Thread: Need Some advice on trolling motor purchase

I dont know what size trolling motor I need to start with. I know that it is a function of the type and size of boat as well as what you want to do with it. Well its a new to me 22ft long Hurricane Fun Deck with 2 fishing chairs on the front deck. Its shallow draft try hull type boat.It is prewired for a bow mount motor but it only had a mounting plate on it when I got it. There are 2 batteries on board to run it but I dont know how they are wired. I suppose I could use them as 12 or 24 volt but dont know which would be better I am thinking probably the 24 volt would be better. I dont know if I want or need the auto pilot feature or just a foot control unit. I think I may get into some trolling but not sure just how I will use the unit yet as I just became a boat owner for the first time with this boat. Any advice would be appreciated since Im sure I am not thinking about all the things I should be considering here. You sure can spend a lot of money on some of these motors.

At a bare minumum, you're going to want a 24 V motor on that big of a boat, and if it were me, I wouldn't hesitate to rig with a 36V, 101 lb thrust motor like a Terrova. The Terrova will also give you the ability to use the new i-Pilot when it gets released in the very near future.

That big of a boat is going to catch a lot of wind, and any trolling motor application is gong to be tough on batteries. The best strategy will be to add as much motor and as many volts as you can to keep you powered on the water for the longest possible time.