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Choosing a trolling motor for your vessel can be a complicated process due to the excess information and the variety of options. This guide will help you quickly decide which trolling motor to choose. We have simplified this process for customers by creating an interactive Trolling Motor Buyer's Guide. Simply answer the prompts and we'll give you our best recommendation! If you want more details on choosing a trolling motor, below are several topics to consider when purchasing a motor. 

Thrust:

  1. What is the total weight of the boat, including the boat, people, and gear?

You will need a larger motor the more weight you plan to have inside your vessel. Vessels under 500lbs can get by with our smaller motors. 

Environment:

  1. Are you going to use the motor on calm water?
  2. Will you be using the motor on a river with a current or in the ocean with choppy water and currents?
  3. What will be the wind conditions you will experience when you are on the water?

Calmer waters with leisurely trolling don't require as much thrust. You can go with one of our smaller motors to meet your needs. In environments where there's strong currents or winds, we recommend upgrading in size to ensure the motor is not overpowered. 

NOTE: Use self-preservation when boating. In adverse conditions trolling motors can be overpowered.

Shaft Length:

  1. What is the distance from the top of the transom/ motor mount to the waterline?

Take this measurement and compare it against the charge below. 0-9" would make the 24" shaft on the Kayak Series the ideal choice and so on. 

Shaft_Length.png

Added Features:

  1. Are you switching from standing to sitting while operating your motor? No designated seat to operate the motor from?
  2. Choosing one motor for multiple vessels.

If you are frequently changing your position while operating your motor, it might be worth checking our our X Series Trolling Motor. It comes with a 30 degree tiltable heat that allows the handle to swing up and down while still being able to control the motor. Perfect for someone who is on the move and doesn't have time to constantly adjust the depth of the motor to make it more comfortable to operate.

Some of our customers buy a larger thrust motor with a longer shaft (36 inches) to use with multiple boats. This thought process can save you money and allows you to go on more adventures in various types of vessels. 

Mounting:

  1. How will you mount your motor? 
    1. Transom Mount?
    2. Bow Mount?
    3. Kayak Motor Mount?

Most of our trolling motors are specifically designed for transom mount applications. We do offer our Pontoon Series trolling motors, which come ready for bow mounting applications and a deck mount. However, our transom mount motors can be modified for bow mounting application. If you are interested in this, please see our Transom To Bow Mount Guide. 

If you have a kayak and considering a motor mount, checkout our KAYAK MOTOR SETUP: CHOOSING THE RIGHT TROLLING MOTOR MOUNT for additional help in deciding the best option. 

For more information on batteries, please see our Deep Cycle Battery Overview. If you want more information on trolling motors see our 3 part article, Trolling Motor Buyers Guide, for a more in-depth overview of trolling motors. 

If you have any additional questions about our motors, please see our Motors FAQ Page. For more in-depth articles, please visit our Motor Support Page. If you can’t find the information you need, give us a call (866) 721-0002 Monday to Friday: 8:30 am - 4:30 pm (PST) or reach out to us via email SUPPORT@NEWPORTVESSELS.COM.

 

Please take our quick and easy TROLLING MOTOR BUYER'S GUIDE on our website!

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