$250 12V 70# Koetsu S130 brushless trolling motor was very impressive

[zfami]

See my video Amazon review of a Koetsu S130 on a Sun Cat Daysailor here: https://a.co/0gLy4o6s

I'm replacing several Minn Kota's and will be testing the $270 Koetsu S200 beast on the Sun Cat next week...100lb thrust @ 12V and a proper stainless 35" shaft with aluminum transom mount. Stock props only for now - I'll have to drill out an old Motorguide and Minn Kota prop to see if either can be fitted to the Koetsu's thicker prop shaft.

Most folks will probably need the longer shaft of the S200; the S130 only comes w/a 30" shaft. While the short shaft S130 will work in mild lakes I think the integrated anti-cavitation plate on the Newport Vessels foiled rudder was essential. Getting rid of the depth adjustment collar could get you another inch or so deeper as well.

Pulling 30A @ 4mph seemed very easy for the S130, with 15-20A @ 3.3 to 3.5mph pretty much being the most efficient and comfortable cruising zone (easily a 15+ mile range absent adverse wind and current). Here is the range of tested amp draw/speed data points achieved in flat water, no wind or current and using a 100AH lifepo4 battery, maybe 300lbs or less of gear and crew:

15A 3.3mph, 20A 3.5mph, 25A 3.8mph, 30A 4mph, 35A ins. change, 40A 4.35mph, 48A @ 600W (mfg. max rated) 4.5mph. At maximum throttle the S130 actually exceeded the mfg. rating, pulling 53A/650W and did 4.6mph.

All above was derived using a GPS chartplotter and the battery's own BMS reported data.

SAFETY FIRST!
For those who might not be familiar with fusing and wiring higher amperage accessories, if you are running any of these powerful trolling motors or electric outboards without an integrated battery you really have to calculate appropriate wire gauge/awg sizing and fusing for all sorts of reasons, whether it's ampacity, voltage drop, etc. In particular there's fire safety - fuses protect the wiring from burning, not the device attached at the end! I have my 100AH lifepo4 battery mounted amidship on its side against the keel wall, with a terminal-mounted dual MRBF fuse block; one fuse (and wiring) rated for lighter amp loads going to the bow electric panel, another appropriately rated fuse and heavy wiring going aft to the rear under-seat bulkhead mounted battery switch and terminals (see my earlier posts and pictures of that).