Aftermarket props for trolling?

[slabtroller]

I see that several company's are making them and all swear they improve performance. Has anyone tried them and are they worth the money?

Thanks

[Moose1am]

Haven't tired them yet. Are you talking about the three bladed props for electric trolling motors? I just saw an ad in either the In-Fisherman magazine or the Indiana Fish and Game magine for those trolling motor props.

They claim to give you more power and to make you go farther. humm sounds more like a Viagra Commercial to me.

If anyone has tried this and has some input on these new props let us know. I too would like to have some reports on how they work.

We are getting our first big snow storm of the year over the next two days. Here in Southern IN 12" of snow is a blizzard. I went out to the grocery store tonight and stocked up on goodies. Milk, Bread and Eggs and bacon. If I am stuck at home for the next few days I hope to eat good. As long as the power stays on. I dread those ice storms as they pull the power lines down and make it hard for the electric company go get things repaired.

I see that several company's are making them and all swear they improve performance. Has anyone tried them and are they worth the money?

Thanks

[slabtroller]

Those ice/snow storms drove me from Muncie IN in 1979 to warm AZ. I've never looked back!

The three bladed ones are what I'm talking about. They seem a bit pricey but if things work better as they say it would sure be nice. We often use the motor for 8 hours a day continuesly. Hard on batteries as well as the motors.

[Moose1am]

Give the Optima Deep Cycle Blue Top Batteries a try. You won't regret the decision to go with these new batteries. They last longer (twice as long as regular batteries) and stay charged for up to a year on the shelf) They charge up much faster than regular batteries due in part to their spiral bound design and the fact that they use more purified lead. Their internal resistance is much less which allows them to charge up fully in just a couple of hours. The charge time depends on your battery charger's output amp though. I can charge my optima blue top deep cycle in about 3 hours or less. I use it all day long 8 to 10 hours on a Electric Trolling Motor ONLY lake. That means I am using it on Hight power to go into the a 10 to 15 mph wind most of the day. Since I hardly ever anchor I am using the trolling motor the entire time that I am fishing. I am using a 55 lb thrust Min-Kota All Terrain Trolling motor on my boat. So far the battery has not let me down. I paid about $100 bucks for this battery and I have another Blue Top Optima for the Starter on my boat. It's not a deep cycle but a starter battery. They make several different types of Blue Top Optimas. Two deep cycles and one starter Blue Top. Then they make the red top and yellow tops for different applicaitons. But you want the BlueTop Optima for Marine usage. They are more shock resistant and the lead won't fall off the cells due to excessive vibrations like you get when running a boat on the water. Pounding the boat against those waves eventually can ruin a standard wet cell lead acid battery. Also the optima won't leak and they can be place on their sides.


The price should be coming down someday as I have seen stores carrying new batteries that use the sprial Bound cell technology in them. At SAM's wholesale house I saw some on display. I suspect that when other companies start copying this new design in their batteries that competition will drive the prices down a bit.

But a new regular battery can cost up to 60 dollars these days. So I said pay an extra $40 bucks and make it last twice a long. I should save 20 bucks over the next six years. In six years I may have to buy two 60 dollar regular batteries if I only get three years use out of each regular type battery. At 60 dollars each it would cost me 120 buck for six years of batteries. But if I pay 100 bucks for an optima battery that can last twice as long as a regular battery then in six years I will have only paid out 100 bucks. I saved 20 bucks over the six year period of time and have much a much more durable and dependable battery.

If you are fishing a tournament and have to charge the battery you can be fully charged up faster and stay charged up longer. Can't beat that.

Those ice/snow storms drove me from Muncie IN in 1979 to warm AZ. I've never looked back!

The three bladed ones are what I'm talking about. They seem a bit pricey but if things work better as they say it would sure be nice. We often use the motor for 8 hours a day continuesly. Hard on batteries as well as the motors.

[Barnacle Bill]

I see that several company's are making them and all swear they improve performance. Has anyone tried them and are they worth the money?

Thanks

I have got one of those 3 bladed Kipawa on my 65lb thrust motor and my fishin bud has one on his 45lb motor. I can't really see any difference in them and a stock prop. I won't buy any more.

[Moose1am]

Thanks I was afraid that would be the case. Trolling motors just don't have that much power to loose in the prop. Now you put a stainless steel high performance prop on a gasoline engine powered outboard and it will improve the speed a few mph and give you better gas mileage. But my trolling motor can only put my boat so fast 2.5 mph and there is just not much room for improvement. Maybe I could go 2.7 mph or even 3mph but that would be with the wind at my back and some sails onboard. lol

I have got one of those 3 bladed Kipawa on my 65lb thrust motor and my fishin bud has one on his 45lb motor. I can't really see any difference in them and a stock prop. I won't buy any more.