Minnkota Engine Mounted Motor

[lowwall]

Any one ever use one of these.


http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/motors/detail.asp?pg=sem

80% of the hours put on my Boat Motor is at low\Idle speeds. Fiqured this may add some years of boat motor life and save some gas. Of course it adds the weight of two motors and 2 batteries to.

What do you think?

[DaleH]

FWIW I once chartered with guide Peter Fallon, of Gillies & Fallon http://www.mainestripers.com/newsletterarticles.html , on the Kennebec River in Maine. He had some electric motors from Navigator that affixed to his OB's vent plate. I thought they were pretty darn cool, see this post here. (http://reel-time.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43847)

http://www.panthermarineproducts.com/images/productshots/655200l.jpg

They ain't cheap ($1000 for 24-volt models) but worked unbelievably well in the strong outgoing current of the Kennebec, to hold us in position. No idea of reliability between the brands, but the quality of your 24-volt wiring system and its integrity in the saltwater environment is what will give you the best long-term results.

Cabelas carries both brands, maybe their reviews will help you decide. Tough call when you can buy a small OB kicker for a couple hundred bucks, that'll have more ooommmppph to get you home if needed. If I recall correctly, a ~60-pound thrust electric motor is only 1 horsepower.

Will sell you a mint 6hp OB for $250 ;) !

[lowwall]

Dale;

Thanks for the input, that post sealed the deal. That is how I fish and the reason I alway's have my motor running. Already have the batteries and 24V charger from bow mount that I had.
I also had the Lenco trolling tabs. Did not work that well, cavitated allot, and a piston blew within the first season on mine. I see they now have cavitation plates on them, to late my were removed and sold. Probably go with the Minnkotta only becuse I have had a few of these.

Thanks
Mike
PS. Already got a 6hp Kicker, but thanks for the offer

[G-Man]

I'm a trolling motor guy I like that product, tho I have no exp.
I hang a riptide over the transom for night trips, but I could see the advantages of that idea.

If you measure your waterline & shaft ... how much water will be above that elec prop? I have a feeling my rig would only have like 4 inches ... which seems not enough for waves and such without catching air.
I'm guessing tho...probably will be fine.

Please share how it works out.
Nice addon.
-Greg

[soundownsam]

If you are using the motor to hold position I would also look at the Minn Kota Riptide (??) with teh autopilot. I have a friend who uses this on a flats boat to fish bridges in South Florida and it is just awsome. He can hold position or move the boat from anyplace on the boat using the remote control.

Sam

[loon]

The only reservation I have with the cav-plate mounted option is that it requires motor down, so it really restricts shallow water capability.