Trolling Motor Help needed ASAP...leaving next week for 1 yearly trip

Gentlemen,
I purchased an aluminum boat a few months back, and Finally have been able to get it on the water (last Saturday the 20th). Thats the reason I have not joined you guys in the local Tourneys yet. The boat is running like a swiss watch except for one thing. I keep on blowing a trolling motor fuse. I purchased a new battery for it.

Here are the symptoms: Out of the water the motor runs fine...no issue. I put it on all the speeds 1-5 and hold it down and it runs.

Once it goes in the water it blows on speed-5 within seconds. I took it out last night and it did it again. I removed the front panel where the trolling motor recepticle is and I noticed that the connecter behind the panel was slightly open/unattached on one side. I pushed it in, taped it up. It looks like a male female into a female male. Im hoping this is the cause, I will not be able to test it in water again until friday night.

The Dilema.....If this is not the cause of the issue, who around me (Worcester area) can I take my boat too, to have them look at and fix it. I leave next Thursday for my once a year fishing trip http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/crying.gif

Thanks Guys

Once I get these kinks worked out, I will join the local get togethers.

Hey Jimmy,
First thing we all would need to know is what trolling motor do you have (MK,MG Rude) and is it new or used? There are a lot of differences betwen them. The second thing is that you don't want to run the motor out of water. Those little motors will heat up real fast and burn out.
I really don't know what else to tell you except to retrace the lines(which you already did I'm sure). Where are you heading on Vacation?
Have a great time.
Mac

Blown fuses are either from a power wire shorting to ground...or too low an amperage fuse. I would lean towards the fuse, seeing as how it only blows when under load (in the water). It's also possible something is wrong with the tolling motor, ie old, worn out, etc. If you have worn brushes, bad bearings, or rust on commutator, it would cause the motor to draw more amperage from the battery than normal, popping the fuse in the process. Check your fuse amperage first, then go from there. Hopefuly tightening your connection at the bow fixed the problem. Do you have any other electronics running off that fuse? Make sure it's a designated fuse for just the TM. Hope this helped some, Good luck! -Gary

The TM is a motorguide 46 Pound thrust unit stock on G3 boats in 2k3. I will try all suggestions,
Thanks
Jim

I just got off the phone with G3 and Motorguide.

G3 said that my year model (2003) they used 10 guage wire and said I should be using a 30 amp fuse.

Motorguide said I should be using a 6 guage wire with a 50 amp Circuit breaker.

I am going to use a 30 amp fuse and see what happens, I dont feel like running 6 guage wire and a 50 amp circuit breaker. Not for this boat anyway.

My thoughts on this is why did the person before me have a 15 amp fuse in there? Who knows.!

Thanks again guys! See you on the water soon.

I will be going up to lake cobbosseecontee the first weekend in June....I missed the rally by a week http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/mad.gif ...............theres always next year.

30 Amp sounds right. It's not surprising that Motorguide recommends a heavier gauge wire, to get maximum amperage to your TM. When a TM is wired through your boats fuse panel, I wouldn't recommend more than a 30 Amp fuse, or you risk an electrical fire. The 50 Amp breaker Motorguide recommends is (i'm assuming) if you run the motor directly off the battery(ies). I know the 2006 G3's use a breaker panel...I wonder if they upgraded the wiring to take more than a 30 Amp breaker? Oh well, looks like you found the problem, have fun!

The fuse is what protects the wire. If you use too small of a wire, but bigger fuse, you can melt the insulation. It's always better to us a little smaller fuse, but keep the bigger wire and just keep spare fuses around. 30 Amp fuses are the right size for 10 guage wire. I would bump it up to at least #8 wire if i were you and put in a 40 AMP fuse, you'll get better efficiency out of your batteries and TM, plus you won't blow fuses as often.
If motor guide says 50 amp breaker, put in the # 6 wire and 50 amp breaker. They made the TM and know what they are doing, G3 made the boat and put in smaller wire to skimp on the cost