I recently purchased a 21ft Frontier. It has a hand control Motor Guide trolling motor on it already, 80lb Thrust. It seemed to struggle yesterday against the current/wind.

I am wanting to upgrade to a new I-Pilot. For those who own one, is 80lb thrust enough? Or should I add another battery, new charger, and get a 112?

Will be mostly used for cruising banks, bayous, and spot lock for deeper water such as fishing the rigs and rocks in Hopedale.

Any advice is appreciated.

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Posted by Major Dutch Schaefer

Location: Classified

Member since Nov 2011

35542 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 8:59 am to Bigryno7

I don't own a Frontier but I have owned two and three bank trolling motors. Go with the 112 thrust.

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Posted by Uncle JackD

Member since Nov 2007

59254 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 9:05 am to Bigryno7

quote:
Or should I add another battery, new charger, and get a 112?

I’d get the 112. Buy once cry once.

I have a 21’ skeeter bay boat and opted for the 112 and have no regerts at all. It will hold that boat in spot very well and I’ve fished all day and never ran batteries low.

This post was edited on 2/2/20 at 9:06 am

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Posted by mdomingue

Lafayette, LA

Member since Nov 2010

38269 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 1:02 pm to Uncle JackD

quote:
quote:
Or should I add another battery, new charger, and get a 112?

I’d get the 112. Buy once cry once.

I have a 21’ skeeter bay boat and opted for the 112 and have no regerts at all. It will hold that boat in spot very well and I’ve fished all day and never ran batteries low.

I'll second this. I have a 19 Skeeter bay boat. The 80 works just fine for me but if the boat was any bigger, I would definitely want to 112.

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Posted by keakar

Member since Jan 2017

30152 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 6:53 pm to Bigryno7

i use an 80 lbs on my 17ft aluminum flatboat and thats just right

a 21ft glass boat needs a hell of a lot more then that i can tell you, you need to get something bigger and the 112 lbs one should be good unless there is a bigger one

This post was edited on 2/2/20 at 6:54 pm

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Posted by SeaPickle

Thibodaux

Member since May 2011

3163 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 7:37 pm to Bigryno7

I have an 80lb on my frontier. No issues. It has held in the gulf surf, 40 miles offshore snapper fishing and everywhere else I've tried. Any heavier or bigger hull I'd want more but for the weight of the frontier 80lb is fine

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Posted by WHODAT514

Walker, La

Member since Mar 2012

1891 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 8:39 pm to SeaPickle

I have an 80 lb on my frontier as well. It does everything sea pickle said and i have no issues. Any bigger of a boat I’d go 112. These hulls are light for a 21’ so i think you will be fine with the 80 24 v

This post was edited on 2/3/20 at 8:57 am

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Posted by Jamarcus Randall

Central

Member since Sep 2008

106 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 9:07 pm to Bigryno7

I have a 22’ Mako with 112 iPilot. Fished Hopedale this past Wednesday and Thursday and it was windy as hell. Spot lock was holding really good in the wind at about half power. After using it for 6-7 hours both days I still had about 50% battery. 80 Lb will get you by but 112 is what you need.

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Posted by DownshiftAndFloorIt

Here

Member since Jan 2011

69175 posts

Posted on 2/2/20 at 9:48 pm to Bigryno7

The 80 would be fine. The 112 would be awesome, but I'd rather have an 80 with two really good batteries than a 112 with 3 shite batteries

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Posted by Bigryno7

Nashville