12V trolling motor is the most affordable and easy-to-wire trolling motor available with sufficient thrust to power small boats and low maintenance needed.
If you are looking for a cost-effective way to enjoy some time on the water or make your fishing journey more enjoyable and productive, continue reading this 12V trolling motor guide which covers everything you need to know before purchase.
Table of content:
- 12V Trolling Motor: Thrust & 24V Comparison
- Best 12V Trolling Motors: Most Popular Options in 2022
- 12 Volt Trolling Motor Battery Recommendations
- 12V Trolling Motor Wiring Diagram
12V Trolling Motor: Thrust Level & 24V Comparison
If you are new to the trolling motor world, you are very likely to be confused about which to go between 12V trolling motors and 24V ones.
Basically, there are two most important things to consider in 12 volt trolling motor vs 24 volt comparison before deciding one which one to go:
#1. Thrust & speed of the 12v trolling motor vs 24v
So it gets down to a simple question: Will a 12V trolling motor system be sufficient for your boat or you need to pay extra for higher thrust?
First thing you need to understand is that the highest thrust 12v trolling motor can provide is to be around 55 lb. If you need anything over, you should consider 24 or 36 volts.
If you have a clear idea of the thrust requirement, it can be an easy decision for you now:
| Motor | Thrust requirement |
| 12v trolling motor | Up to 55 lbs |
| 24v trolling motor | 70-80 lbs |
If you are still not sure what thrust level you need, here is a general guideline for your references:
If your boat is 16-foot or smaller, the 12V trolling motor would be a great choice to move your boat at a satisfying speed with less cost and space to accommodate the battery.
If you’re going to troll around when its calm out, then you would be fine with the 12V trolling motor in larger boats. If you fish windy days or in areas with a lot of tide, then probably a 24 volt system would be better for you.
Here is a test report of the 12V vs 24V trolling motor on an 18’ flats boat with 2 people and gear on board for your reference:
| Motor | Performances |
| Motorguide 12V trolling motor | Works great in calm water, struggling in strong current & wind |
| Motorguide 24V trolling motor | Works great in current or moderate wind |
So which is better 12v or 24v trolling motor is actually depends on your requirement and boating environment.
#2. Batteries onboard
Another big difference between 12V trolling motors and 24V ones is the battery requirement.
12V trolling motors only need ONE battery. Whereas, 24V trolling motors require 2 batteries to be wired in series, which means that the 12V trolling motor will take less precious space on your boat and reduces the boat load overall.
If you only have room for one trolling battery, then that’s going to factor into the equation of your choice between the 12V trolling motor and 24V motor.
Besides that, the 12V trolling motor is also much easier to transport and wire. Check out the 12V trolling motor wiring diagram later in part 4.
Best 12V Trolling Motors (with Spot Lock, GPS & More)
Settled on the 12V trolling motor but have no idea which one is the best?
No worries. Here we list the top 12V trolling motor types and models that are ranked top in both user experiences and feedbacks as well as in our professional tests.
#1. Best Overall: Newport Vessels NV-Series 12V Trolling Motor
If you are just looking for a reliable and affordable 12V electric trolling motor without the additional fancy functions like remote control, spot lock or anchor mode, the Newport Vessels NV-Series will never let you down.
This 12V trolling motor has 8 adjustable speeds, 5 forward and 3 reverse. Designed for trolling, this 12V electric trolling motor can reach a top speed at about 4mph.
What makes it appealing for most people is that this transom mount 12V trolling motor can be used in both freshwater and saltwater. If you are looking for a cost-effective way to enjoy some time on the water this summer and something that folds up small and is low maintenance, the Newport Vessels is your best choice.
According to our test, this 12v electric trolling motor provides satisfying trolling speeds and run time. A 50Ah battery can power the motor for 1hr at speed 5 continuously and roughly 3hrs at speed 3.
#2. Best for Remote Control: AQUOS Haswing Trolling Motor
If you are looking for a 12v trolling motor with remote control, this 12V bow mount trolling motor is the best choice with the most affordable price.
With wired foot control available, the AQUOS Haswing 12V trolling motor also allows you to wirelessly control the motor within up to 164 feet distance. That means you can not only control the motor when you are fishing on the other side of the boat or even on the shore-side.
Suitable for boats weighing up to 2750 lbs with suggested max boat length of 18ft, this bow mount 12v trolling motor is a popular among the inflatable boat bass boat and aluminum fishing boat owners.
It’s worth mentioning that this 12v trolling motor is made easy to use. Quick release bracket helps you to install and remove the motor easily. The depth collar lets you change depths quickly and easily. When you find the ideal depth, you can lock in tight to keep your motor right where you want it.
With sacrificial anode in place to protect the internal metal components, this 12v trolling motor is designed with excellent corrosion resistance so there are no worries about using it in saltwater.
#3. Best 12v Trolling Motor with Spot Lock: Minn Kota Terrova
If you want more advanced functions for the 12v trolling motor including the spot lock, GPS capacity, or i-pilot control system, check out the Minn Kota Terrova that comes with all functionalities you need (but at a reasonably higher price).
The Terrova 12v trolling motor is great for fishing with useful designs including spot lock which allows for amazingly accurate GPS anchoring so that you can stay right on top of any productive fishing spot without touching your trolling motor.
With the most advanced built-in wireless GPS system on the market, you can not only remotely control the motor but also record and retrace paths wherever the 12v trolling motor goes, all at your fingertips.
12 Volt Trolling Motor Battery Recommendations
As most 12v trolling motors, the batteries are not included in the motor package and needs separate purchase. It’s generally recommended to get 12v lead-acid deep cycle or lithium deep cycle battery to use together with the 12v trolling motor.
And here is a list of top selling 12 volt trolling motor batteries with various capacity to suit your diverse boating needs.
| Batteries | #1. 55Ah Deep Cycle SLA Battery | #2. 100AH Deep Cycle SLA Battery | #3. 12V 75AH Deep Cycle Battery |
| Image |  |  |  |
| Weight | 38.58 pounds | 60 pounds | 46.7 pounds |
| Dimension | 9.02 x 5.43 x 9.13 (inches) | 12.99x 6.73x 8.43 inches | 10.02 x 6.65 x 8.94 inches |
| Warranty | 1 year | 1 year | 30 day return |
All the three recommended batteries recommended for 12v trolling motors are sealed lead acid batteries. A big advantage of the SLA battery is that it is spill proof so it can be mounted in any position with shocks and vibration resistance.
And all these batteries are deep cycle rechargeable types with maintenance free care.
According to the user feedback, a single 55Ah Mighty Max 12v trolling motor battery can last for at least 5 hours at trolling speed nonstop, when used together with 55lb Minn Kota trolling motor. If you want more time on water, you may consider upgrading to 75 Ah or 100Ah.
A battery power center is recommended to easily install and manage the batteries if you are using Minn Kota trolling motor.
12V Trolling Motor Wiring Diagram
So with the 12v trolling motor and battery in place, how to wire it to get it ready for use?
The Minn Kota installation diagram gives you a quick glimpse of how to wire the battery easily and securely to your 12v trolling motor:
Note: It’s encouraged to use circuit breaker to protect from battery voltage surges and, in addition to that, the trolling motor plug which offers you a quick disconnect of trolling motor wiring.