Thanks Ive - great report! I'm going to look into the wheelchair batteries for the watermaster.
One question - what #thrust electric motor were you using.
TIA,
Brian
One question - what #thrust electric motor were you using.
TIA,
Brian
Battery report
I had my new pram out yesterday, the first time with the new trolling motor. After years of rowing and kicking it was kinda like a guy getting his first car after riding a moped!
First of all, it hauls ass on the highest speed. But more importantly it moves the boat along smartly at even the lowest speed. I was concerned that the additional weight of the motor and battery would upset the balance of the boat and it would float tail down. So I didn't make a mount for the battery yet but just sat it on the floor and moved it around to see where it would work out the best. It turns out that even with the battery right against the transom the boat still rides perfectly level so I won't have to mount it under the seat and glass in the conduit as I had planned. Just build a small box and mount it on the floor at the rear and feed the cables into it.
The wheelchair battery only weighs about 25# and is pretty small. I used it hard from 10:30 to 3:00, probably harder than I would normally use it just to see how well it lasted. When I got home and put the meter on it the charge was only down by 1/3. That indicates at least a full day of use under normal conditions. I think this is an ideal battery for pontoon boats compared to the usual monster deep cycle batteries. While I was on the lake I met a guy that had a Creek Co. pontoon boat with a front mounted trolling motor between his legs and a full sized battery at the rear. The boat was clearly overloaded with the rear end dragging low in the water. It looked like a submarine that was just surfacing.
I'll try the motor and battery on my South Fork next week but my gut feel is that with the motor mounted aft and the battery forward the boat will be very little changed from normal. It will simply be like a 230# guy in the boat instead of a 170# guy. Should be ok but a helluva lot faster than kicking!
Ive
First of all, it hauls ass on the highest speed. But more importantly it moves the boat along smartly at even the lowest speed. I was concerned that the additional weight of the motor and battery would upset the balance of the boat and it would float tail down. So I didn't make a mount for the battery yet but just sat it on the floor and moved it around to see where it would work out the best. It turns out that even with the battery right against the transom the boat still rides perfectly level so I won't have to mount it under the seat and glass in the conduit as I had planned. Just build a small box and mount it on the floor at the rear and feed the cables into it.
The wheelchair battery only weighs about 25# and is pretty small. I used it hard from 10:30 to 3:00, probably harder than I would normally use it just to see how well it lasted. When I got home and put the meter on it the charge was only down by 1/3. That indicates at least a full day of use under normal conditions. I think this is an ideal battery for pontoon boats compared to the usual monster deep cycle batteries. While I was on the lake I met a guy that had a Creek Co. pontoon boat with a front mounted trolling motor between his legs and a full sized battery at the rear. The boat was clearly overloaded with the rear end dragging low in the water. It looked like a submarine that was just surfacing.
I'll try the motor and battery on my South Fork next week but my gut feel is that with the motor mounted aft and the battery forward the boat will be very little changed from normal. It will simply be like a 230# guy in the boat instead of a 170# guy. Should be ok but a helluva lot faster than kicking!
Ive
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Ive, thanks for the feedback and also for finding the outlet for the batteries. QUESTION: which model/size battery did you buy? I have an Abel Travelcraft[Watersrider] and storage is limited so I'm building a combo motor mount and battery holder that will fit on top of the rear chamber...making it out of C-board. So I plan on buying 2 smaller batteries to balance the weight but still get the amperage needed for a full day fishing. Thanks in advance, Fred.
Great report Ive, my question is what lb thrust thrust trolling motor do you have. Mine is a 40 lb endura minkota and will at max speed will use a wheel chair battery of 35 Ah in one hour, you can count on roughly using 1 amp of draw for every pound of thrust, So a 125 Ah battery will last at the highest speed 3 hours. I like the wheel chair battery idea because my battery is approx 60 lbs,, but it is pushing a 14' aluminum boat.
So what Ah is your battery? and what are you pushing?
thank you
So what Ah is your battery? and what are you pushing?
thank you
Scroll down a few threads and read the one titled Pontoon Boat Battery, it should answer all of your questions. My 35 amp hr battery is running a 30# thrust Minn Kota and pushing an 8' pram that weighs about 65# for a total weight of well under 300# with me included
I put a 30 lbs thrust Minn Kota on my 8' pram. I put the deep cycle in a rubbermade and put it on the rear tray next to my mini cooler. Was on the water 8 hours or so. I used the motor to jet across the windy lake to the upwind end and then slowed it down to fish. I alternated between the fins, oars, & motor as required to position myself as desired. Never ran out of battery life, balance, was fine, weight was not an issue, and it moved pretty well at highest speed. Watch your line near the motor though. It is easier than you'd think to get the line caught around there when you aren't used it.
I used the same setup to go chase Pinks on the sound last year too. It worked just fine but you get rocked around a bit from other boats and waves.
I used the same setup to go chase Pinks on the sound last year too. It worked just fine but you get rocked around a bit from other boats and waves.
Hi, Ive,
Thanks for the report. Could you tell us which charger are you using? They recommend a float charger. Did you go with one of theirs?
Thanks for the report. Could you tell us which charger are you using? They recommend a float charger. Did you go with one of theirs?
I have no idea what a float charger is. I am using a Minn Kota deep cycle battery charger.
Ive
Ive
How do you use fins from a pram?I put a 30 lbs thrust Minn Kota on my 8' pram. I put the deep cycle in a rubbermade and put it on the rear tray next to my mini cooler. Was on the water 8 hours or so. I used the motor to jet across the windy lake to the upwind end and then slowed it down to fish. I alternated between the fins, oars, & motor as required to position myself as desired
Pram.... hmmmm ooops. Should read Pontoon. Thanks for the heads up.
Well Ive I have you beat in just my weight,, I am 6'5" 280 with a 240lb boat my 125 AH will last me all day but I also don't troll with it. I fish in my boat the way the UK fishermen do with a drogue..
Kevin
Kevin
Heh... I was trying to visualize how you could use fins in a pram, and every idea I came up with made me laugh. ;-)Pram.... hmmmm ooops. Should read Pontoon. Thanks for the heads up.
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