Best Trolling motor for 18.5 foot bass boat 24 or 36 volt?

[Grinny]

I just got a 2010 tracker tournament V 18 bass boat with 115 Mercury optimax, it's an aluminum boat but has a bass boat layout, I fish big water (GTB, mullet lake, LSC etc) but also lots of inland lakes. The boat came with a 12 volt 55 lb thrust which definitely isn't going to cut it. I have plenty of room to add batteries, so I'm trying to figure out do I go with a 24 volt with 80 lb thrust, or go with a 36 volt which looks to be around 100 lb thrust? Any insight would be appreciated.

Thanks!

[Genie]

24v Minn Kota Fortrex 80 !  I've seen this motor run 21 foot fiberglass boats for 8 hours in 3 foot waves!

[YpsiBass]

24v 71lb thrust Motorguide works really well on my 21' Stratos.  36v seems a bit like overkill.  I didn't know you could get a 24v 80lb TM.  Guess I'll have to keep my eye out for a used one.

[thedude]

i would also say 24v. had both on my 18' and the 24 was more than enough. Main benefit of the 36 is that you get a  few more hours of run time but also have to carry around and extra 50-60lbs.

Also get a fortrex. my new boat had a motor guide digital and i remember why i gave up on MGs years ago. Heaviest darn motor in the world to stow/deploy. Might as well be throwing a 20lb anchor and bringing it in every time you go to the front. Fortrex are effortless.

[Grinny]

Yeah they look pretty nice with the lift assist...how long of a shaft should I look at, 45 or 52 inch? the one on there now is a 42 and there was some chop on the water fishing on LSC and the TM occasionally would pop up out of the water...which is annoying...

[Genie]

Mine is 52.

[MSURoss]

I have a 18.5ft boat and I have the 80lb fortrex. Had a MG digital before... fortrex does much better in weeds.

[djkimmel]

Get the longer shaft. 45 inch is too short for big water unless you like the sound of the trolling motor breaching all the time!