Some options
Whether you want to control your motor with your hand or foot, the following are good places to start. Each offers several models to account for preferences and needs.Minn Kota EdgeStarts at $299.99This compact motor is strong enough to maneuver your craft with ease, while also being as budget-friendly as it gets for bow-mounted options.Minn Kota PowerDrive V2Starts at $599.99The PowerDrive’s foot pedal is very easy to use, and the deploy lever means there’s no hassle about getting a move on. The i-Pilot GPS addition — which can even sync with your fish finder — allows for automatic boat control and the ability to retrace your path, freeing your hands for fishing.MotorGuide X3Starts at $399.99MotorGuide beefed up its line of motors when the X3 rolled out in 2014, and the bow-mounted engine is still as solid as ever. A lifetime warranty on the composite shaft and a precise, sturdy mount and Variable Ration Steering technology mean you’ll go where you want with ease.
All you want to do is move through the water stealthily, without giving yourself away too much. A trolling motor, a small, onboard motor that will keep your boat steadily moving at a max of 5 miles per hour, can help. But before you make a purchase, there are a lot of variables to consider.
Volts
There’s unfortunately some math involved in determining exactly what you need from a motor, so let’s start with the easy stuff. Depending on your usage, you’ll want a 12V, 24V or 36V. The more you plan to use it, the more volts you’ll want from the battery. If you’re just going out on Chickamauga Lake for a few hours on a Saturday, a 12V should suffice. Spending a whole Sunday, dawn to dusk, on the water? A 24V will likely power you through. Eight hours, multiple times a week? A 36V is for you.
Warning! Improper wiring could lead to battery explosions, so be sure to carefully read the owner’s manual instructions before installing.