96" Rhodan Trolling Motor Install on the SeaVee 32. UNDER $5,000!

The time has come. The time where we will never have to use our anchor offshore again. Rhodan is a game changer. I was quoted about $900 to have this trolling motor installed. Made me feel pretty good to be able to do it myself and save some gas money. It wasnt too hard, just a little time consuming.
*Disclaimer: This video or video description contains affiliate links. That means that I am awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost for you.

[@user-qg5sx2my4d]

*Great little trolling motor **enjoyable.fishing** recommend had it hooked up to my 15 foot old town canoe and it pushed it pretty good with me and my son (220 pounds each).*

[@AlbertoPerez-xl8jq]

Thank you for posting this video I am thinking about putting one on my 29 Seavee.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

You’ll love it. Game changer for sure. I haven’t used my anchor in 3 years

[@CaptMelTrueFishnetCharters]

Great video! Just what I was looking to see! Thank you!

[@josephschoch5463]

Definitely game changers!!! Nice vid.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Thank you very much!

[@TampaBayFishingChannel]

OMG I actually wired up something right!!!! That is exactly what I would say. Good job on the install.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Thank you. This weekend should be interesting in the channel. Looking to get a gag in the box

[@josephschoch5463]

Did you get the Power Pole charger yet?

[@TampaBayFishingChannel]

@@LightningCapitalLiving Yeah its going to be bumpy for sure.

[@bonexsher]

Nice job

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Thank you. We fished 7-8 spots today rhodan is so easy to use

[@keithbeaulieu5196]

Excellent video! Looking to add same system to my 2550 Bluewater, except 84"

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Good luck. You’re going to love it.

[@nicholasfano7929]

Sooo lucky U live in FL. Up in NJ sucking wind.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I lived in Jersey a few years ago but it was time to come home

[@Veranamo]

Thanks for the great video and inspiration to get it done. I am doing a simlar install and interested in how your paint process on the aluminum plate is holding up. Have you had to repaint or is the original prime/paint working out?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

It’s been about 15 months and no noticeable wear and tear. Nothing really comes in contact with that plate so it’s held up great.

[@jzl300z]

How’s the unit doing so far? Follow up video with demonstration offshore would be cool 😎

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I do need to make a follow up. We fished from 7am to 9pm yesterday with about 4 hours of that running and the rhodan held us perfect on every spot. 0 issues at all.

[@davehocker9852]

Kyle - What gauge wire did you run to the front of the boat and how long were the pieces you ordered?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Hi Dave. I used 25ft of 4ga. I ended up having to get another 6ft at an auto parts store to make my jumpers for the batteries. Here is the link to what I used. 4 Gauge 4 AWG 25 Feet Red + 25 Feet Black Welding Battery Pure Copper Flexible Cable + 10pcs of 3/8" Tinned Copper Cable Lug Terminal Connectors + 3 Feet Black Heat Shrink Tubing www.amazon.com/dp/B01M8QTJ3O/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_FEMZJ52R7V7DPX1RF7Z1

[@nicholasfano7929]

Did the board backing work, or did u need to change out to 1/4" aluminum backing? How is the Rhodan holding up? Any problems/repairs?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Yes the 3/4” thick starboard works great. No issues with flex at all. I have had 0 issues and it makes life so much easier when getting bait by a bridge or anchoring offshore. I can’t believe I waited so long to do it

[@franciscallahan4213]

Awesome install! I'm thinking of getting one very soon! Where'd you get the aluminum plate? And also are you able to hook the rhodan up to your fish finder? I have a simrad unit. Would be great to have that capability

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I went to a local metal shop called arlo metals. Rhodan also sells a plate that works. They do have simrad capability but I have Garmin units

[@franciscallahan4213]

@@LightningCapitalLiving Thanks for the response! I might just try to install myself, you made it look easy. Good luck this season!

[@craigluehrs9309]

Solid video! What factored into your decision to go with 96” shaft? My understanding is that you want lower unit to be submerged about a foot below the surface. From your experience, do u run it deeper than that so it says submerged in rough seas? The distance from my bow pulpit to water is about 60” so I’m wondering if I go 72”, 84”, or even 96”. Roughest water I’d use it in would be 3’ waves on Lake Erie. Thanks man for any advice.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

In a 3’ chop it would come out of the water with anything less than 96” shaft. You can always adjust it higher if you’re fishing skinny water, but having it as deep as possible gives the best results. When a wave comes and the shorter trolling motors come out of the water they spin up very fast thinking they are losing the spot, then when they get submerged quickly again it can cause damage to the unit. I’d go with the longest TM that you can afford because bigger is better in this situation.

[@craigluehrs9309]

Makes sense. Thanks!

[@bobbywartman2058]

You forgot a electrical component when you wired it... A MASTER On/OFF switch to kill power when charging the batteries and stop galvanic corrosion....Which as far as I'm concerned is the #1 TM Killer.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I just unplug it every time I’m done using it. No need for a switch when there is no way the charger can ever connect with the trolling motor.

[@geoeneas]

Could you use starboard instead of the aluminum plate?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I have starboard under the deck, but it flexes a lot. There is a ton of torque up there when it’s working so aluminum is probably safest bet. If it were a starboard plate it would actually cost the same as the aluminum but not be nearly as strong

[@nicholasfano7929]

How thick was your deck U drilled through?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

The deck itself was roughly 1.5” thick

[@ThatOldMan2112]

This pulled up just checking out the Rhodan line. Good job on the installation - looks great. But for the Rhodan itself, $4,000 for a trolling motor and you still have to deploy and stow manually?? Seems like a pretty steep price point to be leaving that feature out.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

The auto deploy is just another piece to break. My buddy had his go down and it wouldn’t come up. Physically trying to rip it up and it wouldn’t budge. He had to basically idle back to the dock and take it apart. Rhodan is also longer and has more thrust than a minn kota so that was an easy choice for me. $3400 ain’t what it used to be but I’d still pay $4k for it today

[@JimWellman]

While at a trolling motor repair shop, I asked the tech, which would he buy. He pointed to the wall containing all the broken units he was about to repair, all of which were minn kota. He then said he'd get a Rhodan. The auto deploy will break. So too will the steering control box on either unit, but that's a necessity.

[@theagile11]

How do you switch the power to the teolling motor on/off?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I just unplug it in the anchor locker.

[@kostasthirio]

what is the weight of your boat? This trolling motor keeps you in the spot???

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Yes its only not held us once in 20mph winds. The boat weighs about 13k loaded for fishing. There are others who have out this trolling motor on 37ft boats as well

[@Gabucks1]

Can you do an updated video of you fishing with it?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Yes, if you click my Channel you can see several recent videos of us fishing it in some pretty choppy seas. I have not touched my anchor since October.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

St Pete Offshore Amberjack and Red Grouper on the SeaVee 32. Rough Winter Seas and lots of fish.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/b5W4qJeZnN18m9k

[@Gabucks1]

@@LightningCapitalLiving Thanks man! I commented too fast...didn't check your page. Been waiting two months for my 96" to come in...

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

@@Gabucks1 good luck. It makes fishing so much easier

[@Evan721sxm]

Im thinking about the 96" for my 30ft cat. Im worried about all the problems i hear. And only 2 yr warrenty coverage. Would you say its reliable?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I have had it on a year now and have had 0 issues. I did get a cover for it. Rhodan’s customer service is phenomenal and they’re in Sarasota so it’s a quick turnaround if something goes wrong. I have a buddy that took a wave over the bow and his shorted out. They fixed everything and he was back using it the next weekend. All trolling motors will break at some point, but a 2 year warranty is pretty good. You’re only going to read about the people with problems. Out of the thousands that have purchased them, I bet you 95% are happy with it and you won’t see them making a rave review online cuz it works. Only those not happy will post about it. I’d do it again tomorrow because I haven’t touched my anchor in over a year

[@Evan721sxm]

@@LightningCapitalLiving makes sense i think ill give it a go. Thanks.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

@@Evan721sxm good luck let me know if you have any questions

[@dirtymontego]

Which batteries exactly did you buy? Amp hour? I’m struggling.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Hey Roger - these are Duracell Ultra BCI group 31 deep cycle marine batteries. 105AH 800 cold cranking amps. The item number is SLI31DTMAGMDC

[@dirtymontego]

@@LightningCapitalLiving thank you!

[@pbr-yt8zc]

Need a support for the shaft when stowed. Dont understand the location, cutting across anchor locker, and head hanging outside gunnel. Also should have a dc to dc charger so the trolling batteries can be charged by the engine.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

I have a claw on the gunnel that supports the shaft when stowed. Just took a pic before. The head does not hang past the rub rail. Must be the angle you’re looking at it. Didn’t want to mess with more wiring and like that I can just plug it in at my dock on the lift. We’ve put 50 trips on this thing so far and never ran out of battery.

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Also, across the anchor locker saved the most space and reduced any covered up rod holders. I haven’t touched the anchor since the rhodan was installed so not sure why I would need to get in there

[@calebprater5698]

Where did you find those batteries for $537? Cheapest I can find is like 260/per!

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Hey Caleb - I got them at Sams Club. I have a friend that paid around $250 a battery at batteries plus and he got another year of warranty out of them. I bet the cost has gone up in the last year, though. Everything is more expensive. I just went in Samclub.com and they’re listed for 179 but they are out of stock so you gotta search for them a little.

[@calebprater5698]

@@LightningCapitalLiving thank you sir!

[@Mike-hs8fq]

Do they make a removable unit in the 96 inch version?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Yes the 96” is easily removable. They all have a big pin holding them onto the puck that is secured to your deck. You just pull the pin and the whole unit comes off leaving a small 6” square on the deck.

[@Mike-hs8fq]

@@LightningCapitalLiving Awesome thanks for the quick reply. I'm installing on a seavee 340Z hopefully it works well. I didn't see a puck system over an 84 inch shaft on their website. I guess I missed it. Thanks again!

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

@@Mike-hs8fq you will love it. I’ve installed 4 now on different friends boats and they’re all the same. The puck attaches to the plate that is screwed through your deck and the rhodan just has a release pin that grabs onto the puck.

[@nicholasfano7929]

How is your rhodan holding up?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

It’s amazing. No issues whatsoever. Check my latest video it was pretty windy and rhodan held us in the spot for several hours in 3-4ft seas

[@Rjacobsen8617]

What size and thickness aluminum plate is that?

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

3/8”

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

It’s roughly 8” wide by 16” long

[@chrishammer9891]

I got to say those duracell batteries are absolutely junk I had got some for my bass boat trolling motor by the end of the second season 2 of them wouldn't take a charge. I even replaced my charger thinking that was the problem and I only took the boat out maybe 12 times

[@LightningCapitalLiving]

Really? I’ve read great reviews on them. Who knows they’re the best deal in town and have a 12 month warranty. I fish enough that I should be able to sniff out any issues via the charger before the warranty runs out hopefully. Way cheaper than the lithium options I was looking at

[@chrishammer9891]

@@LightningCapitalLiving i have good luck with the AGM's at advance auto parts. But will never buy the ones at sams again

[@t26803]

Chris take it for what its worth but I have over 25 batteries of all sizes from boats to excavators to lawn mowers, atv's, and snowmobiles, trucks, cars whatever. All I ever use is Walmart. They work great are cheep and last as long as any top dollar battery I have every purchased. Just saying. Also I have seen specials on battery test for top name batteries from triple A to auto and marine batteries compared to Generic batteries like Walmart and amazon and most often the cheep ones do better or at least as well.

[@chrishammer9891]

@@t26803 I had bought the Duracell AGM from Sam's Club and put them in my bass boat for my trolling motor the following year both batteries were trashed and I took them in for warranty and put the new ones in the boat went out three times in the boat and those batteries had taking a crap that's why I say I will never buy the Duracell AGM batteries again