September 17, 2010
Can I put just a trolling motor on a jon boat?
My buddy and I were gonna save our money and buy a used jon boat, but we wouldnt have enough to get a gasoline motor. Could we use just a trolling motor as the main power? we would only be fishing fairly small rivers.
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Filed under Gas Conservation FAQ by on Sep 17th, 2010. Comment. 
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Comments on Can I put just a trolling motor on a jon boat?
I made a modified one for my canoe, and that is a blast ….
You can, If you are fishing in small streams it would work fine.
Yes but take 2 battery’s so when 1 goes dead U can still make it back to the dock.
YES!!!!!!! Take two batteries and you need to go up stream first as far as the first battery will take you. If you go down stream first the second battery will not get you back. WHY????? Because you will travel farther down stream then up stream.
I tried it on a 12′ aluminum boat on a small lake. If there is any obstacle such as even a light head wind, you don’t make much progress. When I encountered a few weeds, together with a light head wind, I totally stalled out and had to row out of the weed bed. Small used outboard motors can sometimes be bought for very little money and they last practically forever and are easy to fix.
My experience with trolling motors is that they are not suited for constant use. They will build up heat and cut out. Heat build up with the motor immersed in water doesn’t seem right , but it’s a fact..Trolling motors don’t give a lot of thrust. There is a vicious circle you get into.More thrust means a bigger motor, means more batteries ,means more weight , means more thrust needed , means more batteries needed , and on and on.Go with gas if you can