Sizing Up the Trolling Motor Competition
In all our reviews, we strive to be fair and honest, and we won’t recommend a product we wouldn’t buy with our own hard-earned money.
There are plenty of trolling motor manufacturers, but very few that we’d trust to perform day after day, season after season. These new players, companies like Goplus and Haswing, just don’t deliver a level of quality that we can recommend, especially if you’re running them as a primary motor.
An exception to this is Newport Vessels, which offers simply excellent products I think might prove themselves every bit as good as MotorGuide and Minn Kota.
Many anglers prefer Minn Kota for two reasons. Its trolling motors offer more shaft length and power options, and the high-tech models are unmatched by MotorGuide or Newport Vessels.
But don’t take our word for it; see what the experts have to say!
Every trolling motor we’ve reviewed is a model we’d buy or recommend to a friend.
No “One Size Fits All:” What We Consider When Selecting a Trolling Motor
Trolling motors come in a range of thrust outputs, shaft lengths, and mounting/control options.
To make the right choice, you need to know what to look for, and match that to your fishing conditions and boat specifications.
Batteries
Trolling motors are electric engines and they take power systems in multiples of 12v: 12v, 24v, and 36v. More electricity is required to run more powerful trolling motors, and a 24v system requires two 12v batteries, whereas a 36v system obviously takes three.
According to the experts at Minn Kota, motors rated for 55 pounds of thrust or less will probably need one 12v battery, while those producing 68-80 pounds of thrust will usually demand two. The most powerful trolling motors, those generating a full 101-112 pounds of thrust, will require three.
Perhaps most importantly, you’ll want a motor that sips electricity, keeping your battery alive for as long as possible.
As plenty of anglers can attest, it’s going to be a really bad day when your batteries die just as the fish really start biting!
Thrust Options
Unlike outboards which measure their output in horsepower, electric trolling motors have thrust ratings measured in pounds.
When picking a trolling motor, you need to measure and calculate, not guess!
Already, it’s easy to see why anglers get confused.
But don’t guess - measure.
The experts at Minn Kota note that a good rule of thumb is 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of boat (fully loaded, including fuel and anglers).
The calculation is pretty easy.
You need to know how much your fully loaded boat weighs, then divide that number by 100 and multiply that answer by 2.
(Boat weight/100) x 2 = minimum thrust rating
For instance, for a 2500 pound boat (fully loaded):
2500/100 = 25
25 x 2 = 50
50 pounds of thrust is what you need.
This chart, provided by Minn Kota, offers ready calculations for recommended minimum thrust ratings:
Keep in mind that wind and current will demand more thrust than calm water.
Shaft Length
To ensure excellent performance, you need to keep the top of the prop section of your trolling motor 12 inches under water.
If it’s higher than that, the prop will suck air down into the water, creating cavitation. Not only is that very, very loud under water, but it’s also terribly inefficient.
You’ll spook nearby fish and have less power than you paid for: a lose-lose if ever there were one.
Jon boats: transom-mounted trolling motors
For jon boats that use a transom-mount trolling motor as primary propulsion, typical shaft lengths will be more than adequate.
Trolling motors are excellent options for jon boats.
Jon boats: bow-mounted trolling motors
It’s safe to say that most bow-mounted trolling motors are equipped on bass boats, but they work just as well on jon boats.
But depending on your hull design and the foredeck, a bow-mount may not work without modification. You’ll need a flat deck to mount these trolling motors, and if you don’t have one or can’t make one, you’ll need a transom-mounted model on the bow.
Bow-mounted trolling motors provide jon boat anglers maneuverability and control.
Assuming that you’re using a foot pedal or electronic control, measurement is easy:
Carefully measure from the mounting surface bow to the water level. Add 12 inches to ensure the prop is submerged and another 5 inches to this waterline measurement to create a margin for rough water.
Bow to waterline measurement + 12 + 5 = proper shaft length
For instance, if your bow to waterline measurement is 24 inches:
24 + 12 + 5 = 41”
A 41” shaft or slightly longer will be perfect for your boat.
Minn Kota adds even more length, probably as a margin to cover mis-measurement:
| BOW TO WATERLINE | RECOMMENDED SHAFT LENGTH |
| 0" - 10" | 36" |
| 16" - 22" | 42" - 45" |
| 22" - 28" | 48" - 52" |
| 28" - 44" | 54" - 72" |
| 45"+ | 87" |
Final Thoughts
Trolling motors are ideal upgrades for a jon boat, and whether you use them to maneuver while fishing or as a primary motor, the right model makes all the difference.
It bears repeating that you need to measure carefully and make sure your hull is compatible with a bow-mounted trolling motor.
But if you do your homework and select the right model for your needs, you’ll be really happy with the performance you get from any of the options we've reviewed today.
As always, we’re here to answer any questions you might have, so please leave a comment below.
