Electric Trolling Motors Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Can My Trolling Motor Run on a Battery Charge?
This is probably the most common question about these motors. And before spending your hard-earned money on one, you should first make sure you know all the facts. You probably want your motor to last as long as possible on a single charge, so you will need to look at the two important specs. These are the battery’s “amperage hour rating” and the motor’s “amps drawn.”
The amperage hour rating is a measure of how long the battery will supply consistent amperage to the motor. The higher the rating, the longer a battery will be able to power a motor. So what does this actually mean? It means that, for example, a 100 amperage hour battery would be able to supply 25 amps of power for 4 hours before running out. Or if your trolling motor was drawing less amps, let’s say 10, the battery could power the motor for 10 hours. It’s just that simple.
The other important piece of information to factor in when trying to figure out how long your trolling motor will power your boat on a single charge is the motor’s amps drawn. This is the “amps” part of the equation above. So, for example, if you have 80 amp battery that’s powering a trolling motor that draws 40 amps per hour at top speed, then your motor will be able to propel your boat at top speed for 2 hours.
How Powerful of a Motor Do I Need?
This is the second most common question people ask when shopping for a new trolling motor for their boat. And it is a very important question, since the size of the motor you choose will not only affect your boat’s speed, but also the length of time you can travel on a single battery charge. When trying to figure out how big a motor you need, remember that a motor’s power is rated by pounds of “thrust,” which tend to range from 30 pounds on the low end to 55 pounds on the high end.
When choosing the size of your motor, the number one thing to take into account is the weight of your boat. Most manufacturers say that you need 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of boat weight, which is a good guide point when purchasing your trolling motor. But don’t forget to add in the weight of the people and equipment that the boat will be carrying when you do your calculations! You also may want to factor in the types of weather conditions and currents that you will be operating in, as these can make a huge difference in the amount of power you need from your trolling motor. That’s why it’s always smart to overestimate a little when deciding how big of a motor you need to purchase.
