Trolling Motor Woes

[Dougfirtree]

Hey all,

Are any of you proficient in fixing trolling motors? I'm getting frustrated with the pattern I'm in with my Minn Kotas. It seems like I get a new one, after about two years, It stops working and I open up the inside of the motor housing and it's full of rusty water. I've tried bringing them to a repair shop, but it seems like you end up paying at least 150 bucks to fix a 250 dollar trolling motor, if it even works. So I get a new one and then it's dying a couple of years later.
Have any of you had good luck fixing them yourselves? Any advice? Other brands I should look at? I don't want to buy a new motor every two years...

 

[D4570]

I'm guessing the first thing is I have never paid $250 for a trolling motor.
I got a 36V Minn Kota back in '03 and have never had a problem. It's mounted on the front of the Hewescraft.
It's remote. But I take it off every day and keep it dry even when we run "OUT" and "IN" I take it off to keep things proper.
BUT you would need to add another 0 to the price.

 

[Scott85]

Try going with a motor guide.

 

[mplane72]

Never had such a problem. Always use minnkotas and have two with over 15 years on them still going strong. Do you leave your motor out and in the water all the time?

 

[fachries]

I'm guessing the first thing is I have never paid $250 for a trolling motor.
I got a 36V Minn Kota back in '03 and have never had a problem. It's mounted on the front of the Hewescraft.
It's remote. But I take it off every day and keep it dry even when we run "OUT" and "IN" I take it off to keep things proper.
BUT you would need to add another 0 to the price.

+1

 

[Bulldog0156]

I didn't know they still made trolling motors that cheap. Have you found fishing line wrapped around the prop or anything that would lead to blown seals?

 

[JEL]

I didn't know they still made trolling motors that cheap. Have you found fishing line wrapped around the prop or anything that would lead to blown seals?

Sure they do. The basic 55 lb thrust is $305 at Walmart.

Robot or human?

I have had 2 of these over the course of 30 years that push along my coleman canoe. They work well for me and I have never really had any problems. Just take them out of the water and store inside when not in use.

 

[Dougfirtree]

Hmmm... I may need to be more careful about storing the motor out of the weather.

 

[mdeerjunkie]

I always store mine inside when I’m done with it, and it’s still running great.

 

[WapitiBob]

Mines at least 10 years old and runs like the day I got it. Off the boat and into the garage.