I have a 3.3 Mercury 2-stroke and a Minn-Kota 27lb electric. Here's my take on using them on the lakes and rivers of Southeast Australia. I'm sure that much of this applies to parts of the USA as well. Firstly, petrol (gasoline) powered motors are not allowed on many of our inland dams and lakes. It's paddle, sail or electric. In some cases, even electric is out. There are also moves afoot to ban 2-strokes in more and more places. I originally bought the electric to power a fibreglass canoe, which it did brilliantly. I have also used it on a 4.3m/14ft alloy boat as a trolling motor and to get back to the boat ramp when the throttle link on the old outboard came loose. In this case, it probably achieved around 5kph/3mph. I originally bought the 3.3 to power a Portabote (The worst purchasing mistake I've ever made), but it now gets used for various small boats as needed. While range is not a problem when you are out for a day's fishing or hunting, it does become an issue when you are camped by the water for several days. It is much easier to carry spare fuel for the 2-stroke, rather than solar panels, generator, or heavy spare battery for the electric. I generally carry both, then use the 2-stroke for general running around and switch to electric when it's time to get sneaky.
Great comparison. Operating cost per mile probably favors the Minn Kota at slower speeds. Confidence in starting also favors Minn Kota. Gas best for people dealing with current and wind and longer distances requiring more speed.
There is some infrequent maintenance on a trolling motor. Eventually you will need to do brushes and in my experience I had to open and clean up the armature. Actually just had my Minn Kota 45 quit randomly on me last weekend because of this. In the future I think I will do this each spring. My motor sees hundreds of hours each year which may be more or less than others so take that into consideration. I think most of this discussion is dependent on where you go. I used to have a canoe with trolling motor and I was very limited what days I could go out on due to the wind. They just lack the power for any lake with a long draw. My choice in my Jonboat is to have 3 forms of power. Gas, trolling motor and also oars. I've had too many equipment issues to ever go out without at least 2 of these.
@@Voxguitarsrocka 12v 100ah lithium battery is about 25 lbs. A 1 gal tank of gas is 6lbs. A 55lb thrust trolling motor is 20lbs, give or take a few lbs for different sizes. The mercury 2.5hp is about 38lbs. Either way you slice it its the same weight for either option, you will have a lot more range with a gas engine though.
Well, I always take one of each... it insures against any technical problems, eliminates range anxiety when driving home into a headwind, and they are both light enough to swap out onto the transom while on the water. My IC is a 3.5hp Johnson, it only weighs 14kg, so not much more than my Watersnake electric (less it's 40kg SLA battery of course) Another negative with the electric that I've found after a few years of use is the prop gets weeded up more easily than the IC, the battery is a pain to load in and out as it needs two hands, a strong back and careful placement, in an aluminum boat you really don't want it tipping over, it also requires ongoing maintenance with charge state and storage especially out of season and they all still degrade over time, replacement cost for a battery far exceeds a water pump kit and a few spoonfulls of gear oil every now and then. I still like both equally and would recommend anyone to have at least one of each for the above reasons. cheers.
Good Commentary Wayne, after several years of frustration with an older 90 hp Mercury, I sold that boat and downsized to a smaller boat, principally set up to be electric, two motors, two batteries, very simple setup. I love the quietness of the electric motors, both together, will push my boat at over 6 mph, after going to the Chattahoochee River trout fishing, I came to the conclusion a bit more oomph was needed to handle river current, I found a 5 hp 4 stroke engine on Marketplace for cheap, did a bit of maintenance to it , and had it to navigate larger bodies of water as well as rivers, with my setup , I can swap the rear trolling motor out with the gas engine literally in 2 minutes, so swapping or getting my boat ready for whichever terrain it's covering is very quick and simple. There are pros and cons to boat propulsion, but for general fishing, I really like the quietness and efficiency of my electric drive(s), My rear motor is a 55 lb thrust, my front motor is a foot controlled 45 lb thrust, both work well independently or together. Keep up the good work. Enjoy your posts.
When i fished fresh water back in Maryland i used a trolling motor. They had very specific laws and restrictions on small lakes and enforced them with guns if needed. My motor was a fairly large electric motor and i ran 2 batteries.
Perfect apples-to-apples comparison, something I'm considering at the moment. My boat is a small inflatable dinghy, weighs less than yours. Should be able to handle that Minn-Kota with some extra oomph. Great idea at a great price.
I loved this video! I think that what often is overlooked is the demands for boat size and use. My wife and friends all are avid kayakers. At over 6'2" and 255lb, and after having been in a horrible auto collision, a kayak is not something I care to do that much. They are making cheaper, better kayaks that are made for bigger guys and that can handle a transom mount trolling motor. I'll probably do that. Of course, I will still need a regular boat for most of the fishing I love to do out in the rivers and bays. I've had gators bump my boat, and I've been in 3-5ft. waves out in the bay. Hooking into a 6-8 ft. shark can also be troubling when operating out of a small boat in choppy waters. I see kayakers do it, and I also see where many either die or almost die in the process. The same for guys in a Jon boat. In many areas here, a Jon boat and a kayak are practically just as lethal a choice as the other. Anything less than a 21 ft. boat is putting your life at risk. Even then, hull matters (which I hope you will do an updated video on soon). With such a larger boat, a heavier-powered gas outboard (25 hp or higher) is really the only viable option. Naturally, a trolling motor will also be preferable for staying in location or moving stealthily to new spots. The only issue here with that is we have a lot of brackish water. So, corrosion will be a huge problem to constantly fight.
This is the 2nd useful boat video where I accidentally stumbled upon with you as the host! I always click like, but this time was a sign for me to subscribe. Great videos. Thanks!
I don't know if this will ever be seen, but I've had 2 Minn Kota 30lb thrust that both seized and got destroyed within 4-5 seasons (northeast so don't use them all year round). Vs my honda air cooled 2 hp engine from 2005 or 2006 still runs great with no issues. Granted there's no doubt about it an electric motor is super quiet and perfect for a small boat, I will still be using my honda.
I've had a minn kota 28lbs for 15 years with no problems. I use it with a car battery and it has never let me down. Maybe you had bad luck with yours or Ive gotten lucky with mine who knows.
Something I do with my electric that can prevent seizure is to carefully cool the motor on hot days prior to just plonking it in the water. I do it by lowering it so the prop remains out of the water for a few minutes until the motor body is cold. If the motor is hot from being in the sun, the sudden cooling contracts the air inside the motor casing and can pull water through the shaft seal and once it's inside the damage is done. I also keep a bin filled with fresh water and a dash of white oil mixed in. After every outing the electric gets dunked and run for a few seconds to clean salt and sand from behind the prop, and everywhere else. My anode is still in pristine condition after two years.
Some great points here Wayne, thank you! I got my first jon boat this year, and all I could afford for a motor was the minn kota 30lb. I assumed I would get a gas motor at some point, but after a summer with the electric, I don't think I ever will need it. Very much looking forward to the lack of winterized maintenance for the electric too!
A nice comparison video... Id like to add some things people may want to concider before making a choice on gas vs electric trollers. One has to understand the waters in which they wish to boat or fish lets say. If your water has a current, even a mild one your driving against.... the electric will probably be underpowered and drain the battery a lot quicker. Gas would definitely hold more thrust or force to push the boat forward. On a glass, still bodied lake its different. Also if theres a bit of a chop in the water...again the electric may not fair as well. My 2 cents is, main motor gas... supplemental electric. If traveling on gas restricted lakes, obviously then go electric...always have 2 batteries min...1 as a backup, also look into portable soft solar panels you can use with your electric in case ur unexpectedly running on low juice.... ✌ happy and safe boating
Thanks for your observations. I plan to purchase a square stern canoe and use it in Ozark streams. Based on your comments, it would appear that the gas outboard is the better option, in order to handle situations when I might be going upstream against a current.
Great comparison video! There are a few maintenence things for a trolling motor if you go through some weeds with it, but there is a lot more maintenence when it comes to a gas motor. For duck hunters that go through rice and pencil reeds, a trolling motor without decent thrust turns into a paperweight fairly quick.
I bought 2 Newport 62 lb thrust motors to give me a dual motor setup on my Tritoon Dock I am building. Just to motor around my 1/2 mile long lake. I'll use PWM DC Motor Speed Controllers to optimize the flow of current to the Trolling Motors. I will rig up a wheel steering setup attached to both motors. Ill be very pleased if I get 5mph out of this arrangement. 16"w x 24"h x 16'L Pontoons are made of EPS foam coated with Truck Bed Liner. Super light weight. Each motor will have a 100ah 12v glass matt solar battery for power. Fun project.
A very good comparison, Wayne. For what it is worth, I have a brand new Suzuki 2.5 Hp 4 stroke on my 19 ft sailboat. At 1/2 speed it zooms me long faster than I like (or need) as I am enjoying river scenery! At 1/2 throttle the long shaft model is very quiet...and I actually have come to thoroughly enjoy powering along with such a nice piece of machinery running next to me! That is one category you didn't compare!!
I've noticed that a lot of guys use both. They get to their destination with their old two strokes and then troll with the electric. Two stokes last and last, but tolling is tough on them and over time their carbs start showing cracks and they just don't troll right any more.
Nice video. I think both electric and gas motors have their place. If I'm on a small lake fishing then I prefer a quiet electric motor, but, if I'm on a river with a possible strong current I prefer the power and speed of my 3 hp Sears GameFisher gas motor, but, I would still take along my Newport 62 lb thrust electric motor and a good high capacity marine battery as extra insurance. I don't mind the extra steps to start my Air cooled 2 stroke GameFisher as it's never failed to start in the 25 or so years that I've owned it. Plus, there's no impeller to deal with since it's air cooled.
I have a 12' Jon boat and picked up one of those Chinese made 2 strokes that you see all over Ebay for cheap money. It was a pain to learn it's intricate procedures needed for starting, like pulling the start rope. You have to first pull it out about a foot and then pull it to start. That's why so many have broken off. But the deal killer for me was the noise. You're absolutely correct, they are deafening! But I've done a lot of work to the boat and trailer and plan to keep them so I broke down and bought a 6hp 4 stroke Tohatsu motor and running this boat is now a pleasure! I found myself using my trolling motor more than the outboard with the 2 stroke, even for longer moves on the water. But now I only use it for it's intended purpose. It should be mentioned too that all of the 12' boats I've ever seen have been rated for 6hp max. I know that people run larger outboards all of the time with no problems but the risk is always there. Besides, that 6hp motor moves this boat up and down this river I fish on just fine. I don't need to move any faster with the hazards below the surface which washed down in the last flood event that pose a hazard to my prop. Good video!
Putting a motor on bigger than rating isn't an issue unless you make a big jump. And usually people beef up the transom. I thought about putting a 90 on my 16 foot boat but decided not to. Fuel costs are going way up so that killed that idea quick. I'm going to stay in the 40hp range. Better fuel economy compared to a larger motor. But also enough speed to get somewhere fast...... like a bathroom lol. I know every location a bathroom or outhouse is on my Lake 🤣
I have a 14ft Jon boat and I have both a Tohatsu 6hp and a minn kota 45 it’s a good combo gas gets you where and trolling quietly while you fish plus if one fails you have a backup to get you back or at least to shore, also I keep two paddles
I'd say gas for getting where you want to go, trolling motor for maneuvering once you're there. However, as you said, with that size gas engine, you're not going to be going any great distances anyway. The only disadvantage I can see is the extra weight of the marine grade trolling motor battery. They can be quite heavy. Still, having two modes of propulsion in a large body of water would definitely make me feel more secure when they both have a somewhat limited range.
Agree 100%. I have owned a Minn Kota riptide for many years and has been super reliable. My Torqueedo has had many problems. My Mercury has also been reliable. I use lipo batteries that I have recycled from scooter batteries. Light weight and they go forever.
@@WayneTheBoatGuyThese are some of my Torqueedo problems. When the shear pin sheared ( corroded out ) you could not undo the propeller nut because the shaft turned and there was no way to hold it. I put a screw driver slot in the shaft to fix this problem. Then I tilted the motor while I attended other things, the outbound rotated ,due to the battery weight and broke the tiller. I have glued and bolted this together again. The battery charger failed. Replaced with a cheap Chinese 12 volt power supply. Then I was checking out the motor before another outing and the skeg was broken off. The propellor was good and I did not run into anything and no sign of the skeg. This is the only outboard I have had problems with . It cost 6 times more than the Minn Kota Riptide and is 1/2 the motor.
Considering your Minn Kota is less than a 1.5 hp motor your performance is about half the 2.5 hp Merc's as one might expect. My Newport 62 lb thrust L series is rated as a 1.5 hp motor.
Range is not even vaguely similar. You can carry a lot of gas, both in the sense of storing it, and in physically moving it. If you tie up on a dock with a electrical, or always cycle your trailer back to the house, electric can be OK. Only source of electrical for me is carrying a very heavy battery up beach/steep rocky section, not fun at all compared to a gas can. I am in if there is a workable way of using solar/electric, even if it is slow. But the cost of systems I have seen even from economical providers like Devlin, is house money. Some boats will actually work OK with decent sunlight and no battery augmentation. The famous yacht designer Nigel Irens made a breakthrough in motor boat low speed high efficiency, and he said that you are better off with gas, as the weight of comparable batteries during the trailering phase was not overall credibly efficient. Noticed that recently he seems to be focused on electrics, it is what the rich people think they want. I don't get small motors. I see people running their dinghies, and they seem silent. You buy a new 4 stroke, they tell you how quiet they are. Any I have bought are really loud. Maybe some of those yacht motors like seagulls are quiet... electric is a clear winner on this count. Cost of a motor based on miracle american second hand deals is bogus. it needs to be a deal anyone can get pretty much any time. Overall, I don't think they are comparable at this point. There is a reason why we have a trolling category, and an moving category.
I ran a 1.5hp all last year. And luckily the only cost I had I to it was a total of 2 full 2.5 gallon gas cans worth of gas and 2 qt of 2 stroke oil. In the season aside from some tinkering to adjust to get it running smoother I ran the same plug all season. It topped out at 3mph. I also had a 38lb thrust trolling motor. And a battery. Over the season the switch for forward and reverse overheated and melted twice leaving me to use a paddle. And after the second time the switch burnt out I wired it always on and forward. According to gps I barely broke 1mph and the trolling motor could not fight the current. Honestly in my area I've seen more trolling motors on marketplace and craigslist with burnt out electronics in a single season its ridiculous. It could be all the tall weeds and shallow waterways here in Wisconsin or could be alot of poor quality control coming to the Midwest. I picked up 2 used trolling motors to try and make 1 good one but seems like the same parts seem to get fried. This year I picked up a used cheap endura that should work and a 1960s evenrude 18hp. While speed and range may not be important to some. When it is several miles from the landing to the fishing spot and the 1.5hp takes about half hour to travel a mile if you do local fishing tournament and derbies you don't want to take forever to get where you are going 😉. I will be using that endura 55lb to access a couple local lakes that are electric only. And they are big lakes. Another thing to remember: "all day" is relitive and can vary from person to person. It may mean 3 to 6 hours. Or it may mean sun up to sun down like it does for me. If I plan to go fishing "all day", my boat is going in the water at dawn and I may not get back to the landing until after midnight.
Great content. I think you might consider cost as a category the electric motor wins. You bought the outboard used, not new. Plus charging and maintenance costs clearly got to trolling motor. Great comparison-well done
nice segment. i know this is a little dated but....i've been looking at small motors for my side mount on my canoe. i have a 55 pound thrust and worry about distance. i used to have a 4 hp mercury with an external tank on my Jon boat and loved it. No small motors, that i could find, come with an auxiliary tank hook up. i watched your other videos on motors under a thousand bucks. i was looking at the Suzuki 2.5. they dont have the one you showcased but its very similar and cheaper at just under $700. most of my running is in the Patuxant up and down the river. thanks for the video.
A jittle idea for you.... it's a good idea to carry a little kit with you, with a bottle of rubbing alcahol,a wrench for the spark plug, (most motors come with a wrench), an old tooth brush, and a small cheap set of feeler guages, a small thin file to touch up plugs along with a little tool for adjusting the gap-and a spare plug or two for the chance you should foul a plug-the small bottles of alky often are the perfect size neck for the end of the plug,put the plug in, give it a few shakes, brush off any fouling,use lung power to blow off any remaing alky-and you should be good to go.That Merc. looks a lot like a little 2 hp Arctic Spirit (A Suzuki under the paint-from the 1970's) perhaps the design was sold when Suzi switched over to 4 strokes,almost never fouled a plug but the kit was good for peace of mind when miles from anyone-the motor has a little rubber brackit with slots for a shear pin, and as I recall a plug-though a hand full of pins, and a couple plugs doesn't hurt anything-dropping a plug into the drink at the worst possible moment is not entirely out of the question ....kit is also handy when camping way out in the wilds just to maintain the plug from time to time when sitting around.-that little motor is stone reliable,will plane a boat the size of yours(if hou make a tiller extension to move a bit forward your and a stick to work the throttle-my Auzi will run slow for along time with nary a hiccup.
it seems like the weight comparison did not include the weight of the battery? That adds another 40 - 60 pounds to the Minn Kota. Unless you use a Lithium battery then the cost comparison gets tilted towards the Mercury. That said it was a great discussion and comparison to highlight the pros and cons of both solutions. I've had both and I can say either solution benefits from a paddle or oars in the boat because sooner or later a battery will die or an outboard will not start...
WE have 3 different gas outbaords and 3 electrics. They all suit a particular purpose. We fish a lot of small ponds that no one else bothers with. The electrics are excellant for that. We like our Minkota 30 and our Motorguide 55. But last year I purchased a 32lb thrust Greenworks. It takes a 40v battery that fits right into the head of the motor. A spare battery fits in my tackle bag, but I haven't needed it yet. Mind you we are mostly trolling with just a few faster dashes to spots. This is about the best, most portable set up I"ve come across for small waters?portaging in to spots. Bonus is they also make a huge assortment of tools and yard care equipment that use the same batteries. I think these motors were also sold under the Shakespear name?
You talked about the weight. With the eletric motor the weight is separated between the battery and motor and the gas is all together so that could make a difference. Also some small lakes prohibit gas engine only electric motors are allowed. I like to fish and the slower electric motor I drop in a couple of baits and drag or troll behind. I've caught some big bass doing this getting to my intended fishing hole. The electric is quite and you can slip in and out of bank poles or drop lines and not disturb the fish. I've rebaited drop lines and not even got to the next line before catching a fish on the reset line
GREAT VIDEO. I have an old gas motor but the gas tank holds about a quart. That means refueling many times. I can't hook up a gas line. So I use the trolling motor. IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE. ,
Thankyou for the advice. I just bought a intex challenger 3 dingy and will be fitting an outboard engine to it but wasn’t sure to get either the electric or gas. After watching this. I think the electric will be best.
Even my Minn Kota 30lb c2 can get my Intex Mariner4 to 3mph with 2 adults and 100lb equipment. I'd say it's enough for most small lakes and calm rivers.
just to confuse the issue, what about connecting the trolling motor to a small generator. my little camping generator runs for hours on a full tank and has 12v take of. it's a lot lighter than my leisure batteries. just a thought.
Most generators output 8 amps max from their low voltage port, trolling motors typically use 12 to 36 amps depending on the size and speed setting. It could do a good job of extending range, but you'd still need the battery, fuel, and you then get the noise back, boat hulls magnify sound so well.
I know a guy that had a bigger john boat with a bigger motor and he also put a small motor on just for trolling for crappie because the noise caught more fish because crappie are curious fish! He ran with about 8 rods and he would slay crappie. I don't know if it is true, but my dad ran an electric trolling motor and caught less fish (but still caught fish).
G'day. 12 years ago i started using an 55 pound electric trolling motor on my inflateable tender. ran to shore & back to my yacht. fantastic. My new yacht is 24 ft & and i will be changing out the inboard diesial to an electric outboard as i want to get away from gas and all i need then is solar to recharge the batteries. Gerard.
It depends on where you’re going also. When I go on reservoirs around me, I’m obligated to use only electric. So I have an electric and a gas powered motor. I like that lil 2.5 hp Mercury though. It would take some getting used to because of not being able to go to idle or reverse. It’s basically a little lawnmower engine but for a boat. I love the sound of them running though. When I was a child my Grandfather and I used to race across Lake Erie with his Mercury running wide open. You had to have your hat on tight or you’d lose it lol
I learned same .I have 3hp old Evinrude ,Fun motor ,runs good But for fishing I like My trolling motor better . Lot because of noise and at end of year don t need winterize. No running to gas station mixing gas...
I was thinking of getting the Sun dolphin sportsman 14 ss canoe and have seen videos of putting bigger motors on smaller boats and figured I can prob put a 2.5 hp motor on it instead of the trolling motor, Oh and I did buy my first kayaks and they were great but I'm gonna switch them out for foldable kayaks which I didn't know where a thing.
Noise should be a heavier weighted factor as I've been told that when you enter a fishing area with a gas engine, the fish need an hour to calm down. I reckon it would be less than 15 minutes with an electronic motor.
@@kennethseibert5711 I believe that, but possibly the physiological effects (raised heart rate, nervous system, etc) of the stress may last longer than their memory.
So much easier to use a trolling motor! And reliable too. Don’t have to worry about maintenance. I have the minkota 30 and it’s enough for my mariner 4 when I stay within half mile to 1 mile of shore (yes the ocean)However I’m upgrading to a larger troller like yours! Great idea! And the battery I use is the larger rv battery Costco sells for about 100 bucks. With my 30lb thrust minkota I am out there for 4-5 hours and still about the same thrust and pretty much full power! Curious to see what happens when I upgrade to 50 or more thrust. Will be taking two larger rv or marine batts just in case
I own a 6hp evinrude outboard (1969) and it is the best trolling motor I’ve ever owned. It has a 6 gallon tank and you can fish for days. Fuel consumption is good and it’s never failed me. It’s unfortunate that all this “save the planet crap” has made these outboards obsolete. This one is over 50 years old and works like new.
To add my .02 to range, solar is a game changer for my trips. I have about 60AH of LiFepo4 batteries and 250W of solar panels for my 36lb thrust trolling motor, all on a kayak, and I typically go on 20-40 mile excursions on the weekends. I make sure the panels are set up for the morning sun before passing out, and usually have everything charged by noon if i competely toasted the batts.
First of all, your production quality on the video is excellent! You present your arguments well and the staging of all the shots was great. However, your range calculation was not very accurate. When comparing the "fuel" density for both options, a 50 or 60 pound deep-cycle, lead-acid battery gives you a fuel source that should last all day for the electric trolling motor but just 10 pounds of gas for the outboard will last much longer. This is particularly true if measured in number of miles covered. Also, if your battery goes dead and you didn't bring another with you, your trip back to the launch ramp is going to take a while. If your small on-board tank goes empty, the weight of a 1-gallon gas can is a tiny fraction of what a spare battery weighs. I do agree that if you're going to have a gas outboard, it should be something large enough to really move the boat.
Very good points! Mostly my thoughts when I made this were along the lines of how people typically might use these particular small & slow motors - short trip, not needing much speed. If I had a decent distance to travel, I would probably want to go more than 6 or 7 mph and a spare gas tank is much more reasonable than multiple batteries.
I troll with a 12 ft fiberglass with a 2.5 Honda 4 stroke.....I Bring 2 250 ml chainsaw fuel bottles......makes fillup way easier and less messy and a bottle fills the tank
Hi Wayne... nice comparison... I have coupled a "troy built "4 stroke engine (grass cutter) to a "tanaka" (old japanese boat engine )for a total weight of 12lbs with a full tank(.6litre)🤣 and a 4 hours autonomy with a full tank. reaching a speed of 12kmh (7mph)..😉 the price of the new engine ($125) that I put that on my inflatable 10ft.1/2 a lot of fun and nice fishing for cheap in comparison with Minn Kota... I have a greater autonomy with 5litres of gas than electric... (comparison with a friend who rides with Minn Kota 2 batteries same boat) to have the same equivalent when I go to the sturgeon on the St Lawrence river...
That sounds like a nifty rig you built! Yeah if you're travelling farther, a gas motor is certainly more capable because you don't have to buy, charge and store a few extra (heavy) batteries.
Hey Wayne. Could you do a post on propeller selection, pitch, cup, diameter, etc? Thanks I enjoy your posts. BTW Impellors are just rubber. They take a set, dry rot and fail. A few minutes and smoke!
The river we boat on is considered the most trechorous in the Netherlands and would stop any vessel with any electric trawling motor going up stream(strong constantly changing and swirling currents and often similar winds above creating very choppy waters, heavy barges and busy recreation boats also thrown in the mix. On a 8 ft Jon boat you already need a 3.5 hp engine at least to make any headway. So a trawling motor would drain the battery very fast and that turns it into dead weight, witch has to be pushed along while losing power. Gasoline gets burnt, less weight to move. I like maintenance it keeps you on your toes. It also means if something would fail it can be fixed. When electronics fail you create e-waste and replacing lead acid batteries is not good for the environment. You can always run Aspen fuel, that's 99% cleaner compared to pump fuel. I run that in my yard equipment like leafblower etc.
I've never heard of Aspen fuel - but you make some really good points with regards to stronger currents. It would be interesting to see how a stronger E motor like a Torqueedo or ePropulsion would do in that environment because it sounds like they would have to work pretty hard which would have a big impact on battery life.
Each tool for the function it was designed. For fishing and trolling use the Minkota, for running and pushing against currents get the Mercury. Recharging a battery takes hours while refueling gasoline takes just minutes.
I just bought a 12' jon boat with a 30lb thrust motor. I did a lot of research on batteries and decided to get a 3.5hp gas motor, and put the electric on my kayak. Good batteries, as per the ratings I saw. cost as much as a small gas motor, especially if you have to carry two of them. I moved to Citrus County Florida - nothing but lakes, rivers and swampy estuaries, so I don't want to limit my range. If you go electric, a headwind an/or moderately strong current can stop you in your tracks - especially if you're only packing 30 lbs of thrust. Also, not mentioned - a Battery Charge Gauge, like a gas gauge in your car. IMHO, a small electric is fine for an "On Golden Pond" scenario, but too limited for me.
The only electric options that theoretically compete with a 3.5 hp gas motor are the ones from Torqeedo and ePropulsion - but they cost over 2x as much.
i use a trolling motor with a 1ooah lithium at 7lb and i have a agm at 70lbs i get about 10 miles outta each, had 2 agms but now 2 lithium's. just got a 9.8 mercury and yeah i can now reach new spots but your right about the 2 hp
Storage is something to consider. I didn't have a garage so I had to drain the gas in order to store the gas motor in my apartment closet. Even stored inside a plastic bag I felt there was a gas odor in the room. I have a small 10' punt so I would consider an electric motor. Thanks for the video
While you could take an extra battery, that's around 50 to 60 pounds of extra weight. For gas, a gallon of gas weighs around 8 pounds. Small boats do have weight limits so this could impact how much you can carry.
Well yes, but you could also take the discussion one step further. Because instead of a second battery, you could bring a solar panel for the electric outboard. And fairly simple solar panels can in fact charge for more than the trolling motor would use to propel itself while trolling. If you had a solar panel, a trolling motor and a couple of batteries at a remote cabin or lake, that could last you for daily trips every day for years.
@@Black-March It depends on how hard you want to drive the electric motor. At slow speeds, many draw around 10 amps at 12 volts. That would be two 100 watt panels at around 15 pounds each. At medium speeds, the current draw increases to 20 amps at 12 volts or 4 panels for a total of 60 pounds; not counting mounting hardware. At top speeds, it takes 6 panels and would weigh 90 pounds + mounting hardware. However, on an overcast day, the current from the 6 panels won't even turn the motor.
@@BobDiaz123 Power usage increases significantly with speed though, using the ePropulsion Spirit Plus outboard as an example, at 2.2 mph you use 35w, at 2.7 65w and at 3.5mph its 125. A guy who lives near I do has a single 100w panel which is enough to take him out in the boat fishing every day for a month straight during the summer. That's 5 lbs.
I think there is a huge difference between these two types of motors and this is not an apples to apples comparison at all. While I agree about the ease of use and convenience of electric motors, there is a gigantic difference in performance and range. I own only electric myself. I have a few Sea Eagle Paddleski inflatable boats. They are a hybrid of a kayak/motorboat and sailboat and resemble a very narrow Zodiac. I had a Minn Kota 30 trolling motor I used for a couple years. While that is fine if you just want to go a short distance at slow speeds on a calm day, it's not fine if the wind kicks up pretty good on the bay/large lake or in currents. I tested that motor to the max on 100-150 adventures with it. More than a handful of times, I almost got stuck and unable to make it back. Especially when the boat was weighted down with 2 passengers. Sometimes I'd go from the cove into the bay and without notice the wind would get so strong, I'd struggle to get back. One time pulling the boat on the shore back into the cove lucky there was a shoreline. I've been against currents I didn't expect and they were just too much, and also that it would take full speed to get through them and quickly kill the battery if I was more than a mile or too. I spoke to Minn Kota about getting a 55 lbs thrust motor instead which is the largest you can generally get with a single 12v battery. They said.....don't bother. It would be a minimal speed increase & power and not make a worthwhile difference. Watching countless videos seems to agree. So I ended up splurging for a Torqeedo 1003 lithium motor which I love, but they are very expensive. Even over my Torqeedo, which the 915 batteries I believe would give much greater range than a standard 12v deep cycle trolling battery (although larger lithium ones are now more available for several hundred dollars than 10 years ago) a 2.5 gas motor will provide much greater range especially if you bring a spare tank of gas, which unlike a lithium boat battery ($1000 for the Torqeedo) we can all afford that. Even without a spare tank of gas, a small gas motor will provide much greater range than most any electric motor battery. I'd like to get a 2.5 or 3 HP motor too when I want greater range for some locations I'm unable to visit due to range. Mostly going at slower speeds, I have about a 10 mile range with the Torqeedo 915 battery. if it's reasonably calm Who's to say a small boat wouldn't ever want to go further? I don't fish, all sight seeing. That said a friend of mine bought a new 2.5 HP Yamaha motor last year, and it's been nothing but unreliable. Unsure if it's operator error or a lemon. An electric motor is unquestionably easier to operate. I was hoping his motor would be reliable so we could visit some locations we can't using my boat and his motor.
A small light solar blanket and charge controller makes a huge difference if you're running trolling motor for a weekender. 2 batteries and a solar charging setup and your range anxiety stars to fade pretty fast.
Something I do is put a solar panel on the bow of the boat and connect it to a cheap charge controller in the battery box. It powered my 62lb thrust trolling motor enough we could go out in the 18' boat for the day for free as long as the sun was shining
Hi Wayne nice comparison, you kept it basic including the key points which are enough to convince me the electric motor is a better option. So in my mind I expanded your chart to include handling fuel, especially the 2 cycle mixed fuel which comes with a greater down side. There also is the lower case lube oil to deal with. If any of these liquids spill you have a dangerous and serious mess to clean up. On the electric side you have a large battery which can be a heavy and hazardous item if things go wrong. Other than keeping the boat afloat the propulsion system is next critical item. On the upside to electric motors I had the good experience using one on a 16’ sailboat of about 1500# that worked amazingly well. Every bit as good as a 3 hp long shaft outboard. Electrics obviously are the future of boat propulsion in many cases. Thanks for doing this comparison.
You fail to factor in usage as in how much "power" you run. Going electric you have to know the range on your particular boat with what you have for batteries. Full throttle the trolling motor until it dies. That's your "minimum" range. Then do it again at a cruising speed. Gives you greater idea how much time on water and distance you can go. Relying on electric only has its risks. Especially if your moving around from spot to spot between travel. Gas will always be the better option. Until they improve on electric and the battery costs. The gear oil change is once a year. Usually at the end of the season. It's not a big hassle. Handling fuel isn't a downside. It's quite simple. If your too lazy to mix gas and oil probably shouldn't be on a boat. Most likely you will forget the plug as well. Hands down gas has greater range and economy compared to electric. The rule of thumb for any type of propulsion is 1/3 there 1/3 back and 1/3 for emergency. Meaning using only 1/3 of your fuel or electricity to get where your going. 1/3 for the return trip and the rest for oh crap moments or moving from spot to spot. Weight is a big factor. Battery weight is horrible with lead acid or agm. Much less weight with a 5 gallon tank of gas to keep your motor topped up than even one battery. My 80ah battery (deep cycle is a must as car batteries are not designed to be drawn down/cycled. Wich reduces life of battery and can fail when out on the water.) Weighs over 65 lbs. The more weight in the boat the more reserve you will need battery wise. Weight reduces speed and range. The other downside to batteries is charge time. They don't just magically charge quick like a battery for a handheld power tool.
I feel you misrepresented the trolling motor on weight, as you should have factored in battery weight as well, which when compared to some smaller boats in the 200 lb weight, 2 group 31's and a minnkota endura max you are pushing 150 lbs. Don't get me wrong this is my current setup and aside from moving the batteries (loading in bed, not a trailer) every time I move the boat its great, but comparing that vs a 50 or 60 lb 4 stroke (referring to new units) is quite a savings on weight, and an extra gallon of gas is what, 6 lbs?
So I have a Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke , is that as loud as a two stroke? Also the assembly of an electric with the parts and plugs is not as easy as my 4 stroke just attach to transom and let er rip! I also have no charge down time, just keep gassing and going🎉
Hello Wayne, my wife and I are retired and will be buying a 20 or 22 foot outboard boat for pleasure boating with the 2 dogs. I am looking for safety if the outboard dies and want to get back to the dock, do you thing that a battery operated is my solution. I'm not looking for speed, just want to get back home. Gil
I have both for my canoe , I take my electric fishing and yes I can troll all day with it but that is not the same as when I need to get someplace !! My little gas engine I take when I go hunting and need to get multiple places in as fast a time as I can. So for me and my lifestyle I need both for different things.
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Smell could also be a factor. Although the smell of a 2 stroke always brings back good memories for me.
I hear that from a lot of people!
I have a 3.3 Mercury 2-stroke and a Minn-Kota 27lb electric. Here's my take on using them on the lakes and rivers of Southeast Australia. I'm sure that much of this applies to parts of the USA as well.
Firstly, petrol (gasoline) powered motors are not allowed on many of our inland dams and lakes. It's paddle, sail or electric. In some cases, even electric is out.
There are also moves afoot to ban 2-strokes in more and more places.
I originally bought the electric to power a fibreglass canoe, which it did brilliantly. I have also used it on a 4.3m/14ft alloy boat as a trolling motor and to get back to the boat ramp when the throttle link on the old outboard came loose. In this case, it probably achieved around 5kph/3mph.
I originally bought the 3.3 to power a Portabote (The worst purchasing mistake I've ever made), but it now gets used for various small boats as needed.
While range is not a problem when you are out for a day's fishing or hunting, it does become an issue when you are camped by the water for several days. It is much easier to carry spare fuel for the 2-stroke, rather than solar panels, generator, or heavy spare battery for the electric. I generally carry both, then use the 2-stroke for general running around and switch to electric when it's time to get sneaky.
Great comparison. Operating cost per mile probably favors the Minn Kota at slower speeds. Confidence in starting also favors Minn Kota.
Gas best for people dealing with current and wind and longer distances requiring more speed.
There is some infrequent maintenance on a trolling motor. Eventually you will need to do brushes and in my experience I had to open and clean up the armature. Actually just had my Minn Kota 45 quit randomly on me last weekend because of this. In the future I think I will do this each spring. My motor sees hundreds of hours each year which may be more or less than others so take that into consideration.
I think most of this discussion is dependent on where you go. I used to have a canoe with trolling motor and I was very limited what days I could go out on due to the wind. They just lack the power for any lake with a long draw. My choice in my Jonboat is to have 3 forms of power. Gas, trolling motor and also oars. I've had too many equipment issues to ever go out without at least 2 of these.
Nice job but you need to factor in the weight of the battery when doing comparison to outboard
And the weight of the gas
@@Daniel-qj3tp the battery weighs more than the gas engine full
@@johncuervo3019 depending on the battery. Lithium is pretty light. ( assuming you carry extra gas in a can)
@@Voxguitarsrock also very expensive
@@Voxguitarsrocka 12v 100ah lithium battery is about 25 lbs. A 1 gal tank of gas is 6lbs. A 55lb thrust trolling motor is 20lbs, give or take a few lbs for different sizes. The mercury 2.5hp is about 38lbs. Either way you slice it its the same weight for either option, you will have a lot more range with a gas engine though.
Well, I always take one of each... it insures against any technical problems, eliminates range anxiety when driving home into a headwind, and they are both light enough to swap out onto the transom while on the water. My IC is a 3.5hp Johnson, it only weighs 14kg, so not much more than my Watersnake electric (less it's 40kg SLA battery of course)
Another negative with the electric that I've found after a few years of use is the prop gets weeded up more easily than the IC, the battery is a pain to load in and out as it needs two hands, a strong back and careful placement, in an aluminum boat you really don't want it tipping over, it also requires ongoing maintenance with charge state and storage especially out of season and they all still degrade over time, replacement cost for a battery far exceeds a water pump kit and a few spoonfulls of gear oil every now and then.
I still like both equally and would recommend anyone to have at least one of each for the above reasons.
cheers.
Good Commentary Wayne, after several years of frustration with an older 90 hp Mercury, I sold that boat and downsized to a smaller boat, principally set up to be electric, two motors, two batteries, very simple setup. I love the quietness of the electric motors, both together, will push my boat at over 6 mph, after going to the Chattahoochee River trout fishing, I came to the conclusion a bit more oomph was needed to handle river current, I found a 5 hp 4 stroke engine on Marketplace for cheap, did a bit of maintenance to it , and had it to navigate larger bodies of water as well as rivers, with my setup , I can swap the rear trolling motor out with the gas engine literally in 2 minutes, so swapping or getting my boat ready for whichever terrain it's covering is very quick and simple. There are pros and cons to boat propulsion, but for general fishing, I really like the quietness and efficiency of my electric drive(s), My rear motor is a 55 lb thrust, my front motor is a foot controlled 45 lb thrust, both work well independently or together. Keep up the good work. Enjoy your posts.
When i fished fresh water back in Maryland i used a trolling motor. They had very specific laws and restrictions on small lakes and enforced them with guns if needed. My motor was a fairly large electric motor and i ran 2 batteries.
Perfect apples-to-apples comparison, something I'm considering at the moment. My boat is a small inflatable dinghy, weighs less than yours. Should be able to handle that Minn-Kota with some extra oomph. Great idea at a great price.
Gas will be better on a windy day.
I loved this video! I think that what often is overlooked is the demands for boat size and use. My wife and friends all are avid kayakers. At over 6'2" and 255lb, and after having been in a horrible auto collision, a kayak is not something I care to do that much. They are making cheaper, better kayaks that are made for bigger guys and that can handle a transom mount trolling motor. I'll probably do that. Of course, I will still need a regular boat for most of the fishing I love to do out in the rivers and bays. I've had gators bump my boat, and I've been in 3-5ft. waves out in the bay. Hooking into a 6-8 ft. shark can also be troubling when operating out of a small boat in choppy waters. I see kayakers do it, and I also see where many either die or almost die in the process. The same for guys in a Jon boat. In many areas here, a Jon boat and a kayak are practically just as lethal a choice as the other. Anything less than a 21 ft. boat is putting your life at risk. Even then, hull matters (which I hope you will do an updated video on soon). With such a larger boat, a heavier-powered gas outboard (25 hp or higher) is really the only viable option. Naturally, a trolling motor will also be preferable for staying in location or moving stealthily to new spots. The only issue here with that is we have a lot of brackish water. So, corrosion will be a huge problem to constantly fight.
This is the 2nd useful boat video where I accidentally stumbled upon with you as the host! I always click like, but this time was a sign for me to subscribe. Great videos. Thanks!
Nicely produced! You have come such a long way since the begginings
I appreciate that! Thank you ❤️
I don't know if this will ever be seen, but I've had 2 Minn Kota 30lb thrust that both seized and got destroyed within 4-5 seasons (northeast so don't use them all year round). Vs my honda air cooled 2 hp engine from 2005 or 2006 still runs great with no issues. Granted there's no doubt about it an electric motor is super quiet and perfect for a small boat, I will still be using my honda.
That's interesting - thanks for sharing!
I've had a minn kota 28lbs for 15 years with no problems. I use it with a car battery and it has never let me down. Maybe you had bad luck with yours or Ive gotten lucky with mine who knows.
Something I do with my electric that can prevent seizure is to carefully cool the motor on hot days prior to just plonking it in the water. I do it by lowering it so the prop remains out of the water for a few minutes until the motor body is cold. If the motor is hot from being in the sun, the sudden cooling contracts the air inside the motor casing and can pull water through the shaft seal and once it's inside the damage is done.
I also keep a bin filled with fresh water and a dash of white oil mixed in. After every outing the electric gets dunked and run for a few seconds to clean salt and sand from behind the prop, and everywhere else. My anode is still in pristine condition after two years.
Some great points here Wayne, thank you! I got my first jon boat this year, and all I could afford for a motor was the minn kota 30lb. I assumed I would get a gas motor at some point, but after a summer with the electric, I don't think I ever will need it. Very much looking forward to the lack of winterized maintenance for the electric too!
That's very cool!
I had the opposite scenario. After doing a trolling motor in my lil jon boat, I knew I needed gas.
A nice comparison video... Id like to add some things people may want to concider before making a choice on gas vs electric trollers. One has to understand the waters in which they wish to boat or fish lets say. If your water has a current, even a mild one your driving against.... the electric will probably be underpowered and drain the battery a lot quicker. Gas would definitely hold more thrust or force to push the boat forward. On a glass, still bodied lake its different. Also if theres a bit of a chop in the water...again the electric may not fair as well. My 2 cents is, main motor gas... supplemental electric. If traveling on gas restricted lakes, obviously then go electric...always have 2 batteries min...1 as a backup, also look into portable soft solar panels you can use with your electric in case ur unexpectedly running on low juice.... ✌ happy and safe boating
Thanks for your observations. I plan to purchase a square stern canoe and use it in Ozark streams. Based on your comments, it would appear that the gas outboard is the better option, in order to handle situations when I might be going upstream against a current.
Great comparison video! There are a few maintenence things for a trolling motor if you go through some weeds with it, but there is a lot more maintenence when it comes to a gas motor. For duck hunters that go through rice and pencil reeds, a trolling motor without decent thrust turns into a paperweight fairly quick.
I bought 2 Newport 62 lb thrust motors to give me a dual motor setup on my Tritoon Dock I am building.
Just to motor around my 1/2 mile long lake.
I'll use PWM DC Motor Speed Controllers to optimize the flow of current to the Trolling Motors. I will rig up a wheel steering setup attached to both motors. Ill be very pleased if I get 5mph out of this arrangement.
16"w x 24"h x 16'L Pontoons are made of EPS foam coated with Truck Bed Liner. Super light weight.
Each motor will have a 100ah 12v glass matt solar battery for power. Fun project.
A very good comparison, Wayne. For what it is worth, I have a brand new Suzuki 2.5 Hp 4 stroke on my 19 ft sailboat. At 1/2 speed it zooms me long faster than I like (or need) as I am enjoying river scenery! At 1/2 throttle the long shaft model is very quiet...and I actually have come to thoroughly enjoy powering along with such a nice piece of machinery running next to me! That is one category you didn't compare!!
Yeah those two motors were the ones had at the time. I hope to play with a small 4 stroke in the future!
Very good, very clever and well documented.
I've noticed that a lot of guys use both. They get to their destination with their old two strokes and then troll with the electric. Two stokes last and last, but tolling is tough on them and over time their carbs start showing cracks and they just don't troll right any more.
Yeah it is useful having options!
that,s the way to go!
Nice video.
I think both electric and gas motors have their place. If I'm on a small lake fishing then I prefer a quiet electric motor, but, if I'm on a river with a possible strong current I prefer the power and speed of my 3 hp Sears GameFisher gas motor, but, I would still take along my Newport 62 lb thrust electric motor and a good high capacity marine battery as extra insurance. I don't mind the extra steps to start my Air cooled 2 stroke GameFisher as it's never failed to start in the 25 or so years that I've owned it. Plus, there's no impeller to deal with since it's air cooled.
I have a 12' Jon boat and picked up one of those Chinese made 2 strokes that you see all over Ebay for cheap money. It was a pain to learn it's intricate procedures needed for starting, like pulling the start rope. You have to first pull it out about a foot and then pull it to start. That's why so many have broken off. But the deal killer for me was the noise. You're absolutely correct, they are deafening! But I've done a lot of work to the boat and trailer and plan to keep them so I broke down and bought a 6hp 4 stroke Tohatsu motor and running this boat is now a pleasure! I found myself using my trolling motor more than the outboard with the 2 stroke, even for longer moves on the water. But now I only use it for it's intended purpose. It should be mentioned too that all of the 12' boats I've ever seen have been rated for 6hp max. I know that people run larger outboards all of the time with no problems but the risk is always there. Besides, that 6hp motor moves this boat up and down this river I fish on just fine. I don't need to move any faster with the hazards below the surface which washed down in the last flood event that pose a hazard to my prop. Good video!
Thanks for you comments and input!!! I have often been tempted by those cheap motors but reminders like yours are valuable!
Yrs ago sears sold a 2 horse eska had no reverse you spun it around what a $150 turd.
Putting a motor on bigger than rating isn't an issue unless you make a big jump. And usually people beef up the transom. I thought about putting a 90 on my 16 foot boat but decided not to. Fuel costs are going way up so that killed that idea quick. I'm going to stay in the 40hp range. Better fuel economy compared to a larger motor. But also enough speed to get somewhere fast...... like a bathroom lol. I know every location a bathroom or outhouse is on my Lake 🤣
I have a 14ft Jon boat and I have both a Tohatsu 6hp and a minn kota 45 it’s a good combo gas gets you where and trolling quietly while you fish plus if one fails you have a backup to get you back or at least to shore, also I keep two paddles
me too, the way to go
Just picked up my first boat a 12 foot v haul aluminum super excited to get an engine and motor for it
I'd say gas for getting where you want to go, trolling motor for maneuvering once you're there. However, as you said, with that size gas engine, you're not going to be going any great distances anyway. The only disadvantage I can see is the extra weight of the marine grade trolling motor battery. They can be quite heavy. Still, having two modes of propulsion in a large body of water would definitely make me feel more secure when they both have a somewhat limited range.
Just what I needed right now. Perfect, thank you!
Agree 100%. I have owned a Minn Kota riptide for many years and has been super reliable. My Torqueedo has had many problems. My Mercury has also been reliable. I use lipo batteries that I have recycled from scooter batteries. Light weight and they go forever.
Problems with a Torqeedo - that's a bummer.
@@WayneTheBoatGuyThese are some of my Torqueedo problems. When the shear pin sheared ( corroded out ) you could not undo the propeller nut because the shaft turned and there was no way to hold it. I put a screw driver slot in the shaft to fix this problem. Then I tilted the motor while I attended other things, the outbound rotated ,due to the battery weight and broke the tiller. I have glued and bolted this together again. The battery charger failed. Replaced with a cheap Chinese 12 volt power supply. Then I was checking out the motor before another outing and the skeg was broken off. The propellor was good and I did not run into anything and no sign of the skeg. This is the only outboard I have had problems with . It cost 6 times more than the Minn Kota Riptide and is 1/2 the motor.
I've had both small outboard and trolling motor. Trolling motor wins hands down. Clean and quiet.
Considering your Minn Kota is less than a 1.5 hp motor your performance is about half the 2.5 hp Merc's as one might expect.
My Newport 62 lb thrust L series is rated as a 1.5 hp motor.
Range is not even vaguely similar. You can carry a lot of gas, both in the sense of storing it, and in physically moving it. If you tie up on a dock with a electrical, or always cycle your trailer back to the house, electric can be OK. Only source of electrical for me is carrying a very heavy battery up beach/steep rocky section, not fun at all compared to a gas can. I am in if there is a workable way of using solar/electric, even if it is slow. But the cost of systems I have seen even from economical providers like Devlin, is house money. Some boats will actually work OK with decent sunlight and no battery augmentation.
The famous yacht designer Nigel Irens made a breakthrough in motor boat low speed high efficiency, and he said that you are better off with gas, as the weight of comparable batteries during the trailering phase was not overall credibly efficient. Noticed that recently he seems to be focused on electrics, it is what the rich people think they want.
I don't get small motors. I see people running their dinghies, and they seem silent. You buy a new 4 stroke, they tell you how quiet they are. Any I have bought are really loud. Maybe some of those yacht motors like seagulls are quiet... electric is a clear winner on this count.
Cost of a motor based on miracle american second hand deals is bogus. it needs to be a deal anyone can get pretty much any time.
Overall, I don't think they are comparable at this point. There is a reason why we have a trolling category, and an moving category.
I ran a 1.5hp all last year. And luckily the only cost I had I to it was a total of 2 full 2.5 gallon gas cans worth of gas and 2 qt of 2 stroke oil. In the season aside from some tinkering to adjust to get it running smoother I ran the same plug all season. It topped out at 3mph.
I also had a 38lb thrust trolling motor. And a battery. Over the season the switch for forward and reverse overheated and melted twice leaving me to use a paddle. And after the second time the switch burnt out I wired it always on and forward. According to gps I barely broke 1mph and the trolling motor could not fight the current.
Honestly in my area I've seen more trolling motors on marketplace and craigslist with burnt out electronics in a single season its ridiculous. It could be all the tall weeds and shallow waterways here in Wisconsin or could be alot of poor quality control coming to the Midwest. I picked up 2 used trolling motors to try and make 1 good one but seems like the same parts seem to get fried.
This year I picked up a used cheap endura that should work and a 1960s evenrude 18hp. While speed and range may not be important to some. When it is several miles from the landing to the fishing spot and the 1.5hp takes about half hour to travel a mile if you do local fishing tournament and derbies you don't want to take forever to get where you are going 😉.
I will be using that endura 55lb to access a couple local lakes that are electric only. And they are big lakes.
Another thing to remember: "all day" is relitive and can vary from person to person. It may mean 3 to 6 hours. Or it may mean sun up to sun down like it does for me. If I plan to go fishing "all day", my boat is going in the water at dawn and I may not get back to the landing until after midnight.
It's always nice to hear other people's experiences! Hopefully that 55 trolling motor holds up better for you than those other ones did!
Well done comparison.
Great content. I think you might consider cost as a category the electric motor wins.
You bought the outboard used, not new. Plus charging and maintenance costs clearly got to trolling motor.
Great comparison-well done
Really well made video. Learnt a thing or two as well. Thanks
Thank you and thanks for watching!!!
nice segment. i know this is a little dated but....i've been looking at small motors for my side mount on my canoe. i have a 55 pound thrust and worry about distance. i used to have a 4 hp mercury with an external tank on my Jon boat and loved it. No small motors, that i could find, come with an auxiliary tank hook up. i watched your other videos on motors under a thousand bucks. i was looking at the Suzuki 2.5. they dont have the one you showcased but its very similar and cheaper at just under $700. most of my running is in the Patuxant up and down the river. thanks for the video.
A jittle idea for you.... it's a good idea to carry a little kit with you, with a bottle of rubbing alcahol,a wrench for the spark plug, (most motors come with a wrench), an old tooth brush, and a small cheap set of feeler guages, a small thin file to touch up plugs along with a little tool for adjusting the gap-and a spare plug or two for the chance you should foul a plug-the small bottles of alky often are the perfect size neck for the end of the plug,put the plug in, give it a few shakes, brush off any fouling,use lung power to blow off any remaing alky-and you should be good to go.That Merc. looks a lot like a little 2 hp Arctic Spirit (A Suzuki under the paint-from the 1970's) perhaps the design was sold when Suzi switched over to 4 strokes,almost never fouled a plug but the kit was good for peace of mind when miles from anyone-the motor has a little rubber brackit with slots for a shear pin, and as I recall a plug-though a hand full of pins, and a couple plugs doesn't hurt anything-dropping a plug into the drink at the worst possible moment is not entirely out of the question ....kit is also handy when camping way out in the wilds just to maintain the plug from time to time when sitting around.-that little motor is stone reliable,will plane a boat the size of yours(if hou make a tiller extension to move a bit forward your and a stick to work the throttle-my Auzi will run slow for along time with nary a hiccup.
it seems like the weight comparison did not include the weight of the battery? That adds another 40 - 60 pounds to the Minn Kota. Unless you use a Lithium battery then the cost comparison gets tilted towards the Mercury. That said it was a great discussion and comparison to highlight the pros and cons of both solutions. I've had both and I can say either solution benefits from a paddle or oars in the boat because sooner or later a battery will die or an outboard will not start...
WE have 3 different gas outbaords and 3 electrics. They all suit a particular purpose. We fish a lot of small ponds that no one else bothers with. The electrics are excellant for that. We like our Minkota 30 and our Motorguide 55. But last year I purchased a 32lb thrust Greenworks. It takes a 40v battery that fits right into the head of the motor. A spare battery fits in my tackle bag, but I haven't needed it yet. Mind you we are mostly trolling with just a few faster dashes to spots. This is about the best, most portable set up I"ve come across for small waters?portaging in to spots. Bonus is they also make a huge assortment of tools and yard care equipment that use the same batteries. I think these motors were also sold under the Shakespear name?
Very good video on small motors. Thank you for sharing.
Keep it up you do great informative videos. Thanks
You talked about the weight. With the eletric motor the weight is separated between the battery and motor and the gas is all together so that could make a difference. Also some small lakes prohibit gas engine only electric motors are allowed. I like to fish and the slower electric motor I drop in a couple of baits and drag or troll behind. I've caught some big bass doing this getting to my intended fishing hole. The electric is quite and you can slip in and out of bank poles or drop lines and not disturb the fish. I've rebaited drop lines and not even got to the next line before catching a fish on the reset line
GREAT VIDEO. I have an old gas motor but the gas tank holds about a quart. That means refueling many times. I can't hook up a gas line. So I use the trolling motor. IT'S A LEARNING EXPERIENCE.
,
Thankyou for the advice. I just bought a intex challenger 3 dingy and will be fitting an outboard engine to it but wasn’t sure to get either the electric or gas.
After watching this. I think the electric will be best.
Good video. Thanks for posting. I was wondering about this myself and you've convinced me to sell my 6 hp Johnson and go electric.
Even my Minn Kota 30lb c2 can get my Intex Mariner4 to 3mph with 2 adults and 100lb equipment. I'd say it's enough for most small lakes and calm rivers.
I’ve been toying with the idea of getting a small electric outboard for my little dinghy.
When comparing the weight, is that counting the battery weight?
No it is not.
Great comparison, thanks'.
just to confuse the issue, what about connecting the trolling motor to a small generator. my little camping generator runs for hours on a full tank and has 12v take of. it's a lot lighter than my leisure batteries. just a thought.
Most generators output 8 amps max from their low voltage port, trolling motors typically use 12 to 36 amps depending on the size and speed setting. It could do a good job of extending range, but you'd still need the battery, fuel, and you then get the noise back, boat hulls magnify sound so well.
Boaters use both; the gas is to get to the destination quickly, while the trolling motor is used to sneak up on fish and catch them.
Good video point dexter
I want both except a 4stroke on the gasser..we troll for crappie and with a 4stroker we can use either for the very slow trolling we do...
Both is good!
I know a guy that had a bigger john boat with a bigger motor and he also put a small motor on just for trolling for crappie because the noise caught more fish because crappie are curious fish! He ran with about 8 rods and he would slay crappie. I don't know if it is true, but my dad ran an electric trolling motor and caught less fish (but still caught fish).
Good job thanks buddy
G'day. 12 years ago i started using an 55 pound electric trolling motor on my inflateable tender. ran to shore & back to my yacht. fantastic. My new yacht is 24 ft & and i will be changing out the inboard diesial to an electric outboard as i want to get away from gas and all i need then is solar to recharge the batteries.
Gerard.
Well done i haven’t missed 1 of your videos I haven’t been in you tube long.
Thank you
Thanks sir for this video
Good video,
There is also the scenario of an off-grid cottage where recharging batteries is not an option, but there are always gas pumps nearby in North America.
But an off-grid cottage would also be a good place for solar panels to recharge batteries
It depends on where you’re going also. When I go on reservoirs around me, I’m obligated to use only electric. So I have an electric and a gas powered motor. I like that lil 2.5 hp Mercury though. It would take some getting used to because of not being able to go to idle or reverse. It’s basically a little lawnmower engine but for a boat. I love the sound of them running though. When I was a child my Grandfather and I used to race across Lake Erie with his Mercury running wide open. You had to have your hat on tight or you’d lose it lol
I learned same .I have 3hp old Evinrude ,Fun motor ,runs good But for fishing I like My trolling motor better . Lot because of noise and at end of year don t need winterize. No running to gas station mixing gas...
When talking about weight, it's fair to take the battery in equation also.
Loved the video! My question is why is the electric one so long? Thnx!
This one is longer than some - probably for a sailboat - I bought it used.
I was thinking of getting the Sun dolphin sportsman 14 ss canoe and have seen videos of putting bigger motors on smaller boats and figured I can prob put a 2.5 hp motor on it instead of the trolling motor,
Oh and I did buy my first kayaks and they were great but I'm gonna switch them out for foldable kayaks which I didn't know where a thing.
Noise should be a heavier weighted factor as I've been told that when you enter a fishing area with a gas engine, the fish need an hour to calm down.
I reckon it would be less than 15 minutes with an electronic motor.
Fish only have a fifteen second memory. So I've heard
@@kennethseibert5711 I believe that, but possibly the physiological effects (raised heart rate, nervous system, etc) of the stress may last longer than their memory.
So much easier to use a trolling motor! And reliable too. Don’t have to worry about maintenance. I have the minkota 30 and it’s enough for my mariner 4 when I stay within half mile to 1 mile of shore (yes the ocean)However I’m upgrading to a larger troller like yours! Great idea! And the battery I use is the larger rv battery Costco sells for about 100 bucks. With my 30lb thrust minkota I am out there for 4-5 hours and still about the same thrust and pretty much full power! Curious to see what happens when I upgrade to 50 or more thrust. Will be taking two larger rv or marine batts just in case
What is the name and specs for that Costco RV battery?
I own a 6hp evinrude outboard (1969) and it is the best trolling motor I’ve ever owned. It has a 6 gallon tank and you can fish for days. Fuel consumption is good and it’s never failed me. It’s unfortunate that all this “save the planet crap” has made these outboards obsolete. This one is over 50 years old and works like new.
Why is the handle so high up for the Kota? Thank you for a good video and knowledge
I bought it used and it’s a long shaft. You can buy shorter shaft versions - this one probably well suited to sailboats and other tall- transom boats.
To add my .02 to range, solar is a game changer for my trips. I have about 60AH of LiFepo4 batteries and 250W of solar panels for my 36lb thrust trolling motor, all on a kayak, and I typically go on 20-40 mile excursions on the weekends. I make sure the panels are set up for the morning sun before passing out, and usually have everything charged by noon if i competely toasted the batts.
If you like the trolling motor you might want to check out those 3 blade props I put one on my 45 pound thrush minkota
Name of prop is kipawa
Yeah I’m curious to try one!
what about the battery for the minn kota? Is it heavy? how much time would it last? Is there a feature on it that indicates battery life?
Can electric motor go in salt water?
Some can - this one is made for salt water
@@WayneTheBoatGuy thanks
First of all, your production quality on the video is excellent! You present your arguments well and the staging of all the shots was great.
However, your range calculation was not very accurate. When comparing the "fuel" density for both options, a 50 or 60 pound deep-cycle, lead-acid battery gives you a fuel source that should last all day for the electric trolling motor but just 10 pounds of gas for the outboard will last much longer. This is particularly true if measured in number of miles covered. Also, if your battery goes dead and you didn't bring another with you, your trip back to the launch ramp is going to take a while. If your small on-board tank goes empty, the weight of a 1-gallon gas can is a tiny fraction of what a spare battery weighs. I do agree that if you're going to have a gas outboard, it should be something large enough to really move the boat.
Very good points! Mostly my thoughts when I made this were along the lines of how people typically might use these particular small & slow motors - short trip, not needing much speed. If I had a decent distance to travel, I would probably want to go more than 6 or 7 mph and a spare gas tank is much more reasonable than multiple batteries.
I troll with a 12 ft fiberglass with a 2.5 Honda 4 stroke.....I Bring 2 250 ml chainsaw fuel bottles......makes fillup way easier and less messy and a bottle fills the tank
Depends on the variables course and battery, but what do you reckon would be the approximate continuous running time for an electric motor?
Hi Wayne...
nice comparison...
I have coupled a "troy built "4 stroke engine (grass cutter)
to a "tanaka" (old japanese boat engine )for a total weight of 12lbs with a full tank(.6litre)🤣 and a 4 hours autonomy with a full tank. reaching a speed of 12kmh
(7mph)..😉
the price of the new engine ($125) that I put that on my inflatable 10ft.1/2 a lot of fun and nice fishing for cheap
in comparison with Minn Kota... I have a greater autonomy with 5litres of gas than electric... (comparison with a friend who rides with Minn Kota 2 batteries same boat) to have the same equivalent when I go to the sturgeon on the St Lawrence river...
That sounds like a nifty rig you built! Yeah if you're travelling farther, a gas motor is certainly more capable because you don't have to buy, charge and store a few extra (heavy) batteries.
Hey Wayne. Could you do a post on propeller selection, pitch, cup, diameter, etc? Thanks I enjoy your posts. BTW Impellors are just rubber. They take a set, dry rot and fail. A few minutes and smoke!
The river we boat on is considered the most trechorous in the Netherlands and would stop any vessel with any electric trawling motor going up stream(strong constantly changing and swirling currents and often similar winds above creating very choppy waters, heavy barges and busy recreation boats also thrown in the mix. On a 8 ft Jon boat you already need a 3.5 hp engine at least to make any headway. So a trawling motor would drain the battery very fast and that turns it into dead weight, witch has to be pushed along while losing power. Gasoline gets burnt, less weight to move. I like maintenance it keeps you on your toes. It also means if something would fail it can be fixed. When electronics fail you create e-waste and replacing lead acid batteries is not good for the environment. You can always run Aspen fuel, that's 99% cleaner compared to pump fuel. I run that in my yard equipment like leafblower etc.
I've never heard of Aspen fuel - but you make some really good points with regards to stronger currents. It would be interesting to see how a stronger E motor like a Torqueedo or ePropulsion would do in that environment because it sounds like they would have to work pretty hard which would have a big impact on battery life.
Each tool for the function it was designed. For fishing and trolling use the Minkota, for running and pushing against currents get the Mercury. Recharging a battery takes hours while refueling gasoline takes just minutes.
I just bought a 12' jon boat with a 30lb thrust motor. I did a lot of research on batteries and decided to get a 3.5hp gas motor, and put the electric on my kayak. Good batteries, as per the ratings I saw. cost as much as a small gas motor, especially if you have to carry two of them. I moved to Citrus County Florida - nothing but lakes, rivers and swampy estuaries, so I don't want to limit my range. If you go electric, a headwind an/or moderately strong current can stop you in your tracks - especially if you're only packing 30 lbs of thrust. Also, not mentioned - a Battery Charge Gauge, like a gas gauge in your car.
IMHO, a small electric is fine for an "On Golden Pond" scenario, but too limited for me.
The only electric options that theoretically compete with a 3.5 hp gas motor are the ones from Torqeedo and ePropulsion - but they cost over 2x as much.
Twin minn kotas,with model airplane props are surprisingly fast
Does the weight comparison include the battery for the trolling?
No - just what they weigh as I am hanging them on the boat.
Ha! This is exactly what I was wondering!! Nicely done! Have you tried a dual trolling set up? What kind of comparisons could you make there?
Thanks - I do have some more things planned!
This year I'm using both. No Paddling is the goal.
Me too!
Fun I love boating
i use a trolling motor with a 1ooah lithium at 7lb and i have a agm at 70lbs i get about 10 miles outta each, had 2 agms but now 2 lithium's. just got a 9.8 mercury and yeah i can now reach new spots but your right about the 2 hp
Storage is something to consider. I didn't have a garage so I had to drain the gas in order to store the gas motor in my apartment closet. Even stored inside a plastic bag I felt there was a gas odor in the room. I have a small 10' punt so I would consider an electric motor. Thanks for the video
While you could take an extra battery, that's around 50 to 60 pounds of extra weight. For gas, a gallon of gas weighs around 8 pounds. Small boats do have weight limits so this could impact how much you can carry.
Well yes, but you could also take the discussion one step further. Because instead of a second battery, you could bring a solar panel for the electric outboard. And fairly simple solar panels can in fact charge for more than the trolling motor would use to propel itself while trolling.
If you had a solar panel, a trolling motor and a couple of batteries at a remote cabin or lake, that could last you for daily trips every day for years.
@@Black-March It depends on how hard you want to drive the electric motor. At slow speeds, many draw around 10 amps at 12 volts. That would be two 100 watt panels at around 15 pounds each. At medium speeds, the current draw increases to 20 amps at 12 volts or 4 panels for a total of 60 pounds; not counting mounting hardware. At top speeds, it takes 6 panels and would weigh 90 pounds + mounting hardware. However, on an overcast day, the current from the 6 panels won't even turn the motor.
@@BobDiaz123 Power usage increases significantly with speed though, using the ePropulsion Spirit Plus outboard as an example, at 2.2 mph you use 35w, at 2.7 65w and at 3.5mph its 125. A guy who lives near I do has a single 100w panel which is enough to take him out in the boat fishing every day for a month straight during the summer. That's 5 lbs.
Where can one find this boat?
I think there is a huge difference between these two types of motors and this is not an apples to apples comparison at all.
While I agree about the ease of use and convenience of electric motors, there is a gigantic difference in performance and range. I own only electric myself.
I have a few Sea Eagle Paddleski inflatable boats. They are a hybrid of a kayak/motorboat and sailboat and resemble a very narrow Zodiac. I had a Minn Kota 30 trolling motor I used for a couple years. While that is fine if you just want to go a short distance at slow speeds on a calm day, it's not fine if the wind kicks up pretty good on the bay/large lake or in currents. I tested that motor to the max on 100-150 adventures with it. More than a handful of times, I almost got stuck and unable to make it back. Especially when the boat was weighted down with 2 passengers. Sometimes I'd go from the cove into the bay and without notice the wind would get so strong, I'd struggle to get back. One time pulling the boat on the shore back into the cove lucky there was a shoreline. I've been against currents I didn't expect and they were just too much, and also that it would take full speed to get through them and quickly kill the battery if I was more than a mile or too.
I spoke to Minn Kota about getting a 55 lbs thrust motor instead which is the largest you can generally get with a single 12v battery. They said.....don't bother. It would be a minimal speed increase & power and not make a worthwhile difference. Watching countless videos seems to agree. So I ended up splurging for a Torqeedo 1003 lithium motor which I love, but they are very expensive.
Even over my Torqeedo, which the 915 batteries I believe would give much greater range than a standard 12v deep cycle trolling battery (although larger lithium ones are now more available for several hundred dollars than 10 years ago) a 2.5 gas motor will provide much greater range especially if you bring a spare tank of gas, which unlike a lithium boat battery ($1000 for the Torqeedo) we can all afford that. Even without a spare tank of gas, a small gas motor will provide much greater range than most any electric motor battery. I'd like to get a 2.5 or 3 HP motor too when I want greater range for some locations I'm unable to visit due to range. Mostly going at slower speeds, I have about a 10 mile range with the Torqeedo 915 battery. if it's reasonably calm Who's to say a small boat wouldn't ever want to go further? I don't fish, all sight seeing. That said a friend of mine bought a new 2.5 HP Yamaha motor last year, and it's been nothing but unreliable. Unsure if it's operator error or a lemon. An electric motor is unquestionably easier to operate. I was hoping his motor would be reliable so we could visit some locations we can't using my boat and his motor.
A small light solar blanket and charge controller makes a huge difference if you're running trolling motor for a weekender. 2 batteries and a solar charging setup and your range anxiety stars to fade pretty fast.
for weight what the battery?
True - we wouldn't be able to go anywhere without some kind of battery for the trolling motor!
You also need to put fuel in to run the engine which ads weight.
How did you come up with them costs?
They were both purchased used.
Something I do is put a solar panel on the bow of the boat and connect it to a cheap charge controller in the battery box. It powered my 62lb thrust trolling motor enough we could go out in the 18' boat for the day for free as long as the sun was shining
Which one will function after an EMP in a Grid Down situation?
I’ll paddle my kayak!
as long as you have fuel you can go all day, I had a 2.5 hp 4 stroke merc (tohatsu) and carried a 1 gal tank .
Hi Wayne nice comparison, you kept it basic including the key points which are enough to convince me the electric motor is a better option. So in my mind I expanded your chart to include handling fuel, especially the 2 cycle mixed fuel which comes with a greater down side. There also is the lower case lube oil to deal with. If any of these liquids spill you have a dangerous and serious mess to clean up. On the electric side you have a large battery which can be a heavy and hazardous item if things go wrong. Other than keeping the boat afloat the propulsion system is next critical item. On the upside to electric motors I had the good experience using one on a 16’ sailboat of about 1500# that worked amazingly well. Every bit as good as a 3 hp long shaft outboard. Electrics obviously are the future of boat propulsion in many cases. Thanks for doing this comparison.
You're welcome!
You fail to factor in usage as in how much "power" you run. Going electric you have to know the range on your particular boat with what you have for batteries. Full throttle the trolling motor until it dies. That's your "minimum" range. Then do it again at a cruising speed. Gives you greater idea how much time on water and distance you can go. Relying on electric only has its risks. Especially if your moving around from spot to spot between travel. Gas will always be the better option. Until they improve on electric and the battery costs. The gear oil change is once a year. Usually at the end of the season. It's not a big hassle. Handling fuel isn't a downside. It's quite simple. If your too lazy to mix gas and oil probably shouldn't be on a boat. Most likely you will forget the plug as well. Hands down gas has greater range and economy compared to electric. The rule of thumb for any type of propulsion is 1/3 there 1/3 back and 1/3 for emergency. Meaning using only 1/3 of your fuel or electricity to get where your going. 1/3 for the return trip and the rest for oh crap moments or moving from spot to spot. Weight is a big factor. Battery weight is horrible with lead acid or agm. Much less weight with a 5 gallon tank of gas to keep your motor topped up than even one battery. My 80ah battery (deep cycle is a must as car batteries are not designed to be drawn down/cycled. Wich reduces life of battery and can fail when out on the water.) Weighs over 65 lbs. The more weight in the boat the more reserve you will need battery wise. Weight reduces speed and range. The other downside to batteries is charge time. They don't just magically charge quick like a battery for a handheld power tool.
I feel you misrepresented the trolling motor on weight, as you should have factored in battery weight as well, which when compared to some smaller boats in the 200 lb weight, 2 group 31's and a minnkota endura max you are pushing 150 lbs. Don't get me wrong this is my current setup and aside from moving the batteries (loading in bed, not a trailer) every time I move the boat its great, but comparing that vs a 50 or 60 lb 4 stroke (referring to new units) is quite a savings on weight, and an extra gallon of gas is what, 6 lbs?
Using a trolling motor as a main engine wont the battery die after a few hours ? Forgive me if its a dumb question im new just trying to learn
Yes a single battery doesn’t last long
So I have a Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke , is that as loud as a two stroke? Also the assembly of an electric with the parts and plugs is not as easy as my 4 stroke just attach to transom and let er rip! I also have no charge down time, just keep gassing and going🎉
Hello Wayne, my wife and I are retired and will be buying a 20 or 22 foot outboard boat for pleasure boating with the 2 dogs. I am looking for safety if the outboard dies and want to get back to the dock, do you thing that a battery operated is my solution. I'm not looking for speed, just want to get back home. Gil
I have both for my canoe , I take my electric fishing and yes I can troll all day with it but that is not the same as when I need to get someplace !! My little gas engine I take when I go hunting and need to get multiple places in as fast a time as I can. So for me and my lifestyle I need both for different things.