Considering new Vantage, have ?s

[Skywagon]

I have a Lund 1825 Explorer Sport (set up similar to a Pro-V), 150 Merc with console steering. Can a person comfortably sit in one of the back floor mounted pedestal seats to steer the Vantage? Bigger is always better, but for 7 hours of use in average wave conditions, is a Vantage 80 enough, since the boat is set up for 24 volt now on the bow mount? Is it feasable to use the starting battery, as well as the two trolling motor batteries to get 36 volts if I decided to go with the 101, or would a third dedicated trolling battery be necessary? And last, are bugs out of the new Vantage trolling motors? Thanks for any thoughts.

[Waxy]

Is the 36V better? Yeah it is, but I fished with an 80/24V in my 1900 Pro V for years, it will get the job done. It won't run at 6 or higher for seven hours, but if you're not running at high speeds with it consistently, the 24V setup will last for 7 hours no problem.

IMHO, you'd want a third dedicated deep cycle battery. Far longer lasting power and no risk of running down the starting battery to the point your outboard won't start.

The Vantages will always have quirks, but they've been very reliable for me, I'd have a hard time fishing without one. As for comfort, you'll find a way...

Waxy

[Skywagon]

Thanks Waxy, I'm still wavering on getting the 101 or not, finding a place for the 4th battery, then getting another charger would all be a pain.

[Wade B AKA: Ruger2506]

Originally Posted by Skywagon

Thanks Waxy, I'm still wavering on getting the 101 or not, finding a place for the 4th battery, then getting another charger would all be a pain.

I put a 101# Terrova on my boat when most guys are satisfied with the 80# Terrova. With that being said, I doubt I would ever go back (unless I went with a smaller boat). You would love the extra power.

[Leeches]

I was told to designate batteries for trolling motors only, that being said you could have 4 batt. in boat thats at least $400 come replacement time and thats being conservative!I have not pulled the trigger on a vantage 80# I have a 55# vector on a 16' and it backtrolls into heavy winds pretty well but I'm starting to think for the price a 55# bow mount with ipilot is the ticket maybe a touch more money but seems to be awsome from what I've read.

[Dave G]

My starting battery is a deep cycle battery and I use it (along with 2 other deep cycles) for powering my 36 volt transom electric motor. Been doing it for 10 years without a problem and I use the electric a lot as I don't have a gas kicker on my boat. After a typical fishing day my starting battery is usually only depleted about 10-20% while the two other deep cycles are down 20-40%. The alternator in the big engine quickly charges the starting deep cycle. My last set of wal-mart batteries lasted 9 years while fishing with the boat about 20-30 times per year. The starting deep cycle also powers all accessories and a fish finder with side imaging.

[1860Angler]

Originally Posted by Dave G

My starting battery is a deep cycle battery and I use it (along with 2 other deep cycles) for powering my 36 volt transom electric motor. Been doing it for 10 years without a problem and I use the electric a lot as I don't have a gas kicker on my boat. After a typical fishing day my starting battery is usually only depleted about 10-20% while the two other deep cycles are down 20-40%. The alternator in the big engine quickly charges the starting deep cycle. My last set of wal-mart batteries lasted 9 years while fishing with the boat about 20-30 times per year. The starting deep cycle also powers all accessories and a fish finder with side imaging.

Not sure how old your motor is, but some of the new outboards are very voltage sensitive, and I suspect that if you did this with a new motor, you'd be paddling to shore, or using your electric until it went dead!!

I would not recommend using your starting/accessory battery for the 3rd battery in a 36 volt string. Go with the 80 lb 24 volt Vantage and some group 31 trolling motor batteries and you will be fine.

[Dave G]

Originally Posted by 1860Angler

Not sure how old your motor is, but some of the new outboards are very voltage sensitive, and I suspect that if you did this with a new motor, you'd be paddling to shore, or using your electric until it went dead!!

I would not recommend using your starting/accessory battery for the 3rd battery in a 36 volt string. Go with the 80 lb 24 volt Vantage and some group 31 trolling motor batteries and you will be fine.

My motor is a 2003 70 hp Suzuki 4 stroke. I have never tried to start the big engine with the trolling motor drawing full amps as that is about the only thing that could lower the voltage of an 80% charged battery. Although I have started the big motor many times with the electric running without any problems. Maybe Suzuki makes motors more tolerant of low voltages. I sure would not want to have a motor that would die just because the battery was a volt low. That is just poor design by their engineers and should not not be tolerated by consumers.

[1860Angler]

Originally Posted by Dave G

My motor is a 2003 70 hp Suzuki 4 stroke. I have never tried to start the big engine with the trolling motor drawing full amps as that is about the only thing that could lower the voltage of an 80% charged battery. Although I have started the big motor many times with the electric running without any problems. Maybe Suzuki makes motors more tolerant of low voltages. I sure would not want to have a motor that would die just because the battery was a volt low. That is just poor design by their engineers and should not not be tolerated by consumers.

Install a group 31 AGM battery and DON'T run your trolling motor on it and there won't be any problems.

[Skywagon]

As an update, I decided to buy the Vanatage 101 and added the fourth battery. My boat has lots of storage area and finding a place for the extra battery was not a problem. Andy at Fishlectronics in Pequat Lakes Mn put it all together for me and wired it so the Vantage has to be in the up position before the outboard will start. It was a very slick installation and I praise Andy for an excellent job, the 6 hour drive was worth it.