What is a spot lock trolling motor?
A spot lock trolling motor is an electric motor that changes direction when the current in one of its coils is "spot locked." This means that when the coils current goes from negative to positive, it will move in the opposite direction. It turns out to be advantageous for boats and other watercraft because there are no propellers attached so maintenance costs are reduced.
The typical spot lock trolling motor is 12v, but it can also work at 24v. In addition, the spot lock trolling motor is a built-in feature of boat trailers that assists in the launching of smaller boats.
Benefits of a spot lock trolling motor
1. Can be used in salt water
This is achieved because the spot lock trolling motor has no moving parts and therefore the motor should not rust. This can also be used in salt water because the spot lock trolling motor's electric field that is present when a coil is turned on is higher than other electric motors. It is higher because the spot lock trolling motor does not have a commutator, which is the part of an electric motor in which the current can flow from both ends. The spot lock trolling motor also has a higher voltage and fewer turns, so there are no brushes or bearings to wear out.
2. Produces no more noise than a normal 12-volt motor
The spot lock trolling motor operates at frequencies around 400 - 600 Hz, resulting in just a small amount of noise that can be drowned by water noise. By making very little noise, the spot lock trolling motor does not disturb any fish.
3. Can be used for trolling
The reason spot lock trolling motors can be used for trolling is that they are sturdy, will not break, and are more economical than other electric motors that use propellers in that they run on batteries. While this effect is not as direct and powerful as true speed trolling, the spot lock trolling motor can be used noiselessly, since it produces no noise. This can allow the boat and other watercraft to have a more stealthy operation. Additionally, the spot lock trolling motor is easy to use because the current and voltage are easy to control using the radio remote control.
4. Decrease the weight of the boat
The spot lock trolling motor is also energy efficient because it only requires a 12-volt battery. In addition, because there are no rocking motion propellers, the boat and other watercraft get less windage. Therefore, the boat does not have to be as sturdy or heavy as if it had conventional propellers for when it is in use. Also, because all components are contained within, maintenance costs are reduced which lessens the likelihood that a part of the motor will break.
5. Increase boat speed
The high voltage in the spot lock trolling motor can make the boat move faster. In addition, when one of the coils is turned on, it moves in the opposite direction, so there is no backlash. However, a spot lock motor cannot be used at high speed because the current will flow too far to the other coil and it will not turn.
6. Provides vibration-free use of the boat.
The spot lock trolling motor can provide vibration-free use of the boat because there is no commutator, which is a part of an electric motor in which the current can flow from both ends. The spot lock trolling motor has a higher voltage and fewer turns, so there are no brushes or bearings to wear out. The spot lock trolling motor also has a current and voltage that are easy to control using the radio remote control, and it should not be used in an environment where there are large currents or voltages such as thunderstorms.
7. Reduces windage on watercraft by eliminating propeller action
When a shaft turns a propeller, there is backlash. This means that when the shaft turns one way, the propeller resists turning in the opposite direction but then suddenly starts moving quickly and is back to its original position due to backlash. However, the spot lock trolling motor does not have any backlash because when one of the coils is turned on, it moves in opposite directions.
8. Makes smaller boats more maneuverable and easier to launch with less effort
The spot lock trolling motor may be able to be used as a push-pole because it has no propeller system. In addition, the spot lock trolling motor makes it easier to launch boats into deep water without much effort since no propeller system can get tangled. This can be done by attaching the spot lock trolling motor onto the boat, launching it into the water, and then simply turning on the spot lock trolling motor.
Conclusion
The best spot lock trolling motor is also much less of a hassle to use than an external propeller system because there are no corrosion issues that can arise from salt water. The spot lock trolling motor is also safer than other electric motors in that it has no exposed electrical wires that can spark or shock someone.
