New Trolling Motor

[brian prewitt75]

Need a little help here folks. Looking at a new trolling motor for my 18 ft. Lowe and have been looking at either the minn kota edge 45 or 55. the 45 has a 45 inch shaft which is long enough and the 55 has a 52 inch shaft. Will be getting hand control bow mount. Also thought about the maxxum 55 but cannot see enough difference in the motors to spend an extra 80 bills. Looked at reviews for the motorguide varimax and dont think its the motor for me. any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Dutch]

My opinion is that you can not have too much thrust in a trolling motor but you can have too little. Go as big as you can afford to go.

[gotmuddy]

55lb thrust FTW.

[Mitch f]

My opinion is that you can not have too much thrust in a trolling motor but you can have too little. Go as big as you can afford to go.

Agree with Dutch totally, it's like the pentium computer...once you have a speedy processor the others seem inadequate. For your reference, I have a 1650 Xpress jon boat with .100 guage aluminum thickness. I run a 74LB thrust Min Kota Maxxum trolling motor. When you have to run upstream to get unsnagged, it's much faster= more fishing time

BTW, I don't know the set up height of your boat but that shaft seems 10" too long.

[brian prewitt75]

Agree with Dutch totally, it's like the pentium computer...once you have a speedy processor the others seem inadequate. For your reference, I have a 1650 Xpress jon boat with .100 guage aluminum thickness. I run a 74LB thrust Min Kota Maxxum trolling motor. When you have to run upstream to get unsnagged, it's much faster= more fishing time

BTW, I don't know the set up height of your boat but that shaft seems 10" too long.

Yep shaft too long but cant find shorter shaft in higher thrust motors in hand control. May hafta look into ft. Control but need to call minn kota to c if control cable is long enuf to reach my floor in the boat. Looked at em at bass pro today but couldnt get any help to answer questions. Walked out n wont be buying from them for sure.

[brian prewitt75]

Agree with Dutch totally, it's like the pentium computer...once you have a speedy processor the others seem inadequate. For your reference, I have a 1650 Xpress jon boat with .100 guage aluminum thickness. I run a 74LB thrust Min Kota Maxxum trolling motor. When you have to run upstream to get unsnagged, it's much faster= more fishing time

BTW, I don't know the set up height of your boat but that shaft seems 10" too long.

Mitch do u have a front deck?

[Mitch f]

Mitch do u have a front deck?

Yes I do have a front deck

[brian prewitt75]

Yes I do have a front deck

Ok. Been doing a lil measuring n think I may end up goin with a ft. Control motor. I need 50 inch control cable to reach floor since I dont have a deck and I am sure they are long enough. Leaning toward 70 pound edge. You fish a fair amount of current? Sorry for all the questions but dont wanna go into this blind. Just always had 45 pound motors and need alittle more.

[Mitch f]

Ok. Been doing a lil measuring n think I may end up goin with a ft. Control motor. I need 50 inch control cable to reach floor since I dont have a deck and I am sure they are long enough. Leaning toward 70 pound edge. You fish a fair amount of current? Sorry for all the questions but dont wanna go into this blind. Just always had 45 pound motors and need alittle more.

I do fish current quite often, I like going when the water is up a little after a rain. The bigger motors are more expensive and require a second battery though. You might want to take your boat to a reputable river boat dealer like Troutt and Sons in St. James and ask for their advice.

[gotmuddy]

a 18' lowe will be plenty big enough for holding two batteries. I have a 67lb thrust motorguide on my 16x48 lowe jon with a 6ft front deck(3/4" plywood) and even with two healthy sized people on the front deck the boat sits plenty high out of the water.