Considering trolling motor in place of 10 hp Mercury

[capnmac25]

Hi all. Does anyone have any experiences to share regarding using only a light-duty trolling motor to motivate a 25-foot Mac in and out of its slip? I'm fed up with my old 10 hp outboard and its tempermental ways, and prices for new (and therefore reliable) motors of similar power are, well, close to 50% of the total boat value. For a few hundred bucks I can put a new 55-lb-thrust trolling motor, with a dedicated battery, on the back of the boat instead.

I sail on a 600 acre lake and usually avoid days that especially windy, since I have only a 4-5 years sailing experience. A buddy in a nearby slip is doing the same thing (trolling motor only) with a slightly smaller boat, but he has been sailing this lake for 30 years...

Prices for new 2-3 hp motors are a lot easier to deal with, although still up there - would that be a more practical solution?

[Catigale]

Another possible solution on a small lake - long oars

[capnmac25]

But then I would need slaves to row...

[mastreb]

I've used a 100 ft.lb. trolling motor (figure maybe = 1hp) to move a 32 foot Columbia Sabre with a 6000# keel. It didn't quite work as well as a boat hook in my opinion. The problem isn't "going", which you can kind of just wait for it to start happening, it's stopping. The little motors just couldn't change the momentum of the boat in a hurry and I was forever grabbing the boat-hook or on occasion putting a shoe-print on someone Else's boat as we made our way into the slip. I eventually gave it up and just sailed in and out because the motor was less reliable than thinking I could rely on it. Also didn't know what I was doing and bought a used freshwater motor which didn't last a year in the harbor.

YMMV with a Mac as it's a lot lighter than the Columbia was, but it's also a whole lot less decisive about the direction its traveling and calls for a heck of a lot more last minute changing than the Columbia did which because of it's deep keel and weight went exactly where you pointed it.

Lowest I'd go is 4hp with these boats. Perhaps a Torqueedo, but that's definitely not going to save you money. Perhaps you could dual use it as your tender motor as well.

Matt

[Catigale]

It didn't quite work as well as a boat hook in my opinion.

[ChockFullOnuts22]

...yeah, I wouldn't use a trolling motor on a Mac 25 for anything but strictly temporary applications (like moving your boat from the dock to the boat launch if the main outboard wasn't in working order). Especially a small not a small trolling motor. I know that even used outboards aren't usually cheap, but I'd recommend a gas outboard to an electric troller any day. Mastreb's point about the boat's momentum is a really good point, too.

[capnmac25]

Thanks for the input! Will commence shopping for 4hp bargains....

Mark

[capnmac25]

So far, all of the 4hp used motors I've located in this area are short-shaft models and I'll need a 30" shaft.

Didn't think to mention in the original post that my slip is the last one on the dock, and so to put it back into its slip I only need get the boat to the outside of the dock, which is the length of two slips plus the width of the dock iteself.

From there, the boat can easily be eased into its slip. In other words, it's not necessary to maneuver into the dock area, avoid other boats, etc. Likewise, when leaving the slip, it can be handed around to the outside of the dock and simply sailed away (if the wind's right, of course).

So....obviously I'm dying to give this idea a try and ignore your advice! The next topic becomes: what's the worst that can happen?

[Deeseas]

Beware, you only have a short distance to your slip this year. What if.... the marina decides to renovate and upgrade the dock, the ramp or whatever, you could find your slip moved where you do have to maneuver between other boats, docks, pilings. With a light trolling motor working a full power trying to push and pull a 25' Mac you could be out of juice before you know it, and now looking for that 4 or 5hp anyway!
Doug

[mastreb]

Post your experience. If it doesn't work you can mount the trolling motor to your tender and power it with a motorcycle battery.

[capnmac25]

Deeseas, good point, but the Marina just rebuilt the docks last summer and they gave us all the same slips. As long as I send in my hard-earned cash every year on time, the nice slip stays mine!

Mastreb, good idea, I'll let y'all know how it goes later on this summer.

Mark

[SJK1962]

I DID JUST THE THING YOU MENTIONED. MY 21 VENTURE IS NOW EQUIPED WITH 42 FT LB 12 VOLT TROLLING MOTOR. 2- 6 VOLT GOLF CART BATTERYS AND A SOLOR CHARGER. IT WORKS WELL ENOUGH TO GET AWAY FROM THE DOCK AND OUT TO PUT UP SAILS. I HAVE NOTICED IF THERE IS A CURRENT ITS NOT ENOUGH, CENTERBOARD UP MAKES ALOT OF DIFFERENCE ITS NOT NOISY ALL "GREEN" AND NO GAS FUMES

[SJK1962]

LAST WEEKEND , WITH NO WIND I TROLLED ALL AROUND THE MARINA IN AND OUT OF DOCK CHANLES TO AND FROM THE MOORING SLIP AT LEAST THREE TIMES THEN WITH SOME WIND WENT OUT OF THE MARINA SAILED FOR A FEW HOURS THEN TO THE RAMP TO TRAILER HOME, WITH A CHEEP SOLAR PANEL PLUGGED IN AT ALL TIMES IN THE SUN,I ALWAYS HAD BATT. POWER I FEEL ITS A GREAT WAY TO GET AWAY FROM GAG POWER . and FUEL IS FREE ISNT THAT WHY we SAIL

[patrickfarley]

I have a very reliable 10hp Johnson on my Mac. I also have an electric trolling motor. The tolling motor will push me out into the big part of the lake and back with no problem. It will even fight a fair wind. It is quiet and does not smoke. The tolling motor is 45# thrust and moves the boat nicely. I made a double wide motor mount and can have both of the engines on the back at the same time.

This does several things for me.
If it is a quiet morning and I want to enjoy the quiet I use the electric. When I fish I use the electric. When my daughter wants to move the boat she uses the electric(pulling a 10hp starter cord is beyond her ability.) Short distance moves are on electric. Backing into a slip I use the electric because my gas motor does not pull well in reverse. Also the electric allows me to hold the boat in place very easily. I never have to hurry to tie the boat to the dock. I can wait until someone feels like they want to help me tie up to the dock.

Gas motor gives me maximum speed and range. Electric has limited range.

Having two motors gives me an extra level of safety.

I would never consider electric as my only motor in the ocean.

[wes1761]

I picked up a used Minn Kota trolling motor for my V-21. Its a 32 Lbs thrust, I also found a solar charger to keep a trickle going into the battery when I have it hooked up. I paid $72 for the troller, there is a used consignment style sporting goods place up by work. Troller was able to move the boat quite nicely, but I only had to deal with a boat ramp, not a marina.....

I just need to figure out where the batteries go in my boat, then I can set up a more permanant charging/electrical system....