Trolling Motors FAQ

I recommend either a 50 LB or a 55 LB 12 V motor for an adult.   You can use any size you want actually, especially if you live on a small lake or pond it doesn’t matter.  But if your fishing bigger waters and are going to cover more range the added thrust could be beneficial when it comes to wind/current.  

With our 17″ transom you can go 30″, 36″ or 42″.   If I had to choose one size, I would go with the 42″ shaft.  Only because if you want to steer while standing the 42″ will allow you to keep it up at your waist and you won’t have to bend much down to touch it.  I use the 36″ while standing with no problems, I just have to reach a little bit,  but if that’s a concern go with the 42″.

Variable all the way.  No question about it. So much easier to control and handle while also increasing your available run time.  

Yes and No,  I own a 55 LB Bull Dog transom foot control system but foot controls and 6 ft light weight boats do not go together well at all. The first reason is that it conflicts with the reason for owning a round boat: You can face, stand or sit in any direction you want to and have control of the boat.   At first glance, I guess it’s hard to notice that the tiller is inches away from either hand at all times, but it is.  I can nudge, touch, turn and shift gear with either hand while facing any direction on the 360 Degree seating clock, it comes in handy VS having to turn to face a foot control each time I need to control the boat.  I suppose its something you have to experience to understand. You use the motor a lot,  so having to turn in your chair and face a particular direction each time you want to turn the boat or control the motor gets really tiresome.     The steering is already sensitive on a boat this short and light, when you add the sensitivity of the foot control it is a perfect storm of frustration.  

Yes, I have recently tested an 86 lb. Thrust transom mounted trolling motor, worked well.  In my opinion, I would rather have a 12V 55lb thrust motor.    The overall difference in speed is not enough to change my opinion that I would rather just use a 55 Lb Thrust.  There is a limit as to how fast you can go in a displacement hull like this because of how short the waterline length is.

Yes you can, but it is coast-guard rated for 2.0 hp or lower. I made sure I designed a 17″ transom so you can use a short shaft outboard but a gas motor can be very jerky and the torque from the gas engine turns/spins at a high rate of speed.  Unfortunately, the craft is just too short and wide to be a planning hull, it navigates like a small barge, therefore, your top speed is limited to about 4 mph.  The only time you can efficiently convert your power into speed is when you have an even waterline from bow to stern.  With a  trolling motor, the skiff always moves smooth and at an even water line.    A standard deep cycle battery powered transom mounted trolling motor is the best and safest choice for the Ultraskiff 360 in our opinion.