North Australian FISH FINDER TM forums

Hi All

I am after feedback on size electric motor sizes for my boat

I have a 4.3 stessel tiller steer. Currently running a Watersnake 55lb

The price different is not that much between sizes. I'm looking at the Motorguide Xi5 GPS.
The guide for my size boat would be the 55 but the 55 Watersnake I have at the moment struggles with any sort of good run in of water. Would going to the 80 just be over kill for this size boat??

Billy

Yes. I had a 55b Minn Kota on a 475 Topender, this worked well. I now have an 80b on a 5.5m plate boat, this holds me in all the fast rivers with no dramas.

I have a 55lb Minn kota ipiolt on my 5 meter and it holds me good on a 4 meter movement.

From what I understand the 55 would be best for you. Don't forget going the 80 means another battery and the associated weight as well.

ive got the 55 and it holds most of the time. but most of the time gives you the 5hits when you need it to work every time.
i would go the 80 if i had my time again

I had a 55b on my 5.2 GS boat and upgraded to the 80 lb - I think you will be disappointed if you don't put the 80b in mate - sure you need and extra battery and the weight issues but if you want spot lock to work outside a run off creek I reckon you will be sorry if you don't get the 80 but it will depend on your budget etc.

Cheers

Shane

My 55lb Mk holds my 455 topender well in the creek on big spring tides. In the blue water she struggles even on a 2m run. Diffenitely go the 80 lb as it will work more efficiently and give you longer battery life.

Cheers all.

Might have to go the bigger dog. I can also use that same leccy if and when I upgrade boats

I just upgraded to the 80 lb ipilot from the 55lbs min Kota on my 5.4mtr tracker, best thing I have done holds effortlessly in the strong currents, the only thing tho you will have to set up a 24volt system for it.

Seems like the crowd is backing the 80lb as the best option. I reckon you'll be happy either way - I recently installed the Motorguide Xi5 55 on a 435 Stacer Barra Pro and it does the job no dramas, even on the big tides.

ADRNLN wrote:Cheers all.

Might have to go the bigger dog. I can also use that same leccy if and when I upgrade boats

That's 60+ kgs's of battery's (average AGM weighs 32kg for 120AH) without the electric motor weight strait away.......Yep be nice to have the 80lb but on a boat your size do you want to carry an extra 80 odd kg all the time?..........

I also recently installed the Xi5 motorguide on a 435 and it does the job fine..........

Hi Basstad

Th Xi5 Motorguide GPS is my next purchase, gathering fund for it now.

80lb is mega overkill on a 4.3 and will be very noticable weight wise, not to mention being lots more dollars (+ 1 x 100+Amp hour AGM and dedicated 24V charger) I would go the 12v Xi5 if I were you. In terms of runoff fishing just anchor up if you find fish as you will drain your batteries quick as on 12 or 24 v and it's really not what they are designed for anyway.

Remember that 2 x 120 AH 12v batteries connected up in series to produce 24v will still only be 120 AH.

However, current drain will be 1/2 of that of a 12v system so will last OK.

Other advantage is that you wont be dropping the discharge cycle as much as a 12v system so the batteries will have longer life.

One word of warning though.

Make sure that you get real deep cycle batteries and not the pretend marine ones that some big manufacturers have been flogging as deep cycle.

Only real question is extra weight and cost as a 24v system won't work anywhere near as hard as a 12v system.

I have a Trailcraft Profish 4.7 and run a 80lb motorguide.

Thing is mint! can do nearly 4knts flat out!

Extra power is never a problem.............................except for the extra 30kg for another deepcycle.