outboard vs electric trolling motors

[bustedoldman]

I just picked up a 18' Tracker Targa, it has a 115hp power plant but I want a trolling motor as well. Should I go with 2 or would either one do the job?

[Stein]

Depends on where you are fishing and what for.

If you are salmon fishing in the sound for coho trolling 3.5 mph into the wind it's a completely different story than moving around on a lake casting to weeds.

For that boat, you MIGHT be able to get away with one of the huge electrics, but it's pretty much a gas kicker show.  That said, it seems to be trendy on the Columbia to run both and use the electric to steer as they are easier and cheaper to work into autopilots compared with the rear gas kicker.

[jamesfromseattle]

If money is not a problem, an electric on really calm days is pretty awesome. I absolutely love being able to troll without any engine noise.

But as Stein said, when you throw in wind and current, electrics get overpowered pretty quick. You also need to carry a ton of extra weight in batteries.

I used to throw throw an electric on a boat I used to have about that size when I was trolling slow for Kings and I know it’d be calm. But my max speed with it was a couple miles an hour.

If you’re getting one, a gas outboard is better for salmon in the salt no question.

[Bill W]

an electric isn't going to push(pull) that boat much faster than 2.5 mph at full "throttle".  At that speed the batteries won't last more than maybe 3 hours.

[blackpowderhunter]

bow mount electric trollers are becoming more popular in the salt, but i agree, gas for that for sure.
i see you're in moses lake so not sure how often you drag it across the mountains.
i like the gas kicker even on a smaller boat just due to the fact that if something goes wrong with your main, an 8 or 9.9 is gonna get you home MUCH more safely than an electric.

[Bill W]

didn't check to see that my "neighbor" was asking this question.  I said electrics don't go much past 2.5 mph and at that rate usually poop out after 3 hours.   I also have an 8 hp kicker on my boat from the saltwater days when I lived in Kirkland. Over here it doesn't get much use.  My big motor gets more hours per year than the little one.  In saltwater the ratio was at least 10 hours on the little one to one hour on the big one.

[ASHQUACK]

If you're only going to get one, get gas. I have both and only run my electric in the salt on calm non ripping current days. That said I use my electric for trout, kokanee and sockeye where I'm not fighting current and wind.

[Mossy]

I put both on my hewescraft here on the dry side. Trolling into the wind with a copilot bow mount was always preferred. I’ve also used both at the same. Never had an issue with batteries because my kicker charged them.

[bustedoldman]

Thanks everyone...I think I’ll buy both eventually but start with a gas one.

[Blacklab]

You’ll love having both. Makes trolling hands free and fun😉🥃🇺🇸

[Alchase]

I had a 15 HP, 4-stroke, Yamaha, that I could troll at idle speed 0.5 MPH. On a 14 ft Smokercraft Alaskan. Never needed an electric trolling motor.

Trolling into the wind with a copilot bow mount was always preferred.

 

This is where bow mounts are worth there weight in batteries 

[BigGoonTuna]

i bought a 80lb bowmount with autopilot this year and it's been a real game changer in the lakes.  i have a fairly heavy 14' sled with a 75hp pump, and used to use a 15hp 2 stroke gas kicker.  i think the electric with its 2 batteries comes in just a little lighter than my old kicker.

battery life is great, trolled for 2 days straight at potholes for walleye, still had nearly a full charge when i got home.  it works great for keeping you vertical for jigging in the sound.  i want to try boondogging with it on the cowlitz.  i think kicking the spot lock on/off would do a pretty good job for controlling a drift.

if that doesn't work, i can always just add in another connector to the wiring, and get a 24v transom mount for fairly cheap.

all that said, if i was going to be doing a lot of saltwater trolling(especially for silvers) i'd lean heavily toward a gas kicker.