Trolling motor voltage question

[JustDuckin03]

Alright so this might get wordy but I’ve flip flopped back and forth between a 24v and 12v remote control trolling motor for months. I currently have a tracker (motor guide) 12/24volt 55lb thrust trolling motor on my Nitro 18ft fish and ski. It does great for everything I need. Me and the old man have been getting more into trolling live baits for striper in some of the lakes around the house. (southern KY, Northern TN) A cable steer trolling motor is not ideal for obvious reasons. When we’re pulling planer boards it seems like 0.7-0.9mph is the sweet spot. In dead calm conditions I’ll switch the trolling motor to 12v and put it on the lowest speed setting and she’ll purr along right at 0.8-0.9. With a little bow wind or chop I’ll kick it up to the second lowest setting and if it still needs a little more I’ll switch to 24v setting and the lowest speed. One of these three settings will get me what I need outside of turns or pivots. I’ve been looking at only 24v 60-70lb trolling motors because I’ve heard that actually run longer on two batteries in series than a 12v trolling motor will on 2 batteries in parallel. Is there any truth to this? The motor is on the entire time you’re fishing so run time is really important. I do bass fish some but I would think a modern trolling motor at 12 volts and the highest setting would have more power than the 25 year old one on my boat in 12v setting. Maybe I’m wrong. Anybody have any input or been through a similar question when replacing an old trolling motor?

 

[NWRINGNECK]

My answer is long also but I think it will tell you what I'm hoping my research found.

I'm in the middle of changing battery systems right now. Just getting everything back in the boat. My understanding is a 12V motor isn't as efficient as the 24V motor. Read a lot of stuff on this and I am needed more run time myself. I went to two group 27 109 amp hr batteries to get that extra time with my existing 12 V motor ... Anticipating a new motor in the next year and it will be a 24 V motor. What I gather is I'll get as much runtime with those two batteries running as 24V 109 amp hr battery bank on a 80 lb thrust motor (new motor I hope) as I'm getting now with a 12 V 55 lb thrust motor 218 amp hr battery bank. All of this with the same boat and equipment, etc. Part of the increase time is due to the more efficient 24 V motor with more thrust will not have to be run at as high rate (??) as I did the old 12V motor.

The old 12V 55 lb motor needs to be run at 65% of max at the start with a full charged battery to get my trolling speed up to my needs. The 24V 80 lb motor will do the same speed, etc at a lower setting .. all things equal....... I hope.

I'll be interested in input from other here.

 

[Bullet21XD]

Amp hours is amp hours for your batteries. Run time is fairly easy and fairly predictable assuming you know the output of the batteries, and the draw of the trolling motor.
The big difference though is a new trolling motor will be more efficient than that old Motorguide.

 

[oleww]

Years ago my 12/24v switch went out. Bypassed it and now run 24v all the time. I believe it last longer in to the afternoons when fishing a day long tourney.

Only problem is I have to remember to change back to low power after a full charge. 24v fully charged on max power will toss you off the bow