Minn Kota Riptide Bowmount 55lbs

Is anyone using the Bowmount 55lbs with auto pilot?
What do you think of them?
How have you set them up.ie:
Do you use a mount plate?
What method of connection to power source?
How do you secure the motor during travelling?

[Geoff R]

Mate I have one on my boat, It's bolted in place on a mount welded to my Hull. They come with a couple of leads quite similar to something like a car which just screw down on wing nuts.
The motor has a cradle that it sits in which locks during travel, I assume you mean whilst under way. If you mean whilst on the trailer it may be an idea to buy the Quick release mount so you can remove it, if it is in any danger of being destroyed by trees or other vehicles or whatever.
Here's some Pics

[Geoff R]

Deployed

[Geoff R]

I hope this is what your after, get the 65lb thrust if you can afford it. I find when the wind blows here in Perth I wish I had the extra Neddy's
Pic is a bit fuzzy

[Geoff R]

I promise to have you out soon Steve

[jimi]

G'day Steve, I also have exactly the same motor as Geoff and agree with what he has said. Just thought I'd add a couple of other points.

I have a quick release bracket on mine and it makes it a breeze to remove the motor. I like to remove it when towing a long way, or when I go offshore fishing in my boat (it just gets in the way out there). It's only costs around $150 extra to get one (a small % of the total motor cost).

The motor does come with a very small amount of cable (around 50cm) so if you have your batteries set up at the back of the boat (like I do), you will need to buy extra cable. You can buy a connector called an Anderson Plug that will make it easy to remove the motor. It's about the only kind of connection (in 12v anyway) that will handle the high current load that these motors can draw (up to 45 amps). I also bought some 50amp cable to connect to the battery which costs about $6 per metre. Not cheap when you need 10m of it (5m of red, 5 of black).

I still prefer this method as it leaves more space under my front deck for spare fuel, safety gear etc. I currently use only one battery for everything from sounder to nav lights to electric motor. After 3 BREAM rounds I'm yet to have a problem with running out of juice.

Oh I'd agree with Geoff about going for more power. My boat is a high sided conventional v-hull design, so when it gets really windy (eg. Walpole day 2), I sometimes need just a little bit more hp. Still, it's not often that that happens.

- I forgot to mention, if you do go for a 65lb thrust version (the next size up) you will need a 24v battery system since this motor only comes in a 24v model. This introduces a LOT more weight and logistical problems for battery storage and wiring.

Cheers

James

Thanks Guys much appreciated.

Geoff that is a flash looking fishing platform. I can't wait to go fishing and pick your brains (Just kidding)

I started out with ordering a 435 hornet trophy be they couldn't supply for another 4 weeks so I took a 455 hornet trophy instead.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Slightly off topic but I bought the transom mount and the leads where to short so I went to my auto electrician and bought 4 m of the same cable and two alligator clips.

I popped the top of the Minn Kota and removed the factory leads and replaced them with the 4m ones and the alligator clips are a real bonus as there is no more mucking around with wing nuts.

This worked out at around a cost of $18-00 much cheaper than you will find the cost of the Anderson Plugs, which are prohibitive.

I use a 55Ap at the moment and I'm not 100% happy with it. The motor itself has not missed a beat but I would prefer a cable steer as it is 10 times faster and I think my boat would have less scratches from oyster racks if the head turned a bit quicker.

I also think the auto pilot is a waste of money. If you have perfect conditions (no wind or current) then it is great, but if there is any wind or current at all the head turns too slowly to maintain course and believe me it doesnt take much wind or current to cause it problems.

My next motor will be a motor guide cable steer for sure. I dont know what prices are like over west but you can pick up a 52lb(I think) cable steer m/guide over here for less than $900, which is $600 cheaper than what I paid for the Minn and turns 1000 times quicker.

But as the other guys said go for as much power as you can afford. The 55Ap on the front of my 435 has struggled on more than one occasion in unfriendly conditions.

[kevinnugent59]

Originally posted by jimi

I still prefer this method as it leaves more space under my front deck for spare fuel, safety gear etc. I currently use only one battery for everything from sounder to nav lights to electric motor. After 3 BREAM rounds I'm yet to have a problem with running out of juice.

G'day James

I'm still to find the right size/Ahr battery for my baby. What size/type of battery are you using?

Kevin

[LakeConjolaFish]

I bought a 90amp deep cycle and because my boat is moored permanetly in front of my house this necessitates the need to remove the battery after every outing so it doesn't get pinched and its a heavy bugger. I use a trolley to move it back and forth.

My Minn Kota lacks the maximizer feature but I have never run out of juice even after using the Kota on all day sessions with 3 people in the boat and my blue heeler

The other reason I got the longer cables is that I can move the battery literally anywhere inside the boat and makes it very easy to trim the boat depending upon what load I'm carrying.

[jimi]

Hi Kevin, the battery I use is a 90 amp Century marine deep cycle. As LCF said, they are heavy buggers but last a long time. I always make sure I keep it topped up when not fishing by putting it on a battery charger (my motor has no alternator - it's only a 25hp pull start).

You need to make sure you get a charger specifically for deep cycle batteries as the standard car charger from kmart will break it eventually.

Cheers
James.

[LakeConjolaFish]

You need to make sure you get a charger specifically for deep cycle batteries as the standard car charger from kmart will break it eventually.

[/B][/QUOTE]

Thats interesting Jimi as I only have a fairly cheap charger and my battery is brand new and I don't want to stuff it.
What brand model charger do you own.

[jimi]

Hi LCF, I did have a cheap kmart charger that I used for a long time without stuffing the battery, but I was reading on another forum that you need one that doesn't overcharge the battery. I decided to upgrade to be sure.

The one I have is a 10 amp Arlec charger combined with a Projecta BM 140 Charge Control Unit. Apparently you need to go at least 10amps with Deep cycle batteries. The BM140 makes sure that the battery does not get over charged. The BM140 cost me around $50 at kmart and then 10 amp Arlec was another $80-90 (can't remember exactly as I bought it a long time ago).

You can get very fancy chargers that cost up to $1000.....but that much money buys you a lot of deep cycle batteries .

Cheers

James.

[LakeConjolaFish]

Thanks for the Heads Up jimi, I don't get near a Kmart very often but it just so happens that I will be on Friday so I'll make an effort to see what they have in the way of chargers.
I just must steer WAY clear of the tackle section!

Thanks