Things To Know About A 24 Volt Trolling Motor

A rule of thumb with most decisions relating to pleasure and fishing craft is that bigger is better.

This is because a larger boat provides a more secure platform for the angler, and bigger engines enable more control in different sea states, and the same factors apply to a trolling motor.

A 24-Volt trolling motor offers several advantages over the equivalent 12-Volt units. Amongst the benefits are longer battery life and higher thrust levels, which are suited to bigger and heavier boats and provide control in rougher or windy conditions.

If you are considering a new trolling motor for your boat, a 24-Volt trolling engine offers many benefits. It is the optimum choice as long as the available budget can cover the increased cost of the motor and battery.

⚡ Why Should You Consider A 24-Volt Trolling Motor?

12-Volt motors are ideally suited for smaller boats used in calm inland waters. The circumstances where a 24v trolling motor is the better choice are as follows.

1️⃣ If you have a boat longer than 16 feet, a 24-Volt motor is the better choice.

2️⃣ If the boat is used in rough water conditions.

3️⃣ If the boat is used in high wind conditions.

4️⃣ If you need an extended range.

5️⃣ If the boat is heavily loaded.

🛒Things To Consider When Buying A 24-Volt Trolling Motor

Modern trolling motors are very advanced, and most manufacturers have products that offer many features.

The Advantages Of A 24-Volt Trolling Motor

The advantages of a 24v trolling motor are as follows.

They Are More Powerful

A 24-Volt motor has more power (thrust) available, making it more effective in the following conditions.

High winds and currents.
It can propel a heavier boat.

They Are More Efficient

Because a 24-Volt trolling motor is more powerful, it uses less energy to produce the same thrust as a 12-Volt model.

It means that a 24v trolling motor uses 50% less current (amps) than a 12-Volt unit producing the same thrust level.

They provide A Longer Range

Because the current draw is less with a 24-Volt trolling motor, it increases the range compared to a 12-Volt motor.

The Disadvantages Of A 24-Volt Trolling Motor

The disadvantages of a 24-Volt trolling motor are as follows.

They are More Expensive

Three factors make a 24v trolling motor more expensive.

24v trolling motors are more expensive to purchase.
They need a larger 24-Volt battery or two 12-Volt batteries.
They operate optimally using the more expensive Lithium-ion batteries.

They Weigh More

Because they require two 12-Volt or one 24-Volt battery, the system is heavier than a 12-Volt motor.

⚙️ What Voltage Electric Trolling Motors Are Available?

Trolling motors are available in three voltage sizes, each needing a differently specified battery.

12-Volt motors.
24-Volt motors.
36-Volt motors.

⚖️ What Is The Difference Between The Varying Voltage Motors?

Voltage is measured by the amount of current at the negative battery terminal against the current at the positive terminal. The difference between the two represents the voltage which is the potential of the battery to perform work.

The greater the difference (voltage), the greater the battery’s potential to do work. In simple terms, a higher voltage motor generates more power than smaller voltage units.

The power produced by electric motors is called “thrust” and is ranked in pounds or kilowatts, as opposed to horsepower, which is the measurement used for internal combustion engines.

Horsepower is the measure that most boaters understand. Therefore, if you need to convert the pounds of thrust a trolling motor produces into horsepower, the rough guide is that fifty pounds of thrust equals two horsepower.

To make it super simple, use our calculator below to try out different combinations:

Mechanical Horsepower to Pounds of Thrust Calculator

Enter a value in horsepower:

Enter a value in pounds of thrust:

Result:

As discussed earlier, the higher the motor’s voltage, the greater the amount of thrust generated. However, it does not necessarily mean the trolling motor will move the boat faster.

Instead, the measurement “thrust” is the equivalent of torque in a car. It means that the higher the voltage, the larger sized boat the trolling motor will be capable of moving.

Electric trolling motors produce between 20 pounds to 200 pounds of thrust.

A 24-Volt trolling motor uses half the amperage of a 12-Volt motor; therefore, the batteries will last twice as long at the same power level.

The differences between the electric trolling motors are listed below.

	12-Volt Trolling Motor	24-Volt Trolling Motor	36-Volt Trolling Motor
Maximum Thrust	+55 pounds of thrust	80 – 90 pounds of thrust	100 – 160 pounds of thrust
Equivalent Horsepower	1hp	1.5 – 2hp	2hp – 3hp
Optimum Boat size	16 feet or less	18 – 22 feet	25 feet or more
Number of batteries needed	One 12-Volt battery	Two 12-Volt batteries or a single 24-Volt battery	Three 12-Volt batteries
Recommended battery type	Lithium-ion	Lithium-ion	Lithium-ion

🔢 Do I Need A 12-Volt, 24-Volt, Or 36-Volt Motor?

The decision regarding which trolling motor is most suited will depend on your circumstances.

A trolling motor should be able to meet the following specifications.

It can propel the boat at 3-4 mph.
It can hold the boat’s position in varying water conditions.
Provide sufficient power to maintain a designated course.
Enable responsive steering.

Eight factors to consider when buying a 24-Volt Trolling Motor.

The size and weight of your boat.
The battery life and range you require between charges.
How and where the boat is used.
Choose between a bow mount or stern-mounted unit.
The type of mounting bracket to ensure a secure attachment.
The shaft length.
The control system (hand, foot pedal, or remote units) which suits you.
Whether it is compatible with a fish-finding system.

❓ FAQs

Will A 24-Volt Trolling Motor Last Longer Than A 12-Volt Unit?

A trolling motor offers several longevity benefits.

The first benefit is that the 24-Volt motor will use less battery at the same power levels. It means that the range of the bigger engine is almost twice that of a 12-Volt battery.

The second benefit is that the 24-Volt battery will operate at lower power levels and, therefore, should wear at a slower rate.

How Long Will A 24-Volt Trolling Motor Last?

It is difficult to dogmatically state how long the 24-Volt trolling motor will last because so many variables apply.

These are as follows:

The power settings.
The ambient and water temperature.

However, if a 24-Volt, 100-amp battery is installed, which is not used at full power, it can be expected to last 8 hours between charges.

Will A 12-Volt Battery Run A 24-Volt Trolling Motor?

It is possible to run a 24v trolling motor with a 12-Volt battery; however, there will be less power available, and the 24-Volt motor will mirror the performance of a 12-Volt
motor.

This rule does not apply to trolling motors, which have electric steering mechanisms and require a 24-Volt battery.

It also does not work in reverse, and it is impossible to use a 24-Volt battery to power a 12-Volt motor. It will overload the regulator and damage the motor.

🔑 Key Takeaways

A 24-volt trolling motor has many advantages over a 12-Volt trolling motor.

1️⃣ A 24-Volt motor has more power (thrust) available, making it more effective in the following conditions.

2️⃣ Because a 24-Volt trolling motor is more powerful, it uses less energy to produce the same thrust as a 12-Volt model.

3️⃣ Because the current draw is less with a 24-Volt trolling motor, it increases the range compared to a 12-Volt motor.

4️⃣ Because they require two 12-Volt or one 24-Volt battery, the system is heavier than a 12-Volt motor.

Since we are on the topic of electric motor power, this article covers the most powerful electric outboard motors at various price points.