DIY Kayak Trolling Motor - Testing Commonly Used Motors

[@grantsmittkamp1757]

Thank you so much for this experiment! It's great to see the comparison firsthand and know that investing in a 55 pound thrust trolling motor pays off in speed. Your video was super informative and helped me make a confident decision for my next fishing trip. Keep up the awesome content!

[@davidgriffiths7696]

Outstanding. “The data never lies”. Couldn’t agree more (although data analysis becomes more complex in large populations with political interference). 4.5 55lb 2.9 30lb I have a 44lb on the way, so I can expect 3.7 mph, and about 4.5 with the peddle drive, which would be close to the hull speed of the vessel. Congratulations on a highly competent demonstration👍🥇

[@BackcountryTreks]

I’ve seen a bunch of guys hit 4.3-4.5 with a 30 lb thrust.

[@davidgriffiths7696]

@@BackcountryTreks I tend to measure long distance averages, but can reach hull speed many times momentarily especially with following swell. Last trip did 15 miles in 5 hours with 24lb motor in light swell about 5 ft.

[@jckdnls9292]

I wasn't able to tell much difference in a lake... Now.. When I took it to the bay.. And gulf... That's where the 55 showed its muscle, handled the wind and current better than the 35... Keep that in mind, you're not always gonna fish in glass water.

[@Jollyboysbass]

I’m considering getting a mini Kota riptide 55lb for my FF lure 11.5, fishing the estuary and sea, any recommendations on what battery would be best suited!? Thanks

[@davidgriffiths7696]

@@Jollyboysbass I use a 100 Ahr lithium iron battery. Goes all day.

[@Jollyboysbass]

@@davidgriffiths7696 thanks Dave 🎣👌

[@davidgriffiths7696]

@@Jollyboysbass (and get a water tight box for it if u haven’t already bolted down battery pricy I got box fr. CH marine pretty cheap)

[@anthonyvespia6662]

I purchased my new jonny boats bass 100. My 1st kayak finally, I can fish at least 5 miles out. I saved forever. I have the Suzuki 2.5 HP and I DIY'D, a 30lb thrust Minn-kota off her bow. It was the $100 model. I was told the 55lb isn't any faster than the 30 lb thrust. I only wanted the trolling, so I have 3 ways to get home. Or quietly get to my spots. Love the 2.5 suzuki. Have had her at almost 12mph. But I only weigh 148lbs..Great video..

[@adrianomedeiros3963]

Do you have video or pics of your setup? I would love seeing it.

[@elaskowski2]

That is an badazz setup!!! Very well thought out and engineered!

[@tooncesthecat1366]

The max amp draw on your 30lb is maybe 30 amp and on a 55lb the max amp draw is 50 amps so on a 100amp hr LiFePo battery you would get roughly 3.5 hrs at full speed on your 30lb and 2 hrs on the 55lb. so i think the argument is which is the better trade off. Time on water or Speed

[@TahoeYakFisher]

I had the same experience, if there is something wrong with your 30lb. motor then there was something wrong with mine! My Endura C2 30lb. pushed my kayak just under 3mph, I now have a Newport Vessels 46lb on a bigger, less efficient hull and it moves right along at just over 4mph. The idea that a 30lb is the same speed on a given kayak as a larger motor just doesn't hold water(some pun intended)!

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

I'll be testing a 55lb Minn Kota Endura C2 against the Newport 55lb tomorrow.

[@chop345]

Hey, do you find that you have an issue with the actuator and your pedals getting pulled toward you as you raise the motor? I am going to do the same setup but I'm worried about the pedals getting pulled too far back towards me as I raise my motor.

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

@@chop345 yes, you need to make sure you have enough travel to account for that.

[@PC-gs7pv]

sick setup with the box / actuator.

[@TnTitans21399]

How much more battery does the 55lb vs 36lb use?

[@waynebrucemanbat5787]

I'm not sure what's going on with the 30lbs thrust motor but I get about 3.5 mph on my Sea Eagle 380x which should be slower than your hardshell. Even into the wind I am pulling close to what you're getting on that calm water (actually usually more). There's obviously many factors that contribute to that. I was just expecting your boat to move quicker than mine given the designs. I even averaged 2.5 mph against the wind for a half mile in 20 mph winds on a small lake. I'm wondering what else could be causing that difference. Minn Kota C2 30.

[@erikaamac2727]

Obsessed with your boat!

[@JonR35]

My 30# on pelican pwr 100 goes 3.5mph with apc prop and tuned. Bought a NV 55 that came the other day and with the stock 3 blade prop just tuned (clocked) it gets mine up to 4.3 huge difference. The pwr 100 is a slow yak btw due to design

[@jagervolant7871]

Ya but you can stand to take a piss. Lol totally worth it.

[@102Montana]

Simply tiller Newport 55lb is my preference ...all the control boxes etc., is way too much bullsha for me ..

[@sashac61]

How long does the battery last

[@youtubeuserUCVuhjgRB1]

battery life though?

[@ryanlphipps81]

Nice bro. That thing is fast as 🤬. Definitely get from spot to spot faster.

[@fishingonhope]

I need the same set up like you have for the trolling motor push of a button and lifts up

[@LovingIdaho]

If you add a pwm , your battery will last longer . I just use a 24 trust motor on my feelfree lure . It is more than enough power for the snake river and Dorshak res . I also have had my motor mounted at the side , the back and in the pod . In the pod works best for me because I use the kayak a lot with no motor and rudder . It is easy to just pull pod with motor out and put another pod in and ready to go without motor . 24 motor can make it up to 4 mph in stillwater . I usually use it at 1 to 3 on my pwm for trolling and 45 ah battery never dies on me . kzbin.info/www/bejne/p6SreaGhlrKGeZosi=m15a3uXZf5Sxh494

[@LovingIdaho]

kzbin.infoWLUs32EvknY?si=leNmVbtlRFYHapoA

[@JonR35]

U should tune it and gain 1mph+ helps a lot and just two bolts and twist til you hear the rpm go faster then tighten

[@jaredsmith7984]

How did you add the electric lift on the trolling motor?

[@ar1701]

I'm 70 years old, I paddle my kayak, my outings are from 2 to 12 miles round trip, Next up folks !!! pulling a water skier behind my 27 foot 6 passenger kayak !! running 3 !!!!! 150 # 90 volt motors !! lol

[@JJGray21]

Good for you, here's a medal 🏅

[@Tatersgames86]

What kind of rod holders are those in the back

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

Scotty Rocket Launchers are the ones that are standing up. Yak gear flush mounts were also installed.

[@paulbenjamin8754]

What size battery are you using? Is it s full size marine battery?

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

Its a deep cycle marine battery from Wal-Mart. Group 27 size.

[@mansbfishing]

Mantap bossku 👍🏻 👍🏻 👍🏻

[@tylernowlin721]

Why not a 122?

[@akamikegansta]

MJF theme ok i love your video already.

[@erokraider1690]

Is that MJF’s theme music?

[@RespekfulFungus]

That settles it for me! Ty!

[@hugivachit6441]

I don't get how people think a motor worth less thrust is gonna go the same speed

[@James_Barris]

Sick Yak

[@southernexposure123]

the volume is way too low. other videos work a lot louder with my same settings - wide open.

[@markalexander6714]

I am going to have to say something is wrong with your 30 if thats all your getting out of it. I have done similar test and there was no speed increase. I also know people running tiny 24 watersnakes pushing over 4. SO something is not right on your 30 fpr it to be that slow.

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

Are they being used on the same kayak with the same battery and a 260lb person?

[@markalexander6714]

@@g-wolfoutdoors8150 i tested 3 motors.. All on the same kayak ( in my case it was my wolfeyak, a diy kayak). i tested all mk 27, 30 and 55. All test were done with the same battery with a fresh charge on each test. Under identical condition in a wind and current free feeder creek of a lake that is sheltered from any wind. 4 miles down the 4 miles back With myself at 225 and a full load out of 4 rods, a full crate of tackle and a cooler of ice and water. all 3 topped out at 4.2. all running stock 5/3 switches. The 27 and 30 tied on round trip time. The 55 almost didnt finish the test due to battery drain. In fact i had to paddle a little to get to the ramp. The 30 was brand new when tested so i didnt check it before hand. the 27 and 55 had fresh rebuilds on the brushes. Used gps to track speeds and time. Fast farward to now ( several years later) the 30 has slowed to 3.5 (differnt yak) and is draining battery faster. I am 100% sure it needs a rebuild after several years of hard use and possibly a minor bend shaft. I beat the hades out of motors on my line stone river.

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

@@markalexander6714 thanks for the data. I'm starting to think this might be a prop design difference.

[@blaircox1589]

Agreed. Trolling motors are tractors, not roadsters. It's all about torque. They all should do about the same 4-5mph. The only difference comes from the prop, which in the case of the Minn Kota Power Prop vs. their weedless prop is 1kph for me. Yes, data doesn't lie, but you are comparing a factory unit to your homebrew model. Lots of unknown variables on your modified unit. Remember, they will push a bass boat around at 5mph as well. The size rating is about how much they can handle wind and bit about current.

[@markalexander6714]

@@blaircox1589 MY test were all done with the stock 2 blade props that came with the motors.

[@robertcarr5190]

My minn 30 and my Newport 55 run the same ...lithium is my next move

[@Jp-yf9kf]

It’s the prop on your 30 pound. the new port has three blades meant for speed and the 30 pound is meant for weeds I believe it’s only two blades. try a three blade propeller and you will see increase. Good video man !

[@JonR35]

3blades is slower speed than two blades. 3 blade equal tq but lower speed more drag

[@54Mizery]

Why do we all need to know the time it takes to get from your point A to your point B ? It is irrelevant. Just give us the speed and let us work it out.

[@craigpitts3400]

It is how you operate your trolling motor. I run a 30lb thrust on mine with a wireless PWM with just full speed and I get 3.5mph average out of mine.

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

The 30lb thrust is on a PWM thats wired and is pretty much the same as Minn Kota motors that are marketed as "digitally maximized". Since this test i have wired up the Newport Vessel Motor to the PWM and still get 4.6mph out of it.

[@huckfin1100]

If you're a kayaker or boater pretty much already knew that

[@WitchDRofKabul]

You can't gain a higher max of 5 mph. No one debates that. A 30 lb can do that with less weight. If a 30 lb can't get you to 5mph, get a higher rated thrust. Tah dah

[@topcat8820]

It doesn’t work like that bro I ditched my 55lb when my mate passed me on his 24lb with similar setups

[@tydang9330]

@@topcat8820 so u saying your using the 24lb thrust not instead of the 55 bcuz it gives u the same amount of speed?

[@dextersj9277]

if a pdl goes 5mph why get a motor?

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

The kayak used in this video doesn't have a pedal drive or the option to add a pedal drive.

[@dextersj9277]

@@g-wolfoutdoors8150 gotcha its really about your hull anyways. i say 12ft minimum if you wanna cover water

[@kikstand2011]

Thrust is torque. Not actual thrust. Speed for a trolling motor, is the rpm x your prop pitch. All 12v minnkotas operate at 1200 rpm, and come with 4" pitch. This means, you're moving 4800" a minute. Regardless of thrust. That's just physics. Something in your experiment is variable.

[@g-wolfoutdoors8150]

After more testing I am pretty sure its the 3-blade prop design on the Newport Vessels Motor.

[@matthewmonroe3375]

I'm not sure if it's true or not but I've heard that using a PWM will sacrifice some top speed even though it is more efficient power wise compared to the factory style.

[@JonR35]

I have two MK 30s both rpm is around 355 with my rpm tool. Tuned they go up to 455. Maybe a shitty rpm tool?

[@unlimitedj06]

👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🤔

[@MrBumbles2]

do neither and build your own , its much cheaper and will work much better

[@douglasknepp3609]

Very difficult to hear his voice

[@MichaelLyons-h4i]

You got to test them on a real boat not a piece of Tupperware 🤷

[@samuelhall4056]

MJF