Trolling motor for a j14

[turpintime]

I need some advice: what size trolling motor to use on the j14, and can a transom mount be "successfully" used on the bow? I know that there are bow mount transom brackets that can be purchased but how well do they work, and arent transom trolling motor's backwards? Money is somewhat an object 018 since my wife just let me buy the boat thumbsup. I will be fishing 98.5% of the time in salt water flats....anybody have any luck with a fresh water trolling motor in saltwater if kept clean? I say all this because A. Fresh water trolling motors are cheaper, and so are transom mount motor's..... 004

[Slim to None]

my j16 has a transom mount minn kota riptide 40# thrust mounted on an angled bracket. the 40# is a lot of thrust for these boats. the mount i have just bolts to the top of the transom lip and has a piece of wood to attach the motor to. nothing fancy, but it works great and was $30. it could be turned around and bolted to the bow, all you would have to do is have the head of your trolling motor turned 180 degrees. the smallest bow mount in the salt water series is a think 55lbs. i went with the transom mount so i could run the boat from my back deck by myself, and they take up less space on the boat when stored than the bow mount ones. i wouldn't try the fresh water in salt simply b/c it is the electronics inside that matter, and you cant really clean that. i found mine factory refurbished for $200. came with a 2 year warranty. i've used it for 4 years without the first problem. i'll get you a picture of my setup, it works great and is simple.

[bobreeves]

I've got a minn kota 55 mounted on the bow of my J16 - that's the way it came. I like the bow mount and foot control, but I would have mounted it a little further forward than where it is. I have to lift the prop and motor over the bow - can't just use the rope lift. It's probably enough to pull a skier. I've never run it faster than speed 3 (speeds are 1-5). It has performed flawlessly and I can get into almost anyplace with the outboard tilted up. I've heard the skiffs are easier to control with the trolling motor up front, but have no personal basis for comparison. The foot control is great, but it took me a little getting used to.

[Slim to None]

I've heard the skiffs are easier to control with the trolling motor up front, but have no personal basis for comparison

yes you are correct. my j16 can be hard to control with the transom trolling motor when compared to the handling with a bow mount. the boat will "pull" into a turn with the bow mount easier than it will "push" with the transom mount. either way go with minn kota riptide!

[workinprogress]

If you decide to go with a bow mount, here is one way it can be done.
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/noahsdad_photo/FranklinBoat006.jpg
http://i232.photobucket.com/albums/ee318/noahsdad_photo/FranklinBoat004.jpg

That is a MotorGuide 55lbs. thrust unit. It came with the foot control, but I fish a lot with my 4yr old son so I bought the wireless handheld remote for an extra $60 so I can control it from the stern. To me, it is much easier to control with the remote. This unit is saltwater rated and I personally would not try a fresh water unit in salt water. As others have said, the 55lbs. thrust is more than enough power for a j14. This may be a little more money than you are talking about--ran me around $650. Good luck.

[workinprogress]

One more thing, and I am not die-hard plugging MotorGuide. My business partner has a 24v Minn Kota Riptide, and has had no problems with it at all, but I have deployed and retracted both mine and his, and the MotorGuide is much, much more user friendly in that respect.