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How deep should my trolling motor be in the water?

Author

James Craig

Published Jan 24, 2026

Choosing the correct trolling motor shaft length is important so that the angler's electric motor does not cavitate, creating fish-spooking noise. The rule of thumb is that the top of the motor section should be submerged 12".

How far into the water should a trolling motor be?

Submersion Rule: You'll want the top of the motor submerged at LEAST 12" under the water to ensure adequate power and to prevent noisy cavitation which will scare fish.

Where's the best place to put a trolling motor on a boat?

The trolling motor should be placed as close to the center of the stern as possible without interfering with the operation of the main motor, if there is one. The top of the mounting bracket should be flush with the top of the stern.

Can a trolling motor shaft be too long?

A trolling motor shaft can be too long. If the trolling motor shaft is too long, you risk the propeller hitting bottom or the inability to stow the motor properly. Too long of a shaft can not only damage the propeller but also the rest of the motor and the environment beneath the water as well.

Is trolling motor better on front or back?

Bow Mounts

One of their most notable advantages is that they provide significantly better control when compared to a transom mount motor. This is because a bow mount motor pulls the boat through the water, as opposed to pushing it from behind (as a transom mount does), and makes steering much more precise.

37 related questions found

Can I put a trolling motor at the back of a boat?

Since pontoon boats are essentially flat, you can mount a trolling motor either on the bow or on the stern, at the transom. Transom mounting is best if you want to use it for trolling, while bow mounting is better for maneuvering around fishing hot spots, or when using spot lock.

Do trolling motors come with mounts?

Best Transom Trolling Motors

It usually comes with a clamp that you can use to hold the motor in place. If you are looking for transom trolling motors, you have come to the right place.

How can I speed up my trolling motor?

Make Your Trolling Motor Faster

  1. Make Your Trolling Motor Faster.
  2. Change the Battery.
  3. Reduce the Load of the Canoe.
  4. Fix a more Streamlined Propeller.
  5. Put on Lighter Attire.
  6. Replace the Existing Motor.
  7. Conclusion.

How can I make my trolling motor faster?

The best way that I have always found to increase the speed of a motor is to increase the power of the motor by removing the current motor and installing one that has more power with a larger size and larger pitch prop. Bottom line - a motor only has so much power and spin a propellor only so fast.

How many pound trolling motor do I need?

General rule of thumb: you need at least 2 lbs. of thrust for every 100 lbs. of fully-loaded boat weight (people and gear included). If things like wind or current are major factors where you fish, you'll want a little extra thrust.

Does trolling motor need to be centered?

I've seen trolling motors mounted just about any place you can put them on the front,back side doesn't matter. Ideally in the center is right. As far as the prop hitting the boat, sounds like it needs to go down farther if it can.

Can I mount trolling motor on side of boat?

Yes, you can definitely mount a trolling motor on the side of the boat. However, this would depend on the type of trolling motor you use and what kind of boat you have. But in most cases, you can easily mount the trolling motor to the side of the boat through the clamp itself.

How do you put a trolling motor in water?

All bow mount trolling motors come with some form of handle to help anglers launch the motor into the water. Simply pull the cable or cord backwards/towards yourself to release the locking pin. This pin allows the trolling motor to stay put while in transit. Typically, you will hear the pin move.

How deep should my prop be in the water?

If you have a short shaft motor, the top most part of the transom and the lower most part of the boat should be about 15 to 16 inches. For a long shaft, I think 20 to 21 inches is correct.

Can you run a trolling motor out of the water?

Registered. Your motor is cooled by the water around it, while running it out of the water for a very short time would be OK, it would take a long time to drain the battery much running the motor out of the water with no load.

Why is my trolling motor losing power?

A battery or batteries should be checked regularly, as they they are the most common cause of the trolling motor losing power. If your lead-acid battery is over 3 years old, you probably need to replace it. In any case, there are a few things you can do to check if your battery is in good shape.

Will 2 trolling motors make you go faster?

Two trolling motors will allow a fishing boat to go faster but it won't make much of a difference. Some people would even say that there are no real advantages to doing this. However, you can still see some benefits when using two trolling motors but they won't make you run like a speed boat.

Do all trolling motors go the same speed?

In fact two 55 pound thrust motors will not move you any faster than one 30 pound thrust motor. Higher thrust 12V trolling motors are designed for bigger heavier boats with larger payloads. The maximum speed of a trolling motor is 5 mph regardless of how many pounds of thrust.

How fast can a jon boat go with a trolling motor?

A jon boat powered by a trolling motor can go up to 4 to 5 miles per hour, but it's rare to reach these top speeds. In most cases you can expect a speed between 2 and 3 mph at maximum throttle.

How do I stop my trolling motor from shaking?

Often times simply removing the prop, rotating it 180 degrees, and re-installing it will lessen or eliminate the incidence of vibration. If this does not correct the problem then you should contact your local Minn Kota service provider for an evaluation.

How do you slow down a trolling motor?

If your boat has multiple outboards, shutting down one or more engines will allow you to drop speed. With triple outboards, for example, shutting down the center engine (or leaving it in neutral) will help you troll slower. If that's not slow enough, use just the center outboard and turn off the two outside motors.

How fast does a trolling motor spin?

So with 10 volts applied to the motor you can expect it to turn 1540 rpm. Of course it will draw much more battery power spinning in water than when in air. Minnkota and others use a prop with a pitch of 4 inches. That is the ideal boat , in ideal conditions, will move 4 inches each time the prop makes one revolution.

What does transom mount mean?

In short, a transom mount is a trolling motor which mounts to the transom of a boat. These motors thrust the boat from the rear. In contrast, a bow mount which pulls the boat through the water. These motors are typically affordable, easy to install, and simple to operate.

What is a boat transom?

What is a Boat Transom? The vertical section at the rear of the boat is known as the transom. In most modern saltwater fiberglass boats, the transom can house single or multiple outboard motors.

Can a trolling motor be used on a canoe?

A 30″ electric trolling motor shaft is perfect for most canoes. This will allow you to get the motor and propeller far enough into the water to use the full thrust of the engine. But it will also give you some extra shaft length to put the motor down deeper in the water in case you're in choppy, bucking water.