For many of us the electric trolling motor at the bow has become a critical fishing tool. And while most of these are built great, like any propulsion system, glitches do arise. If your trolling motor has a common issue pop up, one of these quick-fixes might do the trick.
- A Failure to Communicate – If the motor loses touch with an integrated head unit, the problem is either a bad wire connection or a software glitch. Check the cable running from the motor to the MFD first. Particularly where plugs get doused by saltwater, the connectors can be problematic. A good cleaning and a dose of WD-40 will often do the trick. If all looks good as far as the cable and connectors go, you probably need to do a software update on the MFD head unit. Just how you do it will differ by manufacturer but they’re all fairly easy these days, and in some cases you can do it via WiFi right on the boat.
- Stuck in the Down Position – Many of the foot pedal mechanisms on electric trolling motors work via a latch or cable that can get stuck or break. When this happens you’ll be able to raise the motor through the mount, but unable to tilt it back to horizontal. Reach over the front of the mount and feel for a small stainless-steel bar, and you may be able to pull it forward and release the locking mechanism. If yours doesn’t have an accessible locking mechanism slide the motor all the way up in the mount then tighten down the hand screw to keep it up so you can at least cruise around until you get back to the dock.
- Erratic Behavior – If the motor works fine but intermittently cuts out, loses the GPS fix on a regular basis, or slows down without explanation, you have a power issue. Cleaning the battery terminals and getting rid of any corrosion may do the trick. Quick-disconnect plugs should also be suspected and cleaned if dirty or corroded. Also feel the cables wherever they’re accessible and if you ID a hot spot, replace the cable. If none of these measures work you need to test the battery to make sure it’s fully charged and still in good shape.
Of course, there are plenty of other problems that can pop up. But these three issues are among the most common, so be ready to fix ’em – and then you can get right back to fishing.