Used Trolling Motors For Sale Craigslist (2024)

FAQs

How fast does a 55 pound thrust trolling motor go? ›

A 55lb thrust trolling motor in similar circ*mstances will achieve around 4 miles per hour. A 62lb thrust motor will reach about 4.5 miles per hours. Finally, an 86lb thrust motor can get up to about 5 miles per hour.

While the Minn Kota Endura C2 30 Freshwater Transom Mounted Trolling Motor (30" Shaft) model takes 32 amps/hr to get that 30 lbs of thrust, this one can do 30 lbs of thrust for roughly 18 amps/hr. 40 to 45 lbs thrust is roughly 29 amps/hr instead of the 42 amps/hr that those respective motors draw for the same thrust.

Fisherman with specially outfitted bay boats tend to choose medium 70 to 80 lbs thrust motors and frequently with i-Pilot/GPS control. These motors are great in moderate breezes and moving currents.

If the motor is 55 lbs. of thrust or less, you will need (1) 12 volt battery. If you have a motor with more than 55 lbs of thrust up to 80 lbs. of thrust, you will need (2) 12 volt batteries for a total of 24 volts.

Comparing Thrust and Horsepower

As an example, the mid-size 55lb thrust trolling motor has the equivalent power of about 0.84 hp.

A Newport Vessels (NV) 55 lb thrust trolling motor draws 52A at full speed. A 100Ah battery can run it at full speed for nearly 2 hours, while a 50Ah battery lasts almost an hour. However, trolling motors are rarely used continuously at top speed. Properly managed, a 100Ah battery can power the motor all day.

If the 35 Ah battery is a lithium battery you should get almost all of it's stated capacity, so you could run about an hour or more on speed “5”. Speed 1 uses 8 Amps/h so>4h, 2-10A/h so 3.5h, 3-14A/h so >2h, 4-20A/h, and 5-30A/h so >1h.

RECOMMENDATION: You need at least 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of fully loaded boat weight (people and gear included). If things like wind or current are major factors where you fish, you'll want a little extra thrust.

How to increase trolling motor speed? ›

On the foot pedal, rotate the speed wheel away from you and toward you to increase and decrease the speed of the motor.

When it comes to power and performance, a 24-volt trolling motor battery offers distinct advantages. The doubled voltage capabilities translate to more thrust, which is vital for larger boats, especially in windy or rough conditions.

Regularly using a starter battery with a trolling motor can ruin both the battery and even the motor. There are two types of deep-cycle 12-volt batteries that are recommended for electric trolling motor use: Lead Acid Wet-Cell & AGM batteries.

12 Volt System (2 Batteries)

Two 12-volt deep cycle batteries are required. Batteries in the system must be the same manufacture, type, size, and age. Make sure that the trolling motor is disconnected. Wire in parallel only as directed in wiring diagram, to provide 12-volt system with increased amp hour capacity.

Example: The NV 55lb thrust motor draws 52 amps at full speed and uses one 12V battery. This gives us 624 watts.

Rules of Thumb

Most saltwater fishermen like to troll at speeds between 2 and 9 knots. Speeds in the 7-9 knot range will serve you well when targeting Marlin or other Billfish. Wahoo, who are known for their bursts of speed, are often caught when trolling around 10-12 knots.

Trolling motors are offered in 12V, 12/24V, 24V and 36V versions, with the most powerful ones offering more than 100lb. of thrust, powerful enough to move heavy vessels such as pontoon boats. Maximum thrusts at different voltages are approximately 12V/55lb.