A trolling motor that is used properly, kept clean and stored well commonly lasts many years, and good ones often last a decade or more. The battery is usually replaced several times over the motor’s life. What ends a trolling motor’s life early is damage and neglect: corrosion, water reaching the electronics, prop strikes and bent shafts, fishing line wrapped behind the prop, worn brushes on brushed motors, and wiring that is too small or poorly connected.
What shortens a trolling motor’s life
- Salt water on a freshwater motor; see Riptide vs freshwater Minn Kota.
- Fishing line behind the prop, which can damage the seals and let water in.
- Impacts with stumps and rocks that bend the shaft or damage the prop.
- Undersized wiring or loose connections that cause heat and voltage drop; see trolling motor wiring.
- Running too shallow, so the prop ventilates and the motor works harder; see how deep a trolling motor should be.
Brushed vs brushless
Brushed motors have brushes that wear over time and can be replaced on many models. Brushless motors have no brushes to wear and are generally more efficient; see brushless vs brushed trolling motors.
How to make a trolling motor last
- Remove the prop periodically and clear fishing line from the shaft.
- Rinse the motor with fresh water after salt or brackish trips.
- Use the wire size and circuit breaker the maker specifies.
- Stow the motor securely when running on plane, and use a support if the maker recommends one.
- Store the motor dry, and keep the batteries charged over the off-season; see how to charge a trolling motor battery.
Signs a trolling motor needs service
- Loss of power or speeds that cut out.
- Noise or vibration from the lower unit.
- Water inside the motor housing or corrosion on connections.
- Steering or GPS faults on electronic models.
Repair or replace?
Props, shafts, mounts, brushes and wiring are all replaceable, so a single failure does not mean the motor is finished. Water inside the motor housing, failed electronics on a GPS motor or a badly corroded unit can cost close to a new motor to repair, and that is when replacement usually makes sense. A new prop is an easy, inexpensive fix for a damaged one; see trolling motor props.
Motor life vs battery run time
“How long does a trolling motor last” sometimes means how long it runs on one charge, which depends on the battery and speed; see how long a trolling motor battery lasts.
Trolling motors we list
We list Minn Kota freshwater and Riptide saltwater motors from the Riptide Maxxum 55 ($899.99) to the Ulterra 80 ($2,799.99). Browse all trolling motors.
More guides: how long lithium batteries last · trolling motor prices by type.
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