Anyone just run 24 volts only on your trolling motor on a Nitro Z-18 ? If so , how does it preform ? Does it move it good with 3 people on board ? Or a loaded boat , tackle ext….. I have a ghost on my Nitro Z-18 and it was rigged with 2 12v 100ah lead acid batteries in series. It seems to work ok . But was wondering if 36 volts would be better at 120 thrust ! Lithium batteries at 36 v are super expensive! So I would like to stay at 24 v Just need opinions either way !
24 volts for trolling motor on nitro z-18
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This can be a matter of personal preference but I've always been happy with 24V at 80 pounds thrust. I posted recently about changing my 2, 12V batteries to the LifePO4's. They are very inexpensive now if you stay away from the robbers.. I would consider the 120 pound thrust way overkill on the Z-18.
When calculating boat weight, make sure you calculate the heaviest potential weight which includes a boat fully loaded with gear, fuel and the maximum number of passengers.
The Nitro Z-18 bass boat has an average dry weight of 1,700 lbs ). The average package weight is 3,200
Boat weight is the most important consideration to take into account when choosing a trolling motor. A beginning rule of thumb is that you want a minimum of 2lbs of thrust for every 100lbs. For example, if you have a 3000lb boat, fully loaded, then the calculation is (3000/100) x 2 = 60lbs of thrust.
When calculating boat weight, make sure you calculate the heaviest potential weight which includes a boat fully loaded with gear, fuel and the maximum number of passengers.
The Nitro Z-18 bass boat has an average dry weight of 1,700 lbs ). The average package weight is 3,200
I have always ran 24v also...no issues with performance. One advantage I see to a 36v system is if you loose a battery, you are not dead in the water. You can rewire for 24v with the two good battery's and run that way since most motors will do both voltages. If you need/want the thrust (some guys fish rivers with bad current) and extra battery storage go for it...
Ben
Member
I also run 24v with a 90lb trust, I can fish all day with no issues
Ben
Member
I have a Z19, slightly bigger and heavier than your Z18. I have a 24v 80 lb thrust Minnkota. It moves the boat just fine, most of the time I am running it at 30-40%. At 100% it will pull the boat at 2.8 mph. I expect that your 24v Ghost would perform similarly, or maybe even a little better, being a brushless motor. If you fish around heavy current or frequently in the wind, that might warrant 36v. That's the nice thing about the brushless motors, you can try 24v and if you find it isn't enough, you can easily move up to 36v by adding another 12v battery.
I will probably go with two 36v 50 ah lithium batteries in parallel. With two 36v batteries I still would have redundancy if 1 battery fails . Eventually I am thinking about getting a Millertech 12 v 190 ah duel purpose battery for cranking and electronics. 96 lbs total weight .
You sound like you may have experienced battery failure in the past. Just my opinion, what you are proposing is way overkill. Here's another idea, get one of the charge while you run chargers, like Stealth offers. I have a Stealth charger and have gone 4 fishing days with out plugging in on a 24v set up. At the end of 4 days, my 2 12v lithium batteries were still above 75% charge.
What brand of lithium battery do you use for your trolling motor ? I am assuming they are 12 volt in series. What ah are they ? I will look into stealth charge on the run charger. Please give me details on your whole battery set up it would be greatly appreciated.
I run 2 12v Dakota lithium 120ah. In serioes for 24v Garmin Force. 1 12v 120 Dakota lithium for electronics. I have the onboard 4 bank 10amp Dakota on board lithium charger to charges these with the electronics battery doubled to charge at 20amp.
120 ah interstate cranking battery original on board that came on Z19 for that.
Don't have to go with Dakota but good lithium batteries yiu will not regret it
Didn’t you mean 12v 100ah Dakota lithium’s? I didn’t see any 120 v Dakota lithiums on there site . Could be oversight by me . I Have been testing a 12 v 140 ah Bluetooth Smart lithium battery by LiTime $289 dollars in my small boat ! It has ran flawlessly for 6 months . The charger is a 14.6 v 20 amp . The extension is always connected to the battery. It’s just like plugging in a cord to an on board charger . I have been in touch with 15 different anglers who also have LiTime batteries and no one has had any problems in 2 plus years . The battery nerds completely tear down and test lithiums all the time and there has been no issues either . It’s known as the best of the budget marine lithiums. Customer service is 12 hrs out and I have had all my questions answered. There warehouse is in California and Texas . They were 1 day off in delivery and gave me back 15 percent . I am really considering, if I goes with 24 v tm system uses 2 of the LiTime 12 v 140 am in series . I also have the interstate 12v 100 ah AGM interstate for cranking . I’m either going to a Millertech cranking duel purpose lithium to replace the interstate . Or keep the Interstate and get a LiTime lithium 12v 100 ah slim smart Bluetooth battery . The charger that’s on my boat is a Noco genius 10 pro x 3 . It has a lead , Agm and lithium setting 10 amps a piece .
Im still using the two Tracker Lithium 60ah battery's that came with my boat for the trolling motor. And I replaced my Interstate agm with a 100ah Relion Lithium for house/crank battery. I only run a 7" and a 9" graph and the boat stuff, so I dont have a need for a whole lot of house power yet. I also have the Noco genius 10 pro x 3, has been working out just fine.
I have two Ionic 12v 50ah batteries in series to power my trolling motor. I have a Group 31 Odyssey AGM battery for cranking and other 12v electronics. I have two Humminbird Helix 8" graphs and one Helix 10" graph. I have two chargers, a Humminbird 3 bank plug in charger that charges all three batteries and the Stealth charger that charges the two Ionics when when running down the lake. The Stealth is a DC powered charger that charges the the trolling batteries when the cranking battery has suffient charge. It will not run the cranking battery down to where it won't start the big motor.
Eventually, I plan to replace the AGM battery with an Ionic 125 ah lithium dual purpose battery that is accepted by Mercury as cranking battery. When I do that, I will have to replace the Stealth unit with one designed to be powered by the lithium battery. The price of top line AGM batteries have risin to the point that it is practical to just go with lithium, if you are starting from scratch.
https://lithiumhub.com/product/12v-50ah-ionic-battery/
https://lithiumhub.com/product/12v-125ah-dual-purpose-starter-lithium-deep-cycle-battery/
https://drewcraftmarine.com/collections/stealth
https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/battery-chargers/on-board-precision-chargers/1833301
https://www.odysseybattery.com/products/odx-agm31m-battery-31m-pc2150st/
Eventually, I plan to replace the AGM battery with an Ionic 125 ah lithium dual purpose battery that is accepted by Mercury as cranking battery. When I do that, I will have to replace the Stealth unit with one designed to be powered by the lithium battery. The price of top line AGM batteries have risin to the point that it is practical to just go with lithium, if you are starting from scratch.
https://lithiumhub.com/product/12v-50ah-ionic-battery/
https://lithiumhub.com/product/12v-125ah-dual-purpose-starter-lithium-deep-cycle-battery/
https://drewcraftmarine.com/collections/stealth
https://minnkota.johnsonoutdoors.com/us/shop/battery-chargers/on-board-precision-chargers/1833301
https://www.odysseybattery.com/products/odx-agm31m-battery-31m-pc2150st/
The stealth unit is something I have been tossing around for a while. Seems like a neat little device to add to the system, and surely beneficial for those long days running up and down the lake.
We have a group that goes to Shasta for 4 days every May. A friend and I, who both have the Stealth chargers, are the only ones who don't need to plug in for the whole trip. Last year my lithium batteries were still above 75% when I got home. I recommend it.
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