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Electric Trolling Motors from Lenco
Marine and MotorGuide
Lenco Drive 164 Saltwater Stern
Mounted Electric Trolling Motors
Product Review. by Capt. Steven Lamp
Also See:
Mercury
Outboards for Sale
Used Boats For Sale
Since the 90's Lenco Marine
has been pioneering stern mounted saltwater trolling motor systems for all
sorts of applications. I had been working with the Lenco Trim Tab mounted
system "Trolling Tabs" since about 1999. Needing trim tabs on my the Back
Country model Pro Guide 202 it made sense to have the trolling motors
mounted right on the trim tabs for a quick powerful trolling system.
I went to Lake and Bay
Boats in 2002 where I was suddenly put in a world of no trim tabs necessary
so back to pushing a boat with a push pole I went. I truly love poling my
Lake and Bay Boca Grande series boat. I think that it is the largest
technical skiff made today.
Recently I dove into the
world of Bay Boats with the latest edition to the my fleet the Action Craft
Coastal Bay 2310. I then found myself back in need of an electric trolling
system that would work for this application. I already had trim tabs so
instead of rewiring or uninstalling. I found the Lenco Drive 164.
Knowing the innovative
history of Lenco Marine and the things they have accomplished with their
product I started to investigate what I could about this drive system.
That's when I found out a few new details about the Lenco electric trolling
motor system that I really wanted to share with my product review readers.
This system is NOT mounted
on a trim tab. It is made and designed to work as a trolling motor and
trolling motor lift actuator and that's all. Allot of guys give up tons of
landscape on the deck for one silly bow mount, all these things need is
about 2 square ft of landscape on the transom and now you have not 1 but 2
hard core Motor Guide Trolling motor heads pumping it out behind you
variably controlled forward and back.
Is this an advantage. Of
course. Two is always better than one and junk in the trunk is always better
than stuff on the hood. The reason most guys are still using the bow mounts
I think is simply because they have not seen the possibilities of twin screw
propulsion. Lets face it most of us who fish the back and inshore waters
have only gotten real good at docking a single screw boat and twin
engines somewhat intimidate us. Any pro that drives twin engines will tell
ya that there is no easier way to dock a boat. So why not apply this to
Electric Trolling motors. Lenco Marine Did and its working really great. The
maneuverability is so much better than a bow mount its almost funny.
Now, the Lenco
Trolling Tab trim tab option is really cool for those of us without the
landscape for four things mounted back there on the transom, however, the
new Lenco drive 164 is a bit more performance minded. The water is fed
directly to the motors not around a trim tab plate. Making each turn of the
prop a useful one making forward or back momentum. Another cool thing is
that the actual head unit of the MotorGuide electric motor is mounted closer
to the boat to offer less of a cantilever effect of weight on a boat over
un-floated territory. So what that means is that this system is to be used as
a trolling motor system with out the hassle of an obtrusive unit, a bow
mount, or too much weight effect on the transom. All of this is a
significant difference over the tab mounts. Another huge advancement for
trolling motors is the cavitation plate that is over top of the prop,
allowing the user to perform in shallower water than ever before. No more
SLLLUUURRRRPPPPP. I am very impressed with that whole idea in itself.
Lets talk about the lift
actuators. This whole system is mounted on a plate attached to the transom.
each motor has its own mount independent of each other. When fully up the
units lay up against the transom out of the way entirely for planning. the
button is mounted on the dash and goes up and down just as easy as a trim
unit. The Speed of the actuators is really impressive as well, I have not
timed it but its fast.
So how does this unit get
better? Lets talk about what makes this system work.
Variable
speed control has arrived.... yes, the ability to control the rotation of
the props in both forward and reverse has come to allow this system to be
superior to all bow mounts and any click control systems on the market.
Wireless Operation.. Your
going to love it. Working off a remote no larger than the car door opener
for my Yukon this thing allows you to operate the whole system effortlessly
anywhere on the boat without that annoying tether...
For those guys out there
that just cannot operate a trolling system without a foot pedal, well, Lenco
Marine has one of those for you too. Yes a Variable Speed Electric Trolling
motor Foot pedal Control, the one shown here is wired to the head unit and
acts just like a typical steering and speed control unit. however read
on.....
Does it get any better.? Oh
yea,
Now they have a foot
control that is wireless. Take it anywhere on the boat you desire and lay it
on the floor and off you go. Live the dream on your boat WIRELESSLY. I feel
Like dancing..
Wireless, lets look at
wireless. is it cool? Oh yea its cool alright. hang it on your hip, put it
at your feet use one or the other, I think that the user can even have
multiple control remotes programmed into one Lenco Drive. Me personally I
have two of the key remotes and I Velcro them, one to my console and one up
in the tower. I cannot tell you how this has changed my fishing on the bay
boat. With the variable speed control I have snuck up on some bonefish with
this system. Now that's shallow and quiet.
Ok lets talk about price...
I think that you can get these units at Boaters World and a few other places
for around 1300.00 or so. (Remember, that is for TWO not One trolling motor
producing over 80lbs of thrust each on a mechanism that lowers the motors in
and out of the water effortlessly). Best part is that for few extra
bucks these companies warrantee the units should anything go wrong with an
ESP. Extended Service Policy, Huge insurance for us in the harsh environment
of Saltwater and it makes for a local dealer to everyone no matter where you
are in the US. I know there are a few other boat parts dealers that carry
these units as well, please refer to the web site below for that info..
Ok, now I have told you all
the latest and greatest about his Lenco Drive 164 with the MotorGuide
electric motors. Is there anything negative to share? Not yet, I have had
the system for about 36 charters and so far no issues the things are
performing flawlessly. I will be sure to update here though if something
comes up.
Now let me tell you about
my setup.
I have an Action Craft 2110
Coastal bay boat with a 200 Mercury Opti Max. This boat has a tower and I
think it is the first time anyone has used a tower boat on the flats, with
Electric Trolling Motors. You can imagine what I can see with this thing..
Its amazing.. Furthermore with the Lenco Drives you can imagine the ground I
cover looking for stuff. My Clients love it and so Do I.
I invite everyone to email
me about this product and ask me questions.
Here is Lenco Marines Info
Web site is very informative
www.lencomarine.com
Contact Lenco Marine at
772-288-2662
if you can’t get what you want when you want it.
The Lenco Marine
Lenco Drive 164
Saltwater Stern Mounted Electric Trolling Motors
With MotorGuide Electric Motors
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