12 V Minn Kota

Heavy current and 55lb shouldnt be in the same sentence, have a beavertail osprey 55lb copilot and its a slug in current

You will be fine.. it’s plenty


As I have built a FS18 and had a 55 I pilot on it......…….….…...................

I think Rookiemistake is right. I have a couple of friends with Copperheads that run 12v MinnKota Terrovas in heavy current and the batteries (even though they are new) seem to crap out after just a few hours. Personally despite the extra weight of the second battery I've got a 24v on my build sheet.

A 12 volt will allow you to fish just about all day long as you’re not in heavy current... If you’re also planning on using it as a cranking battery - you’d better have a motor that pull starts easily, cause you’re going to need it.

lemaymiami said:

A 12 volt will allow you to fish just about all day long as you’re not in heavy current... If you’re also planning on using it as a cranking battery - you’d better have a motor that pull starts easily, cause you’re going to need it.

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Thanks for the info. The motor is not electric start so the battery is only for the troller, bilge pump and lights.

This summer I broke down and installed a TM for the 1st time ever due to a couple panhandle tarpon trips where it is just too deep to pole.
55 Terrova I-pilot and a Deka 27 agm on my Caiman. I only have one battery for pulling double duty for TM and cranking a Yami 70 two stroke. Pushed the TM hard all day and did alot of spotlock. I was very happy with the performance and the setup made it all day. I was nervous at first and carried a small lion booster pack, but never needed it. IMO (somewhat limited after only 2 trips) you'll be fine.

Y'all are lucky - my old 17 foot Maverick was originally rigged with two batts one for cranking and a group 27 for all the other stuff.... Since I'm in commercial service I won't rig a skiff without at least two batteries... When you go day after day - no matter what the weather you get a bit cautious...

After 20 years of doing without a troller I finally broke down and put a MK Terrova 24 volt I-Pilot on my skiff just last month. Now I have three batts - two group 27's for the troller and a group 24 for my cranking battery. Along with that trolling setup we added a 20 amp PowerMania on-board charger and the expensive Battery Tender plug-in.

I like the setup a lot... but I'll still be poling when we're working up close with tarpon or sight-fishing in less than three feet of water.

I’m just going to say be careful with the added weight up front. 100 pounds more is going to make it a different boat. That’s why I removed mine after a little bit. If you fish by yourself it is perfect but two people sucks

Price has come down! Get two of these and go 24 volts and don’t worry about charge or power.

https://energizedoutdoors.com/colle...y/products/55ah-lifepo4-battery-with-abs-case

Walter that is absurd. We’re talking about a sub 200 pound boat here that is 40 inches at the waterline. Running a 24 V trolling motor is just stupid.

Travis Smith said:

Walter that is absurd. We’re talking about a sub 200 pound boat here that is 40 inches at the waterline. Running a 24 V trolling motor is just stupid.

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Oh, I didn’t know it was that small. 24 would be overdoing it.

I have 12 volt 55lb on my new cayenne. I couldn't be happier, last weekend used t motor for 3 hours straight with spotlock and cruising shoreline with incoming tide. Still had plenty of juice after. But, battery (27) is dedicated solely to the minnecota

Salt Marsh Heron 16....12v Minn Kota Riptide...55-lb thrust....dedicated Gp27 battery. No problems moving the skiff around and never run the battery below 50%

clinton said:

I have an FS 18 skiff I am setting up with a trolling motor. The skiff and motor combined is less than 500lbs. I only have room for 1 group 27 battery and have installed a Platinum deep cycle marine battery. I am ordering a Minn Kota 12V motor with I-pilot. I am looking for feedback from anyone running a comparable rig with this trolling motor. How long will a charge last? How does it do in heavy current etc? Any direct knowledge would be appreciated.

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You will be fine with your choice. I have one of these in my skiff and it works a treat. Charges the battery while you are running. I have a battery for the TM and a small battery for starting the motor.

https://www.yandina.com/Which Trollbridge Do I Need.php

I have a Superskiff 16, heavy little boat, 12V ipilot and an Odyssey Trolling thunder battery.
I can and often do fish on the TM all day (8+ hours) and in some stiff Creek currents and I've never got that battery less than 50% discharged.

You're good to go

What battery are y’all using for your 12V 55lb thrust trolling motor?

If you have a sams club membership, it's hard to beat the value of their Duracell Marine Batteries. They are rebranded deka agm, for 120 bucks. Hell, you could add the $40 sams club membership and still be below the price of optimas or odyssey's.