Trolling Motor for Pontoon

[CREED]

Hey everyone,

Newley registered to the site and I need some input. I am buying a inflatable pontoon boat and I want to put a trolling motor on it. I need some ideas on the size of motor to get mainly how much thrust I need. I would appreciate any ideas.

Thanks
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[windriver]

Welcome to the forum. I would take this question to the tube and pontoon forum. Just look at the forums on the top of the page.

I use a motor with 30lbs of thrust and it works ok on my South Fork II.

Windriver
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[packfish]

Personally I would think a 30# thrust would be fine- I picked one up that was just a few months old (Minn Kota) for $60.00. I think it is $119 new. I will be putting it on my wife's toon. Now for the battery.
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[Belasko]

I use a 30lb thrust motor on my 14ft aluminum boat for trolling or just working the shorelines. I can't imagine you would need more than that for a pontoon boat which is way more maneuverable.
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[prvrt]

I run a 55lb on my Trout Unlimited Pumpkin toon. I prefer to have the power when/if needed. You never know when the wind is going to come up on the lake you are on and from what direction. I also go up river on mine on the Snake River and float back down, current permitting of course. I have seen people on Henry's wishing they had something bigger when the wind comes up there from the wrong direction. It comes down to preference after you have done it for a while and you will get a better idea of what You want eventually. Take into consideration also of the size of your toon and your weight and cargo. 30lb may be enough 90% of the time, I just prefer to be prepared for the other 10% of the time with the 55lb.
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[superslammer]

I use a 30 thrust Minkota on my 7 foot pontoon. I have all the power I need with it. Good investment for the pontoon.
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[poky-mon]

30-35lb thrust is big enough. and when you get a batt for it make sure you get a deep cycle marine, size of batt depends on size of boat.
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[Biglew]

I use a 28 lb thrust MinnKota and it pushes me around pretty well, and I'm a big guy. The main problem I've had, is that I couldn't get it to go slow enough to fish a flyrod and flies effectively. I wound up buying a few readily available plastic sprinkler system fittings and pipe, and made myself a trolling plate that works real well. My motor is mounted in front, so I can control the motor and plate without contorting myself into a pretzel. Let me know if you want further details on the plate.
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[CREED]

Just curious where do you mount the motor in the front? Also do you think that you would be too fast to troll lures or is it just a problem with the flies.

Thanks
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[Biglew]

I have a Buck's Back Southfork 9' pontoon, and the motor mount fits into the footpeg tubes. You can put your feet beside the motor head, or dangle them in the water and steer the boat with your feet. You can steer with your feet, running at full speed. I've never had a problem with hitting the prop with my feet. It necessitates that you net the fish alongside the pontoon, instead of in the area in front, between your feet. You also travel in a rearward direction, which is the direction I want to travel to troll lures, or strip flies. You wouldn't need a plate to slow you down, if you're fishing lures. It won't go slow enough for flies without something to slow you down, or by using fins only.
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[SportfishinSteve]

Here is how I do mine. It's mounted to the motor plate that also holds the battery. Works great and I can troll all day on a 28# Minn Kota
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[flygoddess]

Creed,
As far as size, 30 is just fine. I had a 30 for many years till it finally died last spring. I have since kicked it up to a Maxxum 40. Is there a difference? Not in speed, they have the same size prop. The bigger motor is a little less taxing on the battery, that is all. The one nice feature on the Maxxum, is it the control is more a reostat. Turn it just a little and the prop barely turns.
I agree that there were times my 30 felt a little too fast, but I also figured out that by pointing my toes/flippers straight down, it would slow me down (like trolling plates)

I have two pontoons I use a motor on. One is a 9' and the other is an 11 1/2'. Both are set up for the motor on the back. The thing is, when you buy the motor, loosen the head and turn it so the handle is facing the same direction as the prop. It is easier on the motor and the battery to PULL then it is to push. There is no keel on a pontoon so it does not push well.
By turning the head and mounting it to the back your 5 forward controls now pull you. the 4 reverse now push you. You steer with your feet/flippers. HANDS FREE. Most boats are set up with motor mount on the back.

Now by mounting it on the front, you wouldn't have to change the head, and you could get by without ever putting you feet in the water, but you are at the mercy of your motor. The motor will be off set to make room for your feet and you have a motor there if you want to land a fish in front between your legs. Plus the coming into shore thing.
I like it behind me.
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[poky-mon]

[quote CREED]Just curious where do you mount the motor in the front? Also do you think that you would be too fast to troll lures or is it just a problem with the flies.

Thanks[/quote]

Most mount it in back. Going to fast for flies no You have 4-5 speeds to pick from. I personally just kick if I need to move and use the motor if it gets to windy. My wife uses a spin outfit and she leaves it in 1st and she reels it if she wants it to move faster. Also the wifes arm gets sore from the flyrod swinging so Flygoddess rigged her spin outfit with a strike indicater and nymph and cronimid tag setup and she had a hayday.
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[flygoddess]

Hey Poky....of the subject but 5 - Monday, 4 - Tuesday, 3 - Wed. and ZERO today and I don't want one...WAHOOOOOO!
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[mactuna]

Have a 40 lb thrust Minkota and 2 batteries fo $75. We do not use our Toons anymore. Never used.
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[idahopanfish]

So where are you t? anywheres near Twin Falls?
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[mactuna]

We live in Sandy Utah. We went fishing last weekend and caught some Brown Trout at Starvation. Water needs to warm up some more, it was only 40%. Is Salmon Falls ice free ?
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[idahopanfish]

Haven't been there for 2 weeks but it should be ice free. I hope to find out tommorro.[fishin]
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[mactuna]

Thanks, what are the day temps ?
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[idahopanfish]

Weather report show up high 50's, 11mph wind and cloudy wigh a storm coming in tomorro.
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