For many, the third largest investment for their boating package is an electric motor. Gone are the days where electric motors are solely used on sportfishing boats. With anglers now demanding to be able to hold position without the use of an anchor in much larger boats, technology has electric motors suitable for holding and manoeuvring the largest of our Bar Crusher and Sea Jay boat offerings. This has revolutionised people’s ability to more effectively fish in many instances where drifting or anchoring can be prohibitive or impossible.
I will leave what the correct motor and battery options are for another day. Every boat and angler’s needs are different and should be discussed with experts, like the staff here at Stones Corner Marine. What I would like to cover with this blog are some simple things we consider to be very important when you purchase and fit your motor to get the most out of it and avoid having issues down the track.
Quick Release Bracket
Both Minn Kota and Garmin offer a quick release bracket system. This system attaches to the electric motor mounting plate on your boat and to the base of your electric motor. It has a mechanism that secures the motor to the boat. This allows the motor to be removed easily for cleaning, maintenance, or replacement down the track. It also offers added security as a lock can be put in place to avoid theft if your boat is unattended.
Kovix Electric Motor Locks
As mentioned, your electric motor is more than likely going to be the third largest investment you make in your boat behind the boat itself and the outboard motor. We believe theft deterrence is an important factor. The Kovix Electric Motor lock, due to its rounded design, reduces the ability of a thief to use bolt cutters and the like to remove the lock like they could when you are using a padlock. A great deterrent and something that insurance companies love.
Electric Motor Supports
We sell Garmin and Minn Kota electric motors here at Stones Corner Marine and the question I am most commonly asked by people purchasing a bow mount electric motor set up is “do I really need a motor support”? Most of the time, this is driven by the belief that there are simpler things (like a bungee cord) that will do the same job at a lower price.
The key words are “do the same job”. A motor support removes virtually all movement of the head and shaft of the motor in the stowed position (while on the water or when traveling to and from the water). This reduces the pressure on the mounting points of the motor and the mount plate, minimising or eliminating any chance of fracturing over an extended period. It also avoids damage to the head unit of the motor. Do the inexpensive options “do the same job”? We don’t think so, and we recommend using an electric motor support.
Trolling Motor Plug vs Anderson Plug
An Anderson plug is a very effective way of connecting your electric motor to your battery system and is the preferred method for many. However, branded trolling motor plugs offer improved performance, reduced maintenance, and a lower likelihood of failure.
Maintenance is a crucial component when using an Anderson plug. Any corrosion or reduced contact affects how power is transferred to your motor, which in turn impacts motor performance. This should be checked before every trip. Branded plugs have a seal that minimises or avoids water ingress, reducing corrosion maintenance. The contact system within these plugs is also superior, ensuring better power transfer to your motor, improving battery and motor performance. Ultimately, the likelihood of plug failure is very low. Since a failed plug typically means no working electric motor for the day, an option that reduces that risk is well worth considering.
Hopefully this helps you with your next electric motor purchase. Come and see us at the dealership, 117 Old Cleveland Road Stones Corner, for friendly and helpful advice and to check out our range of Minn Kota and Garmin electric motors and accessories.
Captions
- Both Minn Kota and Garmin have a mounting system that allows you to easily remove the motor for cleaning or maintenance.
- The electric motor supports can be adapted to suit any boat and help avoid damage to the motor and mounts when traveling on and off the water.
- Your electric motor can be mounted directly to a mounting plate. However, we believe the advantages of using a quick release bracket outweigh the cost of it.
- Many people choose not to use a motor support when installing their electric motor. We believe this is your best option to avoid damage to either your boat or motor when traveling and your motor is not deployed.
- A Garmin Kraken electric motor stowed and supported using a motor support.
- The other positive of a motor installed using a quick release bracket is that a lock can be put in place to avoid theft. A Kovix electric motor lock is a simple and effective deterrent for thieves.
- Anderson plugs or branded motor plug—both do the job, but branded plugs minimise plug failure, improve connection and power delivery, so we recommend using them.
