling motor to the stern. I'm am thinking about getting the Minn Kota Riptide Transom Mount Saltwater series (link below). What thrust and shaft length will I need for this boat? I've heard you are supposed to measure from the top of the transom to the water line and add 25 inches. I'd do this, but my boat is currently in the shop. I figured I would check with you guys to see if you have any suggestions or experience with this. I'll mostly use this for controlled drifts and slow trolling. Will I need a dedicated batter for this trolling motor? I already have two Group-27 Deep Cyle Batteries and a plug in trickle charger in the console. I'll plug the batteries in after every fishing trip. One for starting the boat and the other for the bait tank pump, navigation electronics, fish finder, sump pump, and navigation lighting. I have the space to add another batter in the console, but I'm a little concerned about the weight. http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/trolling_motors/saltwater_transom_mount/riptide_transom.aspx
Teak Oil	posted 03-05-2012 08:25 PM ET (US) Any trolling motor with any kind of power is going to be 24volt. I would use a 12 volt marine starting battery for your engine and the two 12 volt batteries you already have to power a 24 volt trolling motor. Not sure on shaft length, but I know a 20" shaft outboard mounted on the upper transom of a Montauk works just fine. You will find that having the motor mounted in the bow would give you substantially better handling if you ever try to head into the waves. Maintaining a heading into the waves with a rear mount electric motor is nearly impossible in anything except calm conditions
RandyV	posted 03-07-2012 10:02 AM ET (US) A couple of weeks ago, I went Walleye fishing in the Saginaw River (Michigan) and the winds were 15- to 20-MPH. In those winds, using my 6-HP Nissan four-cycle engine would have been the correct choice, but I was using a 24-lbs 24-inch-shaft Minn-kota motor and it barely held the 1979 Classic Montauk 17 for vertical jigging. I used up [the stored charge in] a Group-27 battery in less than three hours. The motor was barely deep enough in the water to work properly. Since that trip I have purchased a 45-lbs 36-inch shaft Minn-Kota 12-Volt, which will be a much better fit for this boat. I also paralleled an additional Group-27 battery for longer running. This motor will only be used on this boat for keeping the boat correct with the current for vertical jigging and probably won't be used for trolling as the Nissan fits that bill perfectly.
Landlocked	posted 03-07-2012 11:55 AM ET (US) I went with a 12-Volt motor and actually used the battery connection in the motor as a junction point to avoid running an additional set of wires. Put a selector switch in the console so I switch to the deep cycle when trolling. Wired a simple trolling motor plug recepticle to a short lead connected to the motor and attached the recepticle to the stern below where the motor sits on the starboard side. See http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum6/HTML/002228.html I've had this setup for a couple years now and it's worked great for me. Can't remember now what the thrust on my motor is but it's a great white 12v white water series. I'll try and look it up for you when I get time. Don't know if Mercury would approve but like I said, It's worked for me. Ll.
Landlocked	posted 03-07-2012 12:04 PM ET (US) It's the 54-lbs-thrust model. Works good for me inland. You might want more thrust in heavy current. Ll.
KDW	posted 03-08-2012 03:45 PM ET (US) Have you ever tried to drive and steer a boat using a stern-mounted trolling motor, especially into the wind or against the current? It's kind of like trying to heard squirrels. I never like to talk bad about Whalers because I like them so much, but for me this particular part was a bad design for the Outrage. I put the factory Minn-Kota on the stern of my 1991 Outrage and quickly decided a bow mount is the ONLY way to go. My research tells me that a Minn Kota Riptide ST55 12 volt system should work well enough for my 1991 17' Outrage, which is close to the same weight as a Montauk. Of course, the 24 Volt systems offer more power, but who has enough room for the extra battery in a 17' boat?...not to mention the weight. Now, a kicker motor on the stern is a little different animal and I've used this with good success on my 1998 Montauk. Just 2 cents worth... Kenny
Mike Kub	posted 03-13-2012 01:37 PM ET (US) The inherent design flaw with Whalers is the lack of provision for a bow mount troll motor.I had a custom made bracket and have a 54lb Great White on the bow and it works great.(12 volt).I have always been amazed that Whaler engineers could have such a great boat and kept their heads up their butts on the troll motor issue.
RandyV	posted 03-15-2012 06:08 PM ET (US) Just had the chance to spend a day on the water with the new 45-lbs Minn-Kota trolling motor. The shaft length of 36-inch is perfect, and 40-inch would not be too long. The thrust is acceptable but 55-lbs-thrust might be better. We held the boat fine with about 5- to 10-MPH winds for verticle jigging in very fast current. Fished for about seven hours with the motor on almost 100-percent of the time. Two Group-27 batteries were still going strong at the end of the day, but, if the wind were stronger, we would have probably used all those batteries had to give; larger batteries would be better. Of course, a remote control bow mount would work much better but then you have the mounting [problems] and much much higher price tag. [The process of selecting an electric trolling motor] is all about compromize and how much you plan to use [the electric trolling motor].
jimh	posted 03-15-2012 08:31 PM ET (US) A designator like Group-27 is a physical size measurement. It does tell much about the electrical capacity of a battery. Electrical capacity is measured in Ampere-hours.
Teak Oil	posted 03-15-2012 09:42 PM ET (US) To get [the electrical charge stored in the battery that operates the electric trolling motor] to last that long I assume you have a 12-Volt system wired in parallel?