i need your opinion on a trolling motor.

[bassfishingva]

ok ive never owned a trolling motor before and dont know anything about them so if you dont mind can you tell me what the best deal would be
between these trolling motors for a 12' jon boat with two people in it we dont need to fly i just want a good dependable trolling motor to get me around
this one is a walmart MotorGuide Thruster T34 Trolling Motor
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=4016522
this one is a bass pro shops Bass Pro Shops® Prowler™ T30/30 Trolling Motor
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98206_200002001_200000000_200002000_200-2-1
this one is a bass pro shops Bass Pro Shops® Prowler™ T45/36 Trolling Motor
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_98207_200002001_200000000_200002000_200-2-1
this one is a bass pro shops Minn Kota® Endura™ Transom-Mount Trolling Motors the one for 109.00
http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_-1_10001_1192?cmCat=CROSSSELL_PRODUCT&cmid=PP_P0_2


i would appreciate all input and help i can get also what kind of batteries do they take i know they say 12 volt but are they different and where can i find them and what is there average price, how long do they last ect.

[Creel Limit Zero]

Do you plan on decking the jon boat out, or just leaving as is.  I have a jon boat that i first started with, and a transom mount.  It was fun, and caught some good fish.  After a couple of years that I decked out and put a bow mount trolling motor on it.  So much more enjoyable and stable.  Now you can fish standing up the whole time if you prefer that.  I'm one of those guys that enjoys standing while fishing. 

Anyway, just curious.  I would say you would not need the extra power, but you would be surprised how much quicker and longer lasting your batteries would be if you upped it to a 24 volt.  They have a bow mount Minnkota 65AT on sale right now at Bass Pro I think for $399.  I know that is three times as much as you are looking at, but is well worth the extra money. 

When I had the transom mount, I think I had one of the Endura Minnkotas - the 50 or 55 pound, can't remember.  It worked pretty good, but I always found myself running out of juice.  Of course I was fishing in pretty big reservoirs and would use it as a source of power to get places. 

[blake711]

You can get buy with pretty much any that you listed.  The higher the pound thrust the quicker and easier you will get places and be able to deal with wind better.   I would get the best you can afford that you think you will get your monies worth out of.  If you plan to use this boat 25 times a year then definitely get the 50#  if you are going to use it 3 times a year get a 99.00 motor.

As for the 24v foot controlled personally I think the time and money invested into decking a jon and putting a foot controlled motor on it the cost outweighs benefit.  I thought long and hard about it one time and I am glad I Didn't mess with it. For the time and money output you can just get an old 16 or 17 foot boat and save your time.   Also adding two batteries and full decking to a jon is a lot of weight.  Usually when folks do that they are way over the recommended weight.

As for batteries.  You can expect 2 to 3 years good use tops out of a deep cycle battery.  The better you maintain them by charging them regularly even when you aren't using them over the winter and keeping them topped off with distilled water or acid the longer they will last.    You can spend as little as 50 bucks for a cheap one that may last 18 months or spend over 200 for a top end gel cell.  I would budget at least 100 for a battery.   If you can find one A/C delco makes an awesome marine battery.   Make sure its dual purpose or deep cycle.  Not a Marine Starting battery.  It won't run a trolling motor very long.  The battery sizes are called groups the numbers go up in size 25, 27, 29 31 the larger the better except 34 is normally about like a 29 in size and specs.  You are concerned with reserve capacity and amp hours.  The larger numbers the better.. Cold crank amps don't really matter since you aren't using it to start an engine.   You just want long run time or reserve capacity on a trolling motor battery. 

good luck.
Blake

[Creel Limit Zero]

As for the 24v foot controlled personally I think the time and money invested into decking a jon and putting a foot controlled motor on it the cost outweighs benefit.  I thought long and hard about it one time and I am glad I Didn't mess with it. For the time and money output you can just get an old 16 or 17 foot boat and save your time.   Also adding two batteries and full decking to a jon is a lot of weight.  Usually when folks do that they are way over the recommended weight.

I have to respectfully disagree with that assessment.  Unless you can find a real reasonable old boat, decking I think is the way to go.  I decked out a Jon boat a few years back, carpeted it and put compartments.  Cost around $200 in supplies, a case of beer and the better part of a Sunday.  That was about 4 years ago I think, so it maybe around $300 now.  But the stability I now have in that boat is well worth it.  Before if you set the hook too hard your partner might fall out. 

Now you will have to add a bow mount, so that adds a couple hundred more.  I don't think you'll find a anything out there for under a thousand that is worth it, IMO...

You will add some weight though, to the tune of you are not going to carry it down to the water.  You'll have to find a ramp.  So if you are throwing the jon boat on the back of your truck you will not be able to do this...

[blake711]

I think CLZ believes I follow him around to be the antagonist when it comes to anything electrical but its just not true.  Just diffrent points of view and experiences.

Blake

[Creel Limit Zero]

I think CLZ believes I follow him around to be the antagonist when it comes to anything electrical but its just not true.  Just diffrent points of view and experiences.

Blake

No worries Blake, I just like to give my two cents worth.    

It's good to hear different view points too!

[Russ199A]

I bought my step dad one of those BPS pond prowlers and he loves it. Along with the boat I got him the $99 BPS trolling motor and a BPS battery. He has told me many times that on a full charge, he can slow troll for 8 hrs easy. He would like to have a bigger boat but the cost and the fact that he doesn't get to go as often as he likes is a huge factor.
Most likely you won't be dealing with big wind and waves in a 12 footer. I would go with the trolling motor that has the best warrenty and best fit for you. I'm a MinnKota guy, I don't like the way a Motorguide feels on my foot. That's just me.
If you were closer to LA, I'd let you look at a trolling motor I have for sale. Speaking of which, you should check out E-Bay on a T-motor. I've gotten some great deals on there and save a boat load of money.
Good luck man.