Electric Motor in Salt Water???
 

I read where you can fry a Standard Trolling motor in Salt Water, but I have also seen guys post that they do it with no problems. Any experience with this?
Thanks
:smash:

They only fry because of corrosion. If you're religious about cleaning, they will go on for quite a while. Try to pick up a Minn Kota Riptide for saltwater use. They have a corrosion resistant paint and some extra seals.
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From another board: "You can use a fresh water trolling motor in salt. Just make sure you wash it off with your boat and motor and watch for rust or nicks and take care of them. I used a minn kota in salt for 4 years no problem and then sold it for $200. I replaced it only to get a more powerful trolling motor."

I use the same trolling motor in salt water every year for duck hunting.Its about 11 years old and never had a problem. Rinse it off aftereach use and thats it.

I've been using electric trolling motors in the salt since the late 70's.. my first one was a Ted Willams... it's only been in the last 10 years or so that "salt water" versions were available/affordable...since the dawn of the 80's then I've been through a half dozen or so ( fresh water models)... mainly because bigger and more powewrfull ones were available.. I've only been using salt water versions for the last two years... prior to that.. they were mostly Minn Kotta fresh water models in the 40-50 lb thrust range... I use the electric more than the main engine... about 30 hours a week or so.. 5 months out of the year... if you keep line off of the prop.. grease and lube the swivel points and thumb screws touch up the paint in the fall they last a long time... mine never came off the boat once the went on... it was on the boat in the slip all summer and neve got taken off for the winter.. I never washed them or gave them any special care in season... most lasted 5 years or better... and I could have repaired them if I wanted to.... they mainly were just worn out..I rebuilt a 10 year old Minn kotta 50lb thrust fresh water vedrsion that i keep as a back up... new thumb screws, controller and paint has it looking and working like new... should my current( salt water version) one cease to run properly...it's sitting over the rafters waiting for duty.

You can solve the corrision problem by using a zinc on the motor shaft and a quick wash after use. Will last as long as a saltwater unit.

ditto wash after each use and it will last; I run a 101# rip-tide I-Pilot and love it.

If you're going to install a zinc, make sure you have a good connection between the zinc and the metal in the motor.

a good deal of the newer motors use a composit shaft.. they do make zincs for the prop nuts... Motor guide uses one on it's SS shaft on the salt water models