19” Outback trolling motor options

The father in law picked up an Outback 19” model, he is a double amputee and ain’t interested in paddling or peddling. We’re looking at several options, one question i have … is a water snake at 24 lbs of thrust as good as a Minn Kota with 30 lbs of thrust? New to the electric motor gig so any advise or suggestions would be appreciated. Feel free to link what you got.

My Minn Kota 30 (20 yr old) feels stronger than the Watersnake 24, but Minn Kota draws much more battery and about twice the weight. The Watersnake 24 draws about 15 ah at high and can push my Revo about 3-3.5 mph max. The Minn Kota 30 draws about 30 ah at high, and can push the Revo to about 4-4.5 mph.
Everything is a trade off. Really depends on what you're trying to do with the motor. I use the WS for lake trolling only. With a PWM mod, I can troll at ~2mph drawing only 3-4ah. With a 20ah lithium battery, I can troll for ~6 hrs. My battery + the WaterSnake together only weights 13lbs. Without using a PWM, it only has High and Low, draws 15 and 8ah respectively.

Btw, I could not measure any noticeable difference between the WS 18 and 24.  They look the same and draws about the same. I think the 24 is a ripoff.

ernest

Minn Kota 30 (20 yr old) feels stronger than the Watersnake 24, but Minn Kota draws much more battery and about twice the weight. The Watersnake 24 draws about 15 ah at high and can push my Revo about 3-3.5 mph max. The Minn Kota 30 draws about 30 ah at high, and can push the Revo to about 4-4.5 mph.
Everything is a trade off. Really depends on what you're trying to do with the motor. I use the WS for lake trolling only. With a PWM mod, I can troll at ~2mph drawing only 3-4ah. With a 20ah lithium battery, I can troll for ~6 hrs. My battery + the WaterSnake together only weights 13lbs. Without using a PWM, it only has High and Low, draws 15 and 8ah respectively.

Btw, I could not measure any noticeable difference between the WS 18 and 24.  They look the same and draws about the same. I think the 24 is a ripoff.

ernest

Best Response ever.

Thanks for the input, starting him in lakes (he’s been out on my big tuna) attended a few HOW outings with us as well but the Tillamook bay is or first real goal then maybe depot bay ocean fishing.

Also looking at this one https://www.islandhopperoutboards.com/variable-speed-cassette-drive-trolling-motors-for-hobie-short.html

I recommend a Torqeedo, but mount it on the side instead of at the end.  Easier to do on water maintenance.

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

I recommend a Torqeedo, but mount it on the side instead of at the end.  Easier to do on water maintenance.

By all accounts, Torqeedo is awesome. Of course, it's pricey, but I'd be a buyer if they made a battery for it that would fit into the rear hatch on my Hobie (which is otherwise wasted space), and also allowed me to run other things off the battery, such as FF. Maybe the mad scientist Chet is working on it as we speak...

i have my 2018 outback rigged with the 18 lbs thrust watersnake and it can do about 3.5 full speed and trolls at around 1.5 at a little below half throttle using a pwm. If you have questions or want to see how its set up feel free to shoot me a pm and ill send you photos. It connects to mirage drive area and using a single disconnect. If you want photos and how its down ill take them and show you. Also did a bunch of math to calculate time on water and i believe with my 23 ah battery i can get roughly 7 hours at trolling speeds if not more. Ran the battery for around 5.5 hours and still have juice to keep going. Thats doing some full throttle trolling as well.

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

Pops ordered this one, it says it does! I’ll report after he uses it, just looked he got the last one in stock.

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

Pops ordered this one, it says it does! I’ll report after he uses it, just looked he got the last one in stock.

Which one? can you post a link to a website which describes the trolling motor and/or offers it for sale?

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

Pops ordered this one, it says it does! I’ll report after he uses it, just looked he got the last one in stock.

Which one? can you post a link to a website which describes the trolling motor and/or offers it for sale?

Sorry Pete forgot the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hobie-Kayak-Mirage-Drive-Watersnake-24-Lb-Thrust-Trolling-Motor-Cassette-Kit/133834765948#vi__app-cvip-panel

i have my 2018 outback rigged with the 18 lbs thrust watersnake and it can do about 3.5 full speed and trolls at around 1.5 at a little below half throttle using a pwm. If you have questions or want to see how its set up feel free to shoot me a pm and ill send you photos. It connects to mirage drive area and using a single disconnect. If you want photos and how its down ill take them and show you. Also did a bunch of math to calculate time on water and i believe with my 23 ah battery i can get roughly 7 hours at trolling speeds if not more. Ran the battery for around 5.5 hours and still have juice to keep going. Thats doing some full throttle trolling as well.

Shot you a pm if it didn’t go you can email me.

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

Pops ordered this one, it says it does! I’ll report after he uses it, just looked he got the last one in stock.

Which one? can you post a link to a website which describes the trolling motor and/or offers it for sale?

Sorry Pete forgot the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hobie-Kayak-Mirage-Drive-Watersnake-24-Lb-Thrust-Trolling-Motor-Cassette-Kit/133834765948#vi__app-cvip-panel

I don't see any mention of having spot-lock capability. For $365 + $55 shipping, you get a shortened WS 24 on a hobie plug. The only thing they did was chopped down the shaft and mount it through a hobie plug. Nothing else. I guess these things had become more expensive. I paid $129 for the 24 and $99 for the 18.

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

Pops ordered this one, it says it does! I’ll report after he uses it, just looked he got the last one in stock.

Which one? can you post a link to a website which describes the trolling motor and/or offers it for sale?

Sorry Pete forgot the link.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hobie-Kayak-Mirage-Drive-Watersnake-24-Lb-Thrust-Trolling-Motor-Cassette-Kit/133834765948#vi__app-cvip-panel

I don't see any mention of having spot-lock capability. For $365 + $55 shipping, you get a shortened WS 24 on a hobie plug. The only thing they did was chopped down the shaft and mount it through a hobie plug. Nothing else. I guess these things had become more expensive. I paid $129 for the 24 and $99 for the 18.

I misunderstood his question, thought he was talking about locking in forward, couldn’t see a feasible way to put a t1 kicker on a kayak.

I wish somebody manufactured a trolling motor with spot lock capability which I could lock into the Mirage Drive hole of a Hobie kayak.

Didn’t Die Hard do a video on this?