Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Looking at a Minn Kota Powerdrive 45lb 48inch. There are two variations.

One has the V2 designation with SKU 1358710.

The other does not have the "V2" designation. And has SKU 1358790, it has Blutooth (not sure they have both)

I like the wired remote that has an 18foot control. I can control the motor anywhere on my 24ft toon. Seems like a good idea.

1) Any idea about differences in the two motors?

2) I just bought a private lake and home that is a bit secluded. The boat will stay at my dock. Not sure about security and would like to take the motor inside when I am away. Is there a detachable mount?

Thanks, Bill

I'm not sure about the V2 but I'm guessing it is related to the fact that it is the second generation of the power drive.

I have the power drive V2 55# on my toon and they have a detachable mount. In fact, I have a cable lock wrapped around my seat base and I just attach the detachable bracket to that and lock it down with a small pad lock. It never leaves the boat. I wish I had a picture to show, but if you look up the quick release brackets, my set up may make more sense.

Also, you might think about a minimum of 55#. Mine does good 75% of the time. I wouldn't want anything less than that though.

I also tend to agree 45lb thrust for 24' boat might be a bit small.
I know most try to avoid 24 volt 2 battery setup, but in any kind of wind at all the 45lb even 55lb will have a hard time even wide opened.

I have a 20 foot boat and I'm happy with the 80 pound thrust from the Minn Kota. I occasionally need full power. My old 17 foot flats boat had a 55 pound thrust and it was barely enough to get around with a strong wind. The quick release (lockable) bracket is a "must have."

I have the TERROVA 80lb thrust on my 25' boat and with winds up to 10 MPH does a decent job at 70% power setting. I know a 55lb unit would been disappointing.
I didn’t want to have to go with a 24 volt system for obvious reasons, but research convinced me I had to. Now glad I did.
The iPilot Terrova system is great. I’ve had a problem with the motor power head receiver failing.
Most likely something wrong with the rest of the motor causing it to fail.
Minn Kota replaced three remote power head units for me, but now the warranty has expired so I hope this last one holds up.
I have the foot pad control unit just in case, but the remote control is beautiful when it working.

Ddancers,
Do not charge your batteries with the motor connected. Unplug, or disconnect it.

Thanks for all your help. Looks like a 55# will be enough. I have my boat on my 2 acre lake. I don't go very far, nor very fast.

[quote="joe20toon"]Ddancers,
Do not charge your batteries with the motor connected. Unplug, or disconnect it.[/quote]


Thanks for info (joe20toon) - however I always disconnect before charging. Wondering if battery quality has an effect. Been using two 27 group Wal-Mart Batteries.
Have to get new batteries this year, old ones have gone through life cycle 3 years. Did you have an issues with power head unit.
For me each time they would work find but after a 20 or so times out the range of remote would go from 200 ft to about 12 ft and I’d be unable to control unit from back of boat.
I know the remote is fine and I tried re- syncing, but that wouldn’t help. Each time I replacement power head it would work great again.
Last time Tech guy wanted me to ship entire motor but I would have lost the whole season, and would have paid a lot of shipping cost, plus only had a week left on warranty.
Felt it was likely they ship it back without finding anything.
Power heads went for $360 then so if it happens again I might buy a whole new system and sell old unit with foot pad (but know Admiral won't like that).
I could have extended warranty but that would have cost about $400 3rd party and heard to many negatives.
Hope I don’t have same problem this year, when it works it works Great.

Ddancers,

I'm using NAPA (Deka) batteries. My 'RipTide' trolling motor 'main circuit board' quit working. I researched the issue and found out about disconnecting the trolling motor while charging. I misunderstood your issue of the remote problem. Remote controlled trolling motors are amazing and, it would be hard to go back to the foot controlled motor. So far, I have seen at least a 50 foot range with the remote while (playing) at the dock.

I'm not sure of electronic differences with the different models of MinnKotas...

Battery quality should have no effects on what you described. Quality would be a lifespan issue or leaking, etc. ...