Bass Fishing HomeBass Fishing Forums

Go Back   BassFishin.Com Forums > Serious Conversation Only > Bass Boats, Trailers & Setups

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 09-30-13, 12:07 PM   #1
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default I'm Back

Just got an '85 Bass Tracker III for free. Everything works and the boat was used regularly. My buddy stepped up to a huge boat and just gave me his tracker. I cannot be more thankful for that. It has a 40hp motor. It's not the prettiest, but I can fish my *** of in it, and plan to work on her aesthetics slowly.

Here's the question:

This is a 17ft boat with no trolloing motor. I'm not planning on fishing in high winds/current, so will I be fine with a 40# thrust trolling motor up front? Hell, all I do most of the time on Toho is troll the mat line and flip, so I'd assume I'd be alright since the boat isn't that heavy, and will just be me fishing most of the time.


Thanks, guys.





BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-30-13, 07:44 PM   #2
woody
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
woody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jonesville, Indiana
Posts: 3,597
Default

Welcome back BBD. That's a solid looking rig...congrats.


-Mark
woody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-13, 07:10 AM   #3
lilmule
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
lilmule's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Buchanan,Tn
Posts: 2,685
Default

Very nice friend indeed,no 40 lb thrust isnt enough even though its a light boat for current and or wind,its enough for no current or no wind to speak of.
My first boat a 14 fter went backwards in current after a rain on the ohio river,traded up to a 47 then a 52,54 before trading that boat.
For simplicity 12v will do but think 50 and up..Gave 400 for the same thing back in the eighties with no outboard,had a weak 40lb troller no battery.saved me pennies up and put a 45 chrysler on it(another 400).

Last edited by lilmule; 10-01-13 at 07:16 AM.
lilmule is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-13, 07:48 AM   #4
bassboogieman
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
bassboogieman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: Parkesburg, Pa.
Posts: 3,762
Default

No 12v trolling motor is ever enough (IMO), unless it's on a canoe or plastic "pond hopper". A mid-sized 24v, something around 62# is where I would be. A 12v on that boat will not likely last all day (6 - 8 hours) so you would need a second battery for a full day of fishing anyway so just step up to a 24v troller and be done with it.
bassboogieman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-13, 09:12 AM   #5
bamabassman
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
bamabassman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: cedar bluff, alabama
Posts: 15,292
Default

i agree with muley and brucie, get at LEAST a 56# thrust, 24 volt.


very nice lil rig by the way. a little spit shine and she'll look as good as new. congrats to you buddy.
__________________
so many lures, so little time.
bamabassman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-01-13, 09:23 PM   #6
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default

Thanks, guys.

I'll hopefully be picking up a 67# minn kota off CL this week. MOS DEF gonna' go for a 24v now. Thanks for the feedback! Now time for some electronics.
BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-03-13, 02:19 PM   #7
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default

Update. Found a local guy here in JAX with an 8 year old motorguide great white, 24v, 82# motor. It took a few days, but I got him down to 175 for it. You guys think that's a good deal? Guy said he fishes local tournaments and just upgraded to a 36v. I'm thinking I should change all the seals in it since it's an older motor, but he said it works great.

Last edited by BBD; 10-03-13 at 04:57 PM.
BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-05-13, 03:07 PM   #8
daves
BassFishin.Com Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 5
Default

I went from a 40# 12V on my 14' fiberglass, to a 68# 24V on my Grizzly1754. It like the difference between a trolling motor and rowing. Plenty of power and hardly dents the batteries. You got a free boat, spend a little on the trolling system. The deal you just posted on the motor is a GREAT deal. Not quite better than a free boat but...
daves is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-06-13, 12:13 AM   #9
Bassboss
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
Bassboss's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Shawano, WI
Posts: 7,761
Default

I believe my trolling motor is a 47 pound thrust, it gets the boat around fine, but we don't have a casting deck in like yours (yet). Just a an aluminum flat bottom.

I've upgrade to a 70lb thrust with that boat personally, but do what ever gets you around... it'll be better than beating the bank I promise!
__________________
If you can't fix it with heavy squats or fish oil, you're probably going to die.
Bassboss is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-13, 04:35 AM   #10
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default

Got the boat/trailer, cleaned, primered, and sprayed. Turned out decent. Was a quick job, but totally rejuvenated the boat. Next, I'll polish the jack-plate and spray the entire engine the factory color again, then add fresh yami decals. Other than that, I'm pleased with how it turned out. Daylight pics to come. Thanks to a good friend of mine, the total material cost for the primer, scuff pads, and industrial green coating was 130 bucks total. Not too bad.

I wasn't gonna' go full retard on this boat and do an elaborate resto that would end up costing as much as a nice, used, older glass boat. Ive seen guy's dump 12k into a tin boat.....no thanks. Everything on this boat works great, it just needed some new skin. I just wanted to bring the life back to her, and I think I've achieved that.













BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-13, 07:35 AM   #11
nobass
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: clarksville, tn,
Posts: 1,690
Default

nice job looks great now go out and fish your A** off
__________________
the only easy day was yesterday
nobass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-13, 11:51 AM   #12
WatterBoy
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
WatterBoy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Owatonna, MN
Posts: 2,280
Default

Wow, that looks great! Good work...
WatterBoy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-13, 05:21 PM   #13
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default

Daylight pics (before/after)







BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-13, 07:55 PM   #14
MallenManson
BassFishin.Com Premier Elite
 
MallenManson's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Beulah, Michigan
Posts: 6,431
Send a message via Yahoo to MallenManson
Default

That looks awesome!
Great job!!!!!
__________________
Bass fear me.
Women pepperspray me.....
MallenManson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-13, 09:11 PM   #15
woody
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
woody's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Jonesville, Indiana
Posts: 3,597
Default

Great job on the boat restoration.


-Mark
woody is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-13, 10:49 PM   #16
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default

Thanks, guys.
BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-21-13, 11:31 PM   #17
lilmule
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
lilmule's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Buchanan,Tn
Posts: 2,685
Default

Nice job and that troller was worth more than 175,so you did well.
lilmule is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-13, 06:32 PM   #18
nobass
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: clarksville, tn,
Posts: 1,690
Default

nice job only thing i see wrong is you have too many rods and reels could trip over send them to me i will store them for you just looking out for your safety
__________________
the only easy day was yesterday
nobass is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-22-13, 08:14 PM   #19
BBD
BassFishin.Com Active Member
 
BBD's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Jacksonville, FL
Posts: 212
Default

Yeah, it sucks. I want to extend the deck like a bass boat with a long, rectangular section that goes from the front deck all the way back to the passenger seat in order to support the rods.
BBD is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-24-13, 10:15 AM   #20
bassinbob
BassFishin.Com Super Veteran
 
bassinbob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Pitts. Pa.
Posts: 3,801
Default

Very nice. I bet if you pick up some boats like that cheap and do a minimal resto you can make some money to put into your boat. Or buy a newer one.
__________________
you can have my fishin rod when ya take it from my cold dead hands
bassinbob is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Disclosure / Disclaimer
Before acting on the content posted, you should know that BassFishin.Com may benefit financially and otherwise from content, advertising, links or otherwise from anything you click on, read, or look at on our website. Click here to read our Disclosure Policy and Disclaimer.


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:13 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2013 BassFishin.Com LLC