Trolling motor question

[Kim Becker]

For 20 years and 5 bass boats I have always had my trolling motor head all the way down on the bracket. Recently, a partner told me this is wrong. He said the trolling motor should be set that there is just enough of the motor housing under water so that the prop does not break the surface when it revolves. Is this correct and if so what difference does it make? I realize it will make a difference in very shallow water but is there anywhere else it matters?

 

[Mark Hofman]

I would agree that the motor should not be all the way down on the bracket, but I do it anyway. The force applied to the shaft and the bracket is more when the motor is all the way down, versus having some of the shaft above the bracket. But I keep the motor all the way down for two reasons: a.) the prop doesn't break the surface if the water is rough, and b.) I'm trying to break this thing so that I can buy a Minn Kota!



MO

 

[Barry Loos]

With the motor all of the way down there is slightly more drag in the water. There is more stress on the bracket because of the increased leverage of the motor distance to the bracket. This increased leverage will cause unnecessary wear on the bracket when turning the motor on and off or when you hit an underwater stump. And a good reason for not having the motor all the way down is reduced shallow water clearance. On the other hand, if the motor is too close to the surface when it is turned on the blades will suck surface air in around the prop causing cavitation that will result in less pulling power and an irritating gurgling noise. In rough water the too high motor will spend a lot of time out of the water not moving the boat at all as the bow goes up and down. To get the correct height you have to experiment. Lower the motor just enough to get maximum pulling power on high speed without pulling in surface air. This will keep the motor as close to the bracket as possible for less wear but still give good shallow water clearance. Of course sometimes you need to adjust the height to the conditions like lower the motor for rough water or raise it a bit for working very thin water.



Good luck.



Bear

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[Rob LaMoy]

Beck,

Yes and no. If you are shallow fishing, you want as little of the TM in the water as possible to avoid spooking fish. Be careful pulling it up too far, because if it starts to suck air, and gurgle that will spook fish worse. Also, by pulling it up you will reduce the drag coeffecient like Mo and Bear said, and your batteries will subsequently last longer. Obviously, in rougher water or deeper water, you can or sometimes need to drop it down all the way. The other problem when it is elevated, is while stowed and running, the overall length is longer thus causing a lot more bounce. It can shear pins and vibrate props loose, not to mention bang off the cap and crack the fiberglass. Use your discretion, and do what is comfortable for you. There is not neccessarily a wrong and a right way, just personal preferrence.

Rob