Trolling motor question

[KylefromNJ]

Hi guys,

Just got a used toon this month. It's got a small outboard Yamaha motor on it. I'm the paranoid type who likes to plan for bad situations, so I was thinking of buying a trolling motor as a backup, in case the outboard fails so I can get back to the dock.

It currently has 1 12V battery in it, so I was thinking of getting another 12V and hook them up in parallel, using the outboard to charge them both, and at the same time run my fish finder etc off them.

Is this a common practice? How large of a trolling motor would I need to adequately push my 20' toon against the wind? How long would those 2 batteries last me w the motor? Does trolling motor need regular maintenance like a gas outboard?

Thanks in advance.

Also, 55 lbs thrust seems the be the biggest common trolling motor I find. What's a good brand you would recommend? This seems like a decent price for a 42" shaft 55lb thrust one:

http://www.amazon.com/Minn-Kota-Freshwa ... ling+motor

[cuda67bnl]

I'm the paranoid type who likes to plan for bad situations

If that's the case, I wouldn't run everything tied into your starting battery......... It only took me one time of running my battery down and the boat wouldn't start for me to learn that lesson. Run the finder and trolling motor off a separate battery and install a bank charger. You'll be glad you did.

[killerkernrich]

A troll mt on a toon in the wind is not good enough to get you back to the dock.....I know,..... I have a 22 ft toon and a 70 lbs 24 volt troll mt.

[RcgTexas]

I've used my 12 volt trollmotor with parallel batteries to fish on my 21 foot toon. It wont get you back long distance but You aren't going to paddle back either. A troll motor, a sail plan(like a flight plan), a cell phone and possibly a VHF radio is the best shot at being rescued if SHTF. OH I forgot a Good friend with a boat and a tow rope!

[pontoonMoose]

I have a 55 Minn kota on my 24' tracker, there right it won't go far but it will get you to the bank and keep you off the rocks. my 60Hp starter went out while fishing and we trolled about a 1/4 mile, in light wind to the closest boat ramp we could see, I don't use mine very much, but for a backup to get you out of a bind you can't beat them. look on your local craigslist there are always some on there.