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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Trolling Motor - how fast? (and dock lines)

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/16/2009 : 17:46:58

Researching another thread, I did a search on harbor freight and found this.

How fast/slow would this push my 8'6" inflatable? any ideas?

Here's two links.
[url="http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=66882"]First Harbor Freight Trolling motor[/url]

[url="http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=98644"]Second Harbor Freight 15' Dock Lines[/url]

Joint Decision. (Sold)
PO C250WB 2005 Sail # 841.

Moved up to C34 Eximius

Updated August 2015

Edited by - on

Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5904 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2009 : 18:11:26

I don't know how fast it would propel an inflatable dinghy, but I know a fellow who used an ordinary electric trolling motor to propel a 23' cruising sailboat, and it propelled it at a very satisfactory speed in and out of the marina. I don't see why it wouldn't be reasonably satisfactory for a dinghy, but loading and unloading the battery into the dink would be a pain, and you'd want to use a type of battery other than a wet cell, to be sure it wouldn't spill battery acid into the dink.

Those dock lines are too thick for a C25, but, for the right size boat, they're a good buy at that price.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2009 : 18:27:02

If you connect (2) to the dock while using (1), not very fast.

Seriously though, I've read about folks using trolling motors for maneuvering in marinas & such very successfully.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2009 : 18:35:18

I used a 40# thrust troller to push my Clipper 21. Fine entry, but it was about 1900#; we would manage 2.5 kt. easily in smooth water and suck the battery but reach 3 kt. at full throttle. It was, however, sensitive to chop and high wind - no headway @ 12 - 15 with 1 ft chop on the lake. I plan on using it on my dingy this winter.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 12/16/2009 : 18:54:19

I think the 12V battery in the dink would be a real drawback especially if it is an inflatable.

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jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2009 : 18:05:32

I have a 55 pound thrust electric trolling motor that I used on a MacGregor 26D water ballast sailboat for awhile. A 25-D is about 2800 pounds of boat with the ballast tank filled. In my estimation the 55 pound thrust was about equivalent to a 1.5 to 2 horsepower engine. i.e about 2 mph. It was very good in the marina for fine control and quick shifting between forward and reverse. In 10 to 15 mph winds I found that I had to keep the centerboard down to make headway on the equivalent of a reach. If I simply crabbed into the wind I wasted too much thrust countering the wind. Direct upwind was maybe 1 mph. It was better than a gasoline engine for instant starting and response, but a poor substitute when needed for a several mile haul or going upwind.

I used the same motor on a 16 foot canoe and found I could get to hull speed quite easily. It would have rolled the canoe over if mishandled.

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DaveR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2015 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2009 : 06:39:13

I've used a lot of trolling motors in the past (fishing) and a 30lb thruster won't do much for you. My 2 1/2 gas motor is a little slow when you're trying to get somewhere (or out of an oncoming boat's path!!), a trolling motor would be quite a bit slower, painfully slow I think. And you could use a garden battery, but it'd drain it real quick. I think you need a gas motor to do it right. Search your local Marinas and Craig's list, maybe find a good used one.

Edited by - DaveR on 12/18/2009 06:44:19

Tom Potter
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1913 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2009 : 07:09:22

Paul I agree with Dave. Keep looking for a small outboard. I picked up my little Johnson 2hp off e-bay for less than $200 and that included shipping. There are freshwater trolling motors and salt water trolling motors, this one don't say and that makes me think its a fresh water. The salt water trolling motor cost $$$$$. Although the fresh water trolling motor would work in saltwater, however its life would greatly be reduced. The small outboard pros far outweigh that of a trolling motor for a dingy.

Those dock lines are just right for my Oday28, but I have plenty.

Edited by - Tom Potter on 12/18/2009 07:36:26

aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2009 : 08:36:47

I've use a 30 lb thrust electric trolling motor on my 7 1/2' dink for about 8 years. It pushes well, even with an overloaded boat of 4 passengers. Speed is dependant on battery charge though. My charge lasts, on average, about 3-4 weeks operating about twice per week.My mooring is about 500 ft off shore.

I use a lead acid battery in my dink. It sits in a standard battery box I bolted to the transom. I also use a pigtail that has a quick disconnect so I don't have to deal with the wing nuts when I have to charge the battery.

While I'm quite satisfied with this set up, I have never used it cruising. I don't have my zodiak registered, which is required when using any type of "machinery" to propel the boat. I would think that the battery would keep the dink from flipping when wind an sea is high but, if it did flip I don't think the battery box would hold it in. If stored on board I would think it a hassle to load, store, and unload. Of course with an open transom C250, that may not be a real problem either.

Battery acid spill has never been an issue, except for pants. I have five pairs of blue jeans, four of which have acid holes in them.

Edited by - aeckhart on 12/18/2009 08:37:47

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2009 : 08:38:54

It really depends on what you are using it for. For puttering (humming?) around the marina or out to a mooring, the troller is adequate. Moving my Clipper to and from the slip once or twice a week required recharging the battery (group 27) once a month. Gas easily wins for more extended range.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2009 : 17:14:23

My friend in East Greenwich, RI used a small electric trolling motor for about 5 years until getting fed up with lifting the battery up out of the Zodiac into the boat a few times a day when cruising to other marinas or harbors. It is really a hard job - securing the dinghy to the boat, standing up to hoist the battery and lugging it up onto the coaming. I've helped do that enough times on his boat over the years to be disgusted, too.

So a few years ago he bought a 2.5hp Mercury with an integral gas tank. It's light and simple and useful as a backup for his C-25.

That price for the electric motor is really the best aspect, I think.

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Sloop Smitten
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1181 Posts

Response Posted - 12/18/2009 : 22:21:11

From a mooring to the dock in calm waters, not bad.
Anything else, need some humph!
Save the trolling motors for fishing lakes.

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frog0911
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1349 Posts

Response Posted - 12/21/2009 : 09:43:39

Since my boat sits in the water at the end of my dock 12 months out of the year I use two half inch dock lines on each cleat. One line on each cleat has a snubber on it and the other is just line attached with six inches of slop. The boat traffic going by my dock makes for some interesting boat movement. When I just had one per cleat the boat banged against the finger dock so often it smashed the six inch post bumper and my gunnel to the point that I have to replace three feet of it. The other aspect is when hurricane season comes I just have to add four more lines to keep the boat off the dock when the water rises do to storm surge. When cruising I use four 25 foot 3/8 lines that stay on the boat at all times. I have not seen the dock lines you show at our Harbor Freight, but if I do I will definitely get at least four.

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