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Trim Tab Trolling Motors

13K views 15 replies 7 participants last post by  SlateDog  
#1 ·
So I am a big on LT fishing and casting and do it all over the Rapp river. We have a small 17' foot Key West Sportman 1720 with a big bow mounted saltwater trolling motor for the real skinny water fishing. On bad days it can really test your rear end and back and can keep us off the water. I have a 22 foot Grady 223 Tournament that we use when we want more boat. Its like an SUV on the water. It has an open bow and huge cockpit. Its a beast and we love it, and even though it only draws 18" (motor up) its hard to maneuver for any kind of LTcasting. I have considered putting submerged trim tab mounted trolling motors on it. Has anyone had any experience with these tab mounted trolling motors. I think Brandon who runs this site used to have them on his Parker CC but I do not know anyone that has had them. Any thoughts out there?
 
#2 ·
A guy down the street put twin electric trolling motors at the rear of his 23 ft. Grady, but hardly ever used them. The Grady is a heavy boat, and I don't think he got the performance he expected. Extra batteries needed, maybe, or you might not get the big motor started.
He is an occasional weekender. If I see him, I will try to get him in touch with you.
Tom
 
#4 ·
I fished on Ed's boat this spring when he used the remote control bow mount trolling motor. I checked his web site and saw that his boat is 19 feet long with a 10 inch draft. Certainly a lot lighter than a 23 Grady. It would be good to contact him as suggested to see why he switched to the bow mount. Maybe the old rear mount motors are available for sale.
Tom
 
#6 ·
I talked with the neighbor who had the trim tab motors on his 20 ft (not 22) Grady. He said they worked pretty good, but were a bit hard to steer if the wind was blowing against the hardtop. He seldom uses it. He replaced one burned out motor and the companion motor with the newer digital electric motors. He also said that he added 2 batteries for the two 24 volt trolling motors. He also said that he did not want to sell them since they were installed with holes in the transom, so that may be a consideration as well.
I'm thinking that they may not do the job you expect on a 22 ft Grady, particularly in the wind.
Call me at 804-436-1523 to get his number if you want to speak directly with the guy with the trim tab trolling motors.
Tom
 
#8 ·
I had Lenco Trim Tab trolling motors installed on my old boat (Parker 21SE) for about eight years. To be fully disclosed I did receive a outdoor professional discount on them when I bought them, however I am not paid by Lenco or anything. In addition the Lenco company has changed hands since I originally bought them so I can not comment that much on the new ownership other then to say when I needed a part here or there or needed my transformer box replaced they were very nice and resolved the situation.
Questions I have been asked with my answers. If you have other questions feel free to email me.
1. Are you satisfied overall?
Completely, I cannot even imagine how I fished with out them. I primarily fish in shallow water so realize that is where I use them the most which may differ from how you fish.

2. Are the motors strong enough to troll or to control your boat around pilings etc in wind and tide?
I guess you could troll with them, but that is not really what they are designed nor meant to do. They are designed more for controlling around structure when shallow water fishing, adjusting a drift, going a short distance when working birds and things like that.

3. I assume you've got separate batteries, how long do they last throughout the day.
As an example, one day I fished the CBBT, there were three of us, I had a full tank of fuel (90gals) and our gear. We fished around pilings etc and I used them to adjust our drift, hold us in position all on the high setting in the current. We actually fished for about 3 1/ 2 solid hours, of course I used the motors on and off, but I still had juice left when we came into the dock. I also have series 31 batteries which give me a good duration of battery life.
If I fish on my local waters they will last me all day in general with regular use. I fished the Susquehanna Flats twenty six days out of thirty a few years ago and used them every day to adjust drifts, hold position etc and never had a problem with them running out of juice even with a short overnight charge.
Realize though that type of boat, weight of boat and gear, how much and what setting you use the motors, type of batteries, draft of boat, and dead rise can all effect battery life.

4. Is it easy to keep the boat going straight with two stern motors? I've heard that its hard and boat has a tendency to spin.
I have never had a problem with the boat spinning with them unless I make the boat spin. I have been using them now for a bunch of years and am used to them, but even in the beginning I did not have a problem with my boat spinning. You can also put your motor down which will help keep the boat direction constant if you are in deep enough water to let it down.

5. How good are the trim tabs? As good as Bennetts? Any leaks, operating problems?
The tabs are electric, so no leaks to deal with and instant response and I mean instant. Some people will say that electric and saltwater do not mix. All I know is that Brain Horsely who is a full time guide down in NC has had them on his boat for over ten years and he fishes the ocean all the time, even with salinity like that he has not had a problem. My boat sees the bay and ocean, but I take my boat out of the water, so while I have not had a problem, Brian's experience really is a testament that they can and do hold up. I have not heard of anyone else having trouble, so as far as my personal experience and what I have heard, no problems.

6. Do you have the wired or wireless remote?
I have the cord because my is an older model. My came with a 20 ft cord that you can strap to your belt, I just keep mine velcroed to the console.
They do now have a wireless remote which I think may be standard, if it is not I would highly recommend it.

7. Any pointers if you were going to do it again?
Not that I can think of. I had them professionally installed so I cannot talk from the viewpoint of installation. I will have them (tab trolling motors) on any fly fishing/light tackle boat I ever have unless something revolutionary comes out that I cannot resist trying

8. Isn't it better to pull a boat through the water then to push it?
In theory, yes. However when you move into the saltwater center console arena where you have higher gunnels and generally higher profile boats it becomes a challange to put a bow mount trolling motor on the boat because of the length of the shaft needed to reach the water. I had a bow mounted trolling motor on my boat when I first got it, but what I did not like was that it was so big that when it was up on the deck it would bounce around in rough water. I did try tying it down and it somewhat worked, just not enough that I was happy with it. Now it is possible mount one on the bow and make it work; I have a few friends who have them on their center consoles, one friend has a 23 Jones Brothers and has a long shaft either a Motor Guide Saltwater Series or a Minn Kota Riptide wireless bow mount, I forget which one. I have fished with him and actaully controlled it. I really like how it works. The rig works for him because he does not fish out in the ocean along the east coast or in the Virginia portion of the Chesapeake Bay where it can get rougher, most of his fishing is in one of the rivers that feeds the main portion of the bay and he picks his days.

9. How do you charge your batteries?
I had an on-board battery charger installed inside the console. All i do is plug the extension cord into the socket on the side of the console and it charges both batteries that run the trolling motors.
In summary, it's better to pull a boat through the water, but pushing it with the trim tab trolling motors as worked well for me over the years and I have not had any limitations other then the new bow mounted motors have a setting where you can just point it in a heading and it will keep the boat going there. I like that feature, but its not enough for me to switch.

Let me know if you have any other questions.
Brandon
 
#9 ·
Brandon, thanks for the very detailed response. This is very helpful to me. I appreciate you sharing your experience and knowldege as this is exactly the kind of information I was looking for. BTW, keep up the great work on the Tidal Fish site. It is a great resource for everybody.
 
#10 ·
No problem. Let me know if you have any other questions. I have been also looking at the new Minn Kota Trim and Troll. Not sure I will put it on my 23' because it is pretty big with the bracket on the back, but definitely if I get a smaller boat for the rivers.
Let's us know what you decide to do.
Brandon
 
#12 ·
It does not have a pedastal stand. That is not the issue that I am trying to address however. I was just referring running the 17' boat on bad days in snotty water 12 miles down river or 5 miles up river to get to some of my spots. Once I get there I can deal with it! When you have 2+ footers or severe chop I can get up on top of them but it will still beat you pretty good. My back is not what it used to be. And I like to go fast:yes:
 
#13 ·
I had the Lenko Troll Tabs installed on my Parker 21SE this summer and concur with Brandon. The one drawback is that the reverse function is marginal at best, especially with a full 90 gallon tank. I looked into a 60" bow mount trolling motor and decided the Lenkos were a better bet. Ordered them from a dealer in FLA that does a good volume of business with Lenko and had them shipped to Browns' Marine in Deltaville. Those guys did a fantastic job on the installation. All in for about $5K including the tabs.
 
#16 ·
Great on good days. Can get into real skinny water and go fast getting there. Big Minn Kota remote controlled saltwater trolling motor on it. Somebody put a yammy 80 HP FS on it which is too heavy to be honest. Sits to low, scuppers under the water. On 2 + foot water it will beat you up good running 10 - 15 miles down river. We take her from Lagrange out as far as Windmill Light but it's always dicey making that run as lots change quickly out there. Lots of nice fish taken from that boat though. I have a 22' Grady too that rides pretty darn well and takes anything the river gives on all but the worst days. It's a tank. I love that boat but can't help me much in some of my favorite fishing spots.