Minn Kota vs Garmin electric motors

[Evan B]

It all depends on current and wind but spot lock uses a lot of battery power. IMO 12v trollers are for minimal use and stuff like a pontoon. A boat of any size (say 16ft) needs 24v.

Good info. Now I get to save up all the extra for those lithium batteries.

 

[Josh]

It all depends on current and wind but spot lock uses a lot of battery power. IMO 12v trollers are for minimal use and stuff like a pontoon. A boat of any size (say 16ft) needs 24v.

All things being equal, I agree that 24v is probably the better choice. Particularly if you know you'll be fighting wind and current much of the time.

But there are plenty of boats out there catching fish on lakes with just a 12v trolling motor. If 12v is all you can afford (or you don't have a setup conducive to a 24v install), a 12v motor will get you into fish just fine.

In Evan's situation though, knowing his boat, it's parking location, and where he fishes it, I'd say 24v is the way to go if possible.