I finally made up my mind and got a Fish Cat pontoon boat , so far I absolutly love it . It has an easy anchoring system and a motor mount built in.
My knees and aurthritis do not allow me to kick fins for long periods of time so
I am planning to use a small electric which brings up my questions.
I have a 55lb thrust minn kota but I am sure it is too big. ( the darn thing will almost plane my 10ft. ) Plus it drains the batteries fairly quickly.
The smallest motor I can find is a 30lb thrust minn kota. Is this too big for a toon? If so does anyone know of a smaller one?
Also, I have 4 deep cycle batteries which last at least a day each on the water but I have heard that the new spiral deep cycle batteries are lighter and last longer althought they are pricey as all get out. Anyone have info and opinions on the spirals?
I have a 36 on my 11 1/2 ft pontoon and at times it is too much. 55 is a definit over kill not to mention the overall length of the motor will be a pain. It could also damage the motor mount on your toon.
I have a deep cycle battery on my toon right behind the seat to help balance it out. You might have to slide the frame as far forward as you can or at least your seat to help to balance the toon out with the battery. The motor won’t make that much difference.
You should be able to get about 7hrs if you stay on one. Also, turn the head on the motor so that it is facing the same direction as the propeller. A bolt inder the head, loosen it and turun it then tighten. That way it has all the speeds in the forward possiton although you will be going backwards. They don’t steer well forward, but enough to get you to shore or small movements.
A good charger is recommended. I spent a little more on one that will charge in 4 to 6hrs which is generator time when out in the unimproved areas.
I have put a motor on every tube/toon I have ever owned and anything is possible. I even had one on my Alpine which is a 6’ pontoon and on my Caddis float tube with the aid of the Float Power.
You will still need flippers to steer and you will be required to license it.
Gnu,
Dave Scadden straps a 8 hp gas on his 1 man toon and blasts off across the lake at 25 MPH, (see North Fork Outdoors). Let’s see, 8 hp is about 900 lb of thrust - look out. :shock: Well, I don’t ride snow machines or motor cycles either so I won’t be trying that soon. :lol:
Dave does this stuff to show the extreme. Like what the boats can take. But he doesn’t use a gas motor normally. But again like I said his boats can handle it. I have seen other make boats the the motor ended up bending or breaking the frames.
I will have to say however that Scadden’s boats are one of the TOP Choices.
30 or 36 will be plenty for you. You’re just using it to cruise or troll right? Gp 27 battery deep cycle only. Get a good charger too. If you don’t have one (charger) look at Cabelas for an onboard charger made for deep cycle trolling batteries.
Thanks for all the replys, I already have a really good deep cycle charger made especially for the deep cycle batteries .
I guess I will have to go with the Minn kota 30lbs thrust motor as I cannot find a smaller one on the market. Minn Kota seems to have the lions share of the market all to itself.
I have decided against getting the Scadden with the twin 255 merc’s due to the rising cost of fuel and not because I am a fraidy cat. :lol: :lol:
The thirty lb. thrust won’t go slow enough to fish stillwater effectively in most situations, but there is an easy fix. On the shaft of the motor, place a 1/2 inch saddle tee. (think sprinkling system) Out of the tee, use a 1/2 X 12" plastic pipe, connected to a 1/2" plastic elbow. From the elbow, use another 1/2 X 12" plastic pipe to which you fasten a piece of your wife’s plastic cutting board, or a piece of plexiglass, with a couple of u-bolts. Adjust it so it impedes the flow from the prop to the degree of slowness you want to go. Leave the fittings a bit loose, so you can twist it up out of the way when you want to run fast. My motor is a front mount that resides between my flippers, it’s easy to reach, and doesn’t need the head turned to go in reverse. I don’t have to twist around to reach the control handle. You may not have the same difficulty that I have twisting around to the rear to address motor issues, so it’s just a thought. Hope you get that puppy up and runnin’.
Lew, you never worry about your line getting caught in the prop? Plus I would think that in front, we all go in reverse so to speak while fishing. It is a natural way. You are pushing more than pulling. With the head turned you would not be going in reverse, you would be going in the forward possition, it’s just forward is backwards - PULLING
You turn the motor on and steer with feet. If reaching the motor is a problem, for under $20. you can fix that.
In the spirit of to each his own here’s what I do.
I use my pontoon on larger lakes and reserviors…
I use two wheel chair batteries…they are deep cycle and can be tipped over…lighter than regular batteries…figured the regular was more weight than I wanted… however yesterday I went out with both on board and it didn’t seem to be a problem…one won’t last all day of constant going but I seldom put in that many hours anyway.
My motor is a 32# Minn-Kota and seems to troll down just fine…I don’t think I’d want any less for getting around…there ain’t no free lunch the bigger the motor the more juice is used.
Just thought I’d mention those wheel chair batteries since I doubt it’s common knowledge.
Oh, and I’ve gotten so I don’t wear flippers in the toon anymore.
That is cool about the wheel chair batteries, but I fish often and use my motor and pontoon and the Deep Cycles can take the total drain and recharging often…can the wheel chair (seems under the circumstances they could)
I still prefer the flippers however, cause they do help steer, hold in place, and slow movement when needed.
I don’t use my motor a lot, I just use it to get where I am going, along with oars, and to help if it is windy.
I have a 75 Hobie and I have a 2 hp Yamaha (sp) that I use on it. The motor only weighs 28 lbs, which is a lot less than most batteries. In Montana when I but the motor on it became a motor boat so I was required to get a title for the craft, register it and get numbers and other permits.
"Lew, you never worry about your line getting caught in the prop? "
FG. I use a stripping basket to hold the retrieved line, and haven’t had a problem with line tangles in the prop. You need to be conscious of where the line is however, cause the motor head could be an impediment if the line is allowed to roam. I just prefer things to be up front, because I know I’d be in trouble if I had to turn all the way round to take care of any problem behind me in the toon. I’d probably be at the mercy of the kindness of friends, and sometimes when the water’s a bit rough, it still isn’t easy to resolve difficulties from another boat. If need be, I could remove the motor entirely, from the foreward position. My motor “pushes” me in a reverse direction, and I steer with the fins, both when trolling and running. I hardly ever touch the handle to steer. Also, it balances the boat a bit better to have the weight of the motor in front. When I see you runnin’ around Henry’s, I’ll accost you and commandeer your boat to see how it’d work for me. :lol:
