Electric trolling motor

[EWS]

I am thinking of buying an electric trolling motor for my 8x8 Avenger & was wondering if any of you guys are running these motors. The motor that I am looking at is a Minn Kota Endura 46 lb. thrust model. Would this model push my argo as fast as the tires, also would I need a battery upgrade?
Any information would be appreciated.
Thanks

[GREASEMONKEY]

I have the MinnKota 35lb, and have upgraded to the Optima Yellow Top. I also keep my machine on a battery minder because it may sit for monthes between use.

[trebmaster]

I use 50lb thrust moter and it move my Bigfoot fine. tho I think it pulles it better then it pushes

[salamander]

I run a Minn Kota Endura 36

36 lbs thrust, 36" shaft on a Bigfoot. On highest speed, it will go about as fast as with the tires alone. Thats assuming calm conditions. You can always use the tires and the trolling motor together if you want to really make a wake! If you plan to run on open water or cover some major distance, go bigger for sure, 50 lbs sounds about right.

On a side note, I am only using the tiny little battery that shipped with the Bigfoot; with it I can use the electric motor on low speeds for hours on end; but if I run on high speed; it kills the battery in about an hour. (amen to the pull start on the engine!) Upgraded battery a must for any serious electric motoring... still looking into that one... how's the Optima Yellow Top working out for you?

[GREASEMONKEY]

I have an optima yellow in the argo , and in my jeep. They have both held up just fine. They will out perform any other battery I have seen yet. The one in the jeep will run my winch cable 150' 3/4 times with the motor off! That's about a 400amp draw, and 45seconds per 150' reel. The amperage these batteries hold is amazing! I have used the Military grade dry cell batteries, and they didn't take a beating like the Optima's have!

[boncrshr]

I had an Optima red top in my Jeep Cherokee fail this weekend, it was only 2 years old. I'm not downing Optima batteries at all, I know they are much better than traditional batteries...I just wonder why? I have a high amp alternator that is only about a year old??

[ygmir]

what do you mean by "failed"?

HEnry

[tracmaster]

I had the same problem in my jeep but only when i put the 140 amp alternator in. If yours is like mine was [sold it] expect to change batteries every 2-3 years..Never found out why this only happened with optimas. anyhow i use a 30 lb thrust trolling motor and the #1 setting of 5 is faster than tires only..I still use an optima yellow top under the seat of my avenger and never had problems..this battery i about 6 years old and as strong as day one.. the 30 lb motor [hard to find anymore] uses less juice ..i tool around the ponds all day and can still start my machine with plenty to spare..Putting a full size battery under the seat is i think the best upgrate one can do..Opima yellow top is a great choice.

Tracmaster

[superdave]

Optima red top

Just thought I'd throw my two cents in, I had a red top Optima that went flat after 13 months under normal driving I upgraded to a yellow top, and has been good now for almost 5 years. The yellow top is well known in the 4x4 community as being the most durable battery you can buy

[boncrshr]

Thanks for the info guys......I guess next time I will get a yellow top.

Hey YG,

I guess I should have been more specific, it just went dead and would not hold a charge at all. Very suddenly also.

[GREASEMONKEY]

My yellow top in the jeep had a dead cell after 16monthes. The 2 year warranty comes in handy!

[m350]

A year or so ago I went to get a Battery for my car,,went to Advanced Auto,,looking at battery's,,one salesman swore by the Optima,,,other salesman said they were Junk,,,lol,,saying they come back Dead,,all the time a yr or so old, ?? Just what I have heard !

[salamander]

tracmaster

You can buy a Minn Kota Endura 30 these days for $100 at Bass Pro Shops. Problem may be there that the shaft on it is only 30" long. By my measurements and experience with my machine on the water; (nose heavy, ass end up out of the water much of the time); 36" is the bare minimum that I would settle for. That way even when you're weight is all the way forward; the prop is still completely below the surface.

[bearclaw46]

thrust

Salamander, I just bought a Minn Kota 38 lb thrust trolling motor. They had them at Costco up here in Anchorage for $144.00. Do you think the 38 lb thrust would make it go faster than the tires can do it. I'll have to check the shaft length to see if it'll meet your specs, if not I may have to take it back.
Thanks for the good info you've provided here.

FYI, I purchased an Optima Blue top around 3 or 4 yrs ago. At that time the bluetop was their top of the line. I use it in my camper in the summer. It sits in my heated garage all winter and I never charge it. In the spring, I charge it up on trickle charge for minimum 24 hrs, max 48 hrs, put it in my camper and away we go. Haven't had any problems with it (I AM knocking on wood). I remember paying $142.00 for it when I bought it @ Costco also.

Dennis

[salamander]

Back to the Optima discussion

I decided to go out looking for an Optima Yellow top, soon realized they were hard to find around here? (they can be found, just not at Costco anymore for example)

Did some asking around- the patent Optima held on the AGM (Absorbed Glass Mat) spiral cells expired last year; so anybody can make them now.

Crappy Tire has a new battery they call the Orbital X... don't think it will fit in the battery compartment without some modifications. Supposedly it rivals the Optima Yellow top specs. Can't find much detail on it though.

Then there's Odyessy; with a wide range of shapes and sizes "Military Grade AGM Batteries", at Home Depot and other stores.

Any other contenders out there?