Nice article in STS last month on electrics in your driftboat...do you really need 24V 74lb thrust, two batteries etc... or can you get away with less?

Im not sure about drift boats, but have fished out of hundreds of bass boats, the proble would be in the current every thing would have to work twice as hard even going down stream the boat wel want to drift side to side if your moter was going slower the the current....SO I guess the answer would be depends on the amount of current your fishing in....DJ

Chum eater

I do not have the answer to your question but I will have that set up in my boat some day.

I had a Minn Kota Endura 44lb (12V) on my DB and that was sufficient for trolling and side drifting. I recently upgraded to a Riptide 55 (12V) so I could play around in the sound.

I wouldn't go much less than 44lbs. I like the 12V systems because when I'm side drifting one battery will easily last all day and I don't have to deal with a second battery all the time. For heavy duty trolling I'll take up to 3 batteries.

Take two 6 volt batteries hook one of the pos to one of the neg you now have a pos and a neg left over hook up the motor black to neg and red to pos, you have doubbled the amps but kept the voltage the same (12volts) this will make the batteries last alot longer and you will be able to troll all day with out bringing a third battery, and the batteries will not draw down as fast as a single battery

Bossman,

I'm real curious about this "side drifting" with a electric motor. What is the technique exactly. Since I often drift rivers on my own and I don't like dragging a chain or anchor, I've often wondered if using an electric kicker to control my position while boondoggin' a long stretch would work out or just be another pain in the tush. Fussin' with oars and fishing at the same time came be a hassle and dangerous besides, but is an electric quick and easy enough to switch off back to oars when you really need to? I think you know what I mean even if I can't explain it well. Also will an electric work mount on a transom with an anchor system too? Having a little trouble visualizing here. Thanks in advance for your input.

Mooch

Side drifting with the electric works really well on a bigger river like the Skykomish. I have a rear center anchor and the electric fits off to one side on the transom.

I just run it back upstream and I can control the boat and fish pretty easily. Great for longer runs. I can slowly work my way through without constantly setting and pulling the anchor.

On shorter runs or where there is a swirling current it gets to be debatable whether using the electric is more of pain than its worth.

I use a 27lb thrust on my 16 foot woody. I mounted the motor just behind the left oarlock so I can adjust it easily. Works well for plugs as well.

Row you lazy basterds !!! I can smell you getting fat from here !!!!!

Boss man,
Thanks for the info.

B-Run Steely,
You sound like my wife, after she upped my life insurance policy with the money I was going to buy a sled with.
OK, not really, but a guy can dream can't he? At least an electric ain't screaming in your ear all day long. Thinking I might put a 6-way all leather captain seat in my dboat first though. Wonder how many batteries it will take to run the motor and the seat warmer too?

After reading this string and the STS article I want another driftboat to try it on. Sold my toy 7 years ago as shoulder surgery and pullin oars don't mix very well.

Rowing is good! Fishing is better!

Here's hoping that Santa delivers a Riptide for Xmas!

Speaking of anchors and motors, I too was trying to envision that. I have a center mounted anchor system on my Clack and didn't like the thought of removing it every time I wanted to run an elec. For those who are running their elec off-center on the transom, or for those running them off the side, what are the pros and cons? How do they handle the boat as opposed to being centered? I can see how mounting an elec off the side just behind the oarlock would make it much easier to reach...

Who has one installed? What is the battery configuration? Where is it mounted? What is the pounds of thrust?

My battery is up front to balance out the boat with one person, in the back when there is a full load.

Mooch, I talked with Ron at Lavro and he said lots of guys are moving their anchor bracket all the way to the left side of the transom (looking from inside the boat) with no ill affects or increased sway while anchored. If fact he said that there is actually less sway cuz the boat is "torqued" slightly. Move the bracket to the left cuz most tiller handles are on the right. Then you can center your electric motor or if you want you can put a long shaft outboard on and pretend your a sled jocky


Beezer

Beezer,

That Ron is a veritable font of knowlege ain't he. Salt of the earth if you ask me.

Like they say, "you can learn somethin' new everyday". Guess that's it for me. Thanks for the tip.

How many lbs of thrust do you use?

have any of u guys priced some of those minn kota motors? that STS set up was nice but pricie. looked up the 74lb thrust motor around 1000$ plus battiers/wiring stuff!

If we are adding batteries to our drift boats I am getting one of these.

Lead Thrower, your pic lacks ice and rum.

Beezer

I thought that was a given