If you are shopping for the best 24v trolling motors for bass boats, the shortlist gets narrow fast. Only a handful of manufacturers build true 24 volt bow-mount systems for freshwater fishing, and the difference between a good one and a great one shows up in wind, current, and how long your batteries last on the fourth hour of a tournament day.
We spent weeks sorting through owner feedback, spec sheets, and long-running forum threads on bass boards to build this list. What we found is that thrust on paper matters far less than the electronics ecosystem you already own, the shaft length that actually clears your transom, and whether the motor's battery draw fits the bank you can afford to carry. Our broader trolling motor roundup covers the full lineup including saltwater and kayak rigs, so this one stays focused on 24V bass boats.
The forum consensus on the 12V versus 24V question is consistent and worth repeating early: motors at 55 pounds of thrust or below are typically 12V, and everything above that threshold is a 24V system. If your boat is under 18 feet and you troll mostly below half throttle, 12V is the honest answer. Everything past that line is where 24V earns its extra battery weight. Updated for 2026, the picks below reflect the current crop of freshwater-ready 24V bow mounts.
Top 3 Picks for Best 24V Trolling Motors for Bass Boats (October 2026)
Minn Kota Terrova 80 lb
- 80 lb thrust on 24V
- Spot-Lock with Jog
- MEGA Down Imaging built in
- Digital Maximizer
Minn Kota Terrova i-Pilot
- 80 lb thrust on 24V
- i-Pilot Link GPS control
- Fall away ramp with Lift-Assist
- Universal Sonar 2
Minn Kota PowerDrive 70 lb
- 70 lb thrust on 24V
- Spot-Lock and drift modes
- Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar
- Deploy-Assist lever
Quick Overview: 7 Best 24V Trolling Motors for Bass Boats in 2026
| Product | Specs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Minn Kota Terrova 80 lb MEGA DI |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Minn Kota Terrova 80 lb i-Pilot Link |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Minn Kota PowerDrive 70 lb CHIRP |
|
Check Latest Price |
 MotorGuide Xi3 70 lb cable steer |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Garmin Force 57 inch brushless |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Simrad RECON 72 inch saltwater |
|
Check Latest Price |
 PARKHO HASWING Cayman 80 lb |
|
Check Latest Price |
1. Minn Kota Terrova 80 lb with MEGA Down Imaging, Spot-Lock and Jog
Minn Kota Terrova Bow-Mount Electric Trolling Motor with GPS, Spot-Lock, MEGA Down Imaging – 80 Lb. Thrust, 60 In. Shaft, Freshwater
80 lb thrust
24 volts
60 inch shaft
MEGA Down Imaging
Spot-Lock with Jog
Pros
- Spot-Lock with Jog shifts a locked spot 5 feet at a time
- Built-in MEGA Down Imaging reaches 200 feet
- Digital Maximizer stretches runtime on a fixed draw
- Weedless Wedge 2 prop handles heavy cover
- Three-year warranty once registered
Cons
- Requires a dedicated 24V battery bank
- Premium price point
- Foot pedal cable takes up deck space
This is the configuration we kept coming back to. An 80 pound motor on a 24 volt system, a 60 inch shaft, GPS anchoring, and a transducer buried inside the shaft so there is no second box to mount. Owner feedback lands at 4.6 stars across 58 reviews, with 83 percent of those ratings at five stars, which is the strongest combination of rating and owner volume anywhere in this lineup.
The Jog function is the feature that separates it from a plain Spot-Lock. When a spot locks somewhere you do not want, you nudge the boat five feet forward instead of releasing the lock entirely and hunting for the spot again. Anglers fishing steep rock and timber report that this alone cuts the number of spot adjustments per trip dramatically. It is small, and it is the reason this motor edges out the near-identical unit below it.
Drift mode, follow mode, and dodge mode round out the autopilot options. Dodge is the underrated one. Program a path around an obstacle and the motor steers back to it once you clear the snag, which matters when you are working a layby next to a stump field. Digital Maximizer is Minn Kota's pulse width modulation controller, and owner comments describe it as the difference between arriving home with charge and cutting the motor early.
The 18 foot foot pedal cable is long enough for most bass boat layouts and the electric steering offers both heel and toe response plus directional buttons, so you can pick the feel that suits how you stand at the bow. Included in the box are the corded foot pedal, a wireless remote with lanyard, a heading sensor, the MKP-33 prop, and the mounting hardware. Everything you need for a first install is in the carton.
Who the Terrova 80 with MEGA Down Imaging suits
This is the right motor for an 18 to 21 foot bass boat on big water where you fish wind and current, and it is the one we would put on a boat with a Humminbird or MEGA-equipped display. Since the sonar and the motor travel on the same wiring and the remote drives the GPS directly, there is no second transducer cable to run forward.
If you fish structure within 200 feet of the boat, the built-in imaging removes a mounting decision and cleans up the bow deck considerably. Pair it with two 24V banks in series and the 80 pound rating has real headroom in a push. Anglers running one 24V 100Ah lithium block report full day runtime without a kicker battery.
Where buyers report problems
The main objection is not the motor, it is the electrical commitment. A 24V system means two batteries, a two-bank charger, and heavier gauge wire, so the total cost of ownership is higher than the motor headline suggests. Owners also flag weight, since an 80 pound brushless head plus mount is a two-person lift at the transom for some anglers.
The foot pedal cable is long, which is good for layout and bad for tidiness. On a boat with a full width casting deck you will want to route it along a hatch edge so it never crosses a foot. Beyond that, the recurring complaint across reviews is price rather than performance, and the warranty is only the full three years once you register the unit.
2. Minn Kota Terrova 80 lb with i-Pilot Link GPS
Minn Kota 1358884 Terrova Freshwater Electric-Steer Bow-Mount Trolling Motor with MEGA Down Imaging & i-Pilot Link GPS, 80 lbs Thrust, 60" Shaft
80 lb thrust
24 volts
60 inch shaft
MEGA Down Imaging
i-Pilot Link GPS
Pros
- i-Pilot Link runs the motor from a Humminbird touchscreen
- Fall away ramp with spring-loaded Lift-Assist
- Universal Sonar 2 hides the transducer in the shaft
- Wireless remote and foot pedal both included
- Heading sensor included in the box
Cons
- Heaviest Minn Kota unit here at 57 lbs
- Premium price point
- Needs a full 24V battery system
Same thrust, same voltage, same 60 inch shaft as our top pick. The difference is the control layer. This one runs i-Pilot Link, which means the trolling motor becomes a device on your Humminbird or MEGA touchscreen rather than something you steer with a separate remote. For anyone who already lives on a Humminbird network, that integration is worth more than the Jog feature on the unit above.
Universal Sonar 2 is built into the shaft with the wiring concealed, and the MEGA Down Imaging comes along with it. Weight is listed at 57 pounds for the head, mount and cabling. That is the heaviest Minn Kota configuration here, and it is the thing to test at your transom before committing if you are a smaller angler lifting by hand.
Deployment is handled by fall away ramps with spring-loaded Lift-Assist, so the head rises out of the water as you lift rather than hanging there and letting you carry it. Owner comments single this out almost every time. On a big-water day where you deploy and stow a dozen times, the deploy mechanism decides how the motor feels far more than the motor does.
The package includes the wireless remote, the foot pedal, a heading sensor, and all mounting hardware and cabling. Two-year limited manufacturer warranty coverage applies here, shorter than the three-year registration warranty on the unit above. Spot-Lock is the core anchoring mode and it holds tightly according to owner reports.
Who the i-Pilot Link Terrova suits
Buy this one if your electronics are Humminbird or MEGA and you want a single screen running your charts, your sonar, and your anchoring. It also fits anglers who want the Lift-Assist deploy because they fish alone and stow the motor from the deck rather than from the transom.
At 80 pounds of thrust on 24 volts, this matches the power of the heavier 80 pound class units owners run on 19 foot boats in strong current and wind. On a 19 foot Bass Tracker with a walk-through windshield, forum owners report ample power from this class of setup even in gusty conditions. That is the load case this motor handles well.
Where buyers report problems
The 57 pound weight is the deal breaker for some people. If you cannot get two hands under the head at the transom, plan on a helper or a deck rod. The 60 inch shaft is also long, and on a shallow transom you may need the shorter 45 inch version instead, which changes the fit entirely.
There is no Jog on this listing, so moving a locked spot means releasing and re-acquiring. If you fish tight to cover and shift positions constantly, that is a real ergonomic loss compared with pick one. The warranty is also the shorter two-year limited version, and you need the full 24V bank running before this motor makes sense.
3. Minn Kota PowerDrive 70 lb with Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar
Minn Kota PowerDrive Bow-Mount Electric Trolling Motor with GPS, Dual Spectrum CHIRP Sonar – 70 Lb. Thrust, 60 In. Shaft, Freshwater
70 lb thrust
24 volts
60 inch shaft
Dual Spectrum CHIRP sonar
Spot-Lock GPS
Pros
- Spot-Lock with drift
- follow and dodge modes
- Deploy-Assist lever makes a 70 lb head manageable
- CHIRP sonar built into the shaft
- Bluetooth micro remote with grip
- Push-to-test battery meter
Cons
- No foot pedal included in the box
- Less thrust than the 80 lb Terrova units
- One reviewer reported the latch deploying at speed
This is the value position in a 24V list, and it makes the most sense if you are moving up from a 12V setup and want GPS anchoring without a four figure climb into the Terrova tier. Seventy pounds of thrust on 24 volts, 60 inch shaft, Spot-Lock, and CHIRP sonar built into the shaft. Owner feedback sits at 4.4 stars across 38 reviews with 74 percent five star ratings.
Deploy-Assist is the feature that matters most in practice. It is a lever on the stow assembly that uses the motor's own weight to help raise and lower the head, and on a 70 pound motor that difference is obvious. The Bluetooth micro remote has a non-slip grip and gives you full speed and steering control from the bow without a cable to route.
Digital Maximizer handles the throttle pulses, and the push-to-test battery meter lets you check bank state before you commit to a long run rather than after. Drift, follow, and dodge modes are all present, so you are not giving up autopilot behaviour to save money. The Dual Spectrum CHIRP transducer is concealed within the shaft, which keeps the deck clean.
What you give up versus the Terrova is 10 pounds of thrust, an integrated heading sensor, a foot pedal, and the MEGA-level imaging depth. In the box you get the motor with built-in sonar, the micro remote, and the mounting hardware. Two-year manufacturer warranty applies.
Who the PowerDrive 70 suits
This is our pick for anglers on 17 to 20 foot boats fishing lakes with moderate wind, and for anyone who wants a fully featured 24V GPS motor without the top-tier spend. It also works well on pontoons and small bass boats where 70 pounds is genuinely more than the hull needs.
If you fish structure but do not need deep scanning sonar, CHIRP through a built-in transducer covers most freshwater work. The Deploy-Assist lever makes solo stowing realistic, which matters if you are the only person on the boat and you run the motor up and down all day.
Where buyers report problems
The single biggest complaint is that no foot pedal is included. You get the micro remote, and if you prefer standing heel and toe steering you will need to source a pedal separately. Anglers coming from a cable steer or a pedal-driven 12V motor notice the change immediately.
One reviewer reported the latch mechanism releasing during travel at speed, which is a safety issue rather than a comfort one. Check the latch and its tension every time you stow, and use the motor strap on the transom regardless. At 70 pounds you also give up real headroom in a hard crosswind, which is where the 80 pound units pull ahead.
4. MotorGuide Xi3 70 lb Peak Thrust Cable Steer Motor
MotorGuide 940200120 X3 Freshwater Bow Mount Trolling Motor — Cable Steer, Foot-Control — 50-Inch Shaft, 70-Pound Peak Thrust 24V
70 lb peak thrust
24 volts
50 inch shaft
Cable steer foot control
Variable Ratio Steering
Pros
- Variable Ratio Steering for precise slow speed control
- Aircraft-grade aluminum mount with stainless bushings
- Composite bushings and locking pin for quiet running
- Weedless propeller design
Cons
- No GPS anchoring or Spot-Lock
- No built-in sonar transducer
- 50 inch shaft limits boat fit
This is the odd one out in the list and that is exactly why it is here. The MotorGuide Xi3 is a cable steer, foot control 24V motor with 70 pounds of peak thrust and no GPS, no Spot-Lock, and no sonar. What it does have is Variable Ratio Steering, which tightens the steering ratio at low speeds so the motor holds a line in a current instead of wandering off.
Owner feedback is split, sitting at 4.0 stars across 20 reviews with 56 percent five star and 19 percent one star. The positives cluster around power, quietness, and value for money. The negatives cluster around the steering cable, the absent electronics, and warranty service. Expect a more hands-on motor to own.
The heel and toe foot control uses a directional indicator on the pedal so you can see which way you are steering without looking down. The mount is rigid aircraft-grade aluminum with stainless steel bushings, and the composite precision locking pin keeps the tilt quiet. Unit weight is listed at 50 pounds with a 50 inch shaft.
You anchor with the boat, not the electronics. If your fishing is spot fishing over a single ledge you can hit repeatedly, a cable steer motor that you point and hold is a perfectly good tool. It is anglers chasing broad water or drifting that will feel the absence of GPS anchoring most.
Who the Xi3 suits
Best for small to mid-size bass boats under about 18 feet with a shallow transom, where a 50 inch shaft actually reaches the water and a 60 inch would not. It is also the pick if you want a first 24V upgrade purely for thrust and battery kindness, and you steer by hand.
For a smaller shallow lake where you are never more than a mile from the ramp, the simpler cable steer has genuine appeal. Fewer electronics means nothing to fail, and the steering feedback tells you how much current the boat is sitting in without needing to read a screen.
Where buyers report problems
Steering cable durability is the recurring complaint, with owners reporting thin cables that stretch and eventually break. If you get this motor, keep a spare steering cable and know how to replace it before you need it. This is the single most common failure reported on this unit.
There is no built-in sonar, no GPS, and no remote, so all of that cost moves to a separate install if you want it later. The 50 inch shaft also returns more often than any other length because people measure the wrong reference point. Warranty service is reported as difficult by several owners, so factor that into the decision.
5. Garmin Force 57 Inch Brushless Trolling Motor
Garmin Force Trolling Motor 57", 57in, 010-02025-00
57 inch shaft
24V and 36V compatible
Brushless motor
Wireless foot pedal
Integrated GPS and sonar
Pros
- Brushless motor runs near-silent under load
- Wireless foot pedal keeps the bow deck clear
- Controls directly from Garmin displays
- Gas shocks make deploy and stow easy
- Works with a carbon fiber shaft option
Cons
- Heaviest unit in this lineup at 109 lbs
- Steepest freshwater price here
- Some owners report wide drift while anchored
Garmin built this one for people who already live inside the Garmin ecosystem. Integrated GPS, integrated sonar, and a wireless foot pedal, and the whole thing is controlled from a Garmin MFD or from the built-in display. If your livescope and your charts are already Garmin, this is the most coherent 24V package on the list.
The brushless motor is the reason it runs so quietly, and quiet is the whole point for a bow-mounted motor you are sitting two feet from. Gas shocks assist deploy and stow, so the head lifts with a push instead of an arm. Rating is 4.4 stars across 29 reviews with 73 percent five star ratings, and Garmin customer support draws repeated praise, including an overnight replacement reported by an owner.
Two details matter for planning. It runs on 24V and 36V, so it is not locked into a single battery architecture. And the listed item weight is 109.1 pounds, which makes it the heaviest motor in this group. On a boat with a walk-through windshield and a lighter hull, test that lift before you commit.
Who the Garmin Force suits
This is the pick for a Garmin rig, full stop. The transducer, the GPS, and the motor control all live on one network, so the motor reads as another device on your MFD rather than a separate box with its own screen. That integration is the reason to accept the weight and the price.
It is also the right call if quiet operation is your top priority and you fish in shallow clear water where any motor noise costs you. The wireless foot pedal removes cable routing entirely, which keeps a raised casting deck clear. A carbon fiber shaft is available as an option for anglers worried about a composite shaft and transom wear.
Where buyers report problems
Anchoring precision is the weak spot. Several owners report drift of around 20 feet from the spot they locked, which is a long way when you are trying to hold a specific ledge. If tight anchoring is central to how you fish, test Spot-Lock on your own water before committing.
Some owners reported factory defects that needed a shaft replacement, so inspect the shaft and the tip guard carefully on arrival. The power cord also runs short on some layouts, and on a boat with mid-ship battery placement you may need an extension or a relocated bank. Then there is the raw number: 109 pounds is a two-person job at the transom.
6. Simrad RECON 72 Inch Saltwater Trolling Motor with FreeSteer Remote
Simrad RECON Saltwater 72” Trolling Motor with FreeSteer Joystick Remote, 000-16159-001
72 inch shaft
Saltwater rated
Brushless motor
FreeSteer joystick
GPS anchoring
Pros
- FreeSteer joystick remote with a color display
- GPS anchoring quoted at 3 foot accuracy
- Near-silent brushless motor
- Carbon fiber shaft for durability
- Saltwater and harsh condition rated
- Three-year warranty
Cons
- Only 2 owner reviews so far
- No built-in sonar mentioned
- 72 inch shaft needs real transom clearance
The RECON is the odd fit for a purely freshwater question and the right fit for the angler who fishes the wrong water on the wrong day. It is built as a saltwater class motor with a carbon fiber shaft, corrosion resistant components, and a brushless head. Bass anglers who run the Gulf, the intracoastal, or a lake with a serious wind load sometimes choose it for that headroom.
The control interface is the story. The FreeSteer joystick remote has a color display and steers the motor like a helm rather than a bow-mounted joystick, and the manufacturer quotes GPS anchoring accuracy at 3 feet. It connects over N2K, so it can be driven from a Simrad display. Item weight is listed at 70.8 pounds and the shaft here is 72 inches, with 54 and 60 inch versions also offered.
Be careful with the review data here. The listing carries 2 reviews at a 4.5 average, both positive, but a sample that small tells you very little about long-term reliability. Early adopters report good integration with Simrad screens and smooth control, and there is simply not enough owner history yet to make a durability call. Three-year warranty applies.
Who the RECON suits
Best for anglers running a Simrad network who want one control device for the whole boat, and for freshwater anglers who regularly move to brackish or salt water in the same season. The carbon fiber shaft and saltwater rating are the reasons to step up when corrosion becomes the limiting factor.
It also fits very large boats. A 72 inch shaft clears the water on deep transoms where a 60 inch motor barely reaches, and the joystick control keeps the angler standing rather than bracing against a foot pedal. If you are replacing a motor on a 22 foot or larger platform, transom clearance is often the deciding spec.
Where buyers report problems
There is no built-in sonar mentioned in the spec sheet, so this motor does not save you a transducer install the way the Minn Kota and Garmin units do. That is a real cost difference on a new build.
The bigger issue is the thin owner record. Two reviews cannot tell you how the joystick seals hold up over five seasons or how the anchor behaves in a squall, so you are buying on the spec sheet and the brand rather than on evidence. The 72 inch shaft also returns more than any other length here if you measure from the wrong point. Verify transom clearance before the motor arrives.
7. PARKHO HASWING Cayman 24V 80 lb Remote Control Trolling Motor
PARKHO HASWING Electric Trolling Motor – 24V 80LB 48 Inch Shaft Cayman Bow Mount Boat Fishing Saltwater Freshwater with Remote Control
80 lb thrust
24 volts
48 inch cast aluminum shaft
Wireless remote
Cruise control
Pros
- 80 pounds of thrust on a 24 volt system
- Wireless remote with variable speed and cruise control
- LED battery power reader on the head
- Adjustable depth collar on the shaft
- Saltwater and freshwater rated
Cons
- No GPS anchoring or sonar
- Only 2 owner reviews
- Limited warranty excludes saltwater corrosion
The Cayman is the reason this list is not simply three versions of the same Minn Kota. It puts 80 pounds of thrust on 24 volts with a wireless remote, cruise control, and a cast aluminum shaft, at a fraction of what the name brand electronics packages cost. If you need raw thrust on a budget, the number here is genuinely competitive.
Speed control is variable with a cruise setting, steering is 360 degree electric, and an LED battery power reader sits on the head so you can check state of charge without opening the hatch. The adjustable depth collar lets you set how deep the shaft sits, and the 2-blade propeller has a replaceable fin. Stated propeller speed is up to 1500 rpm.
Be clear-eyed about what the rating means. Two reviews, both five star, is a sample too small to generalize from. The 5.0 average is real but it is built on two data points. Treat this as a specification purchase rather than a proven one, and check the warranty language carefully before you commit.
Who the Cayman suits
Best for a first 24V installation on a smaller boat where the 48 inch shaft is the correct length and you want thrust more than electronics. On a 16 to 18 foot hull in wind and current, 80 pounds of thrust is real power, and the wireless remote means you are not routing a cable forward.
It is also a sensible trailer boat or second boat option where you want a motor that will get wet, get ignored between trips, and still start. The cruise control setting holds a speed without your thumb on the trigger, which matters on long runs across a big lake at low throttle.
Where buyers report problems
There is no GPS anchoring and no sonar, so all positioning and structure finding happens on separate equipment. If you are buying this as a full fishing setup, budget for that separately rather than assuming it is included.
The warranty is the sharper issue. It excludes saltwater corrosion, commercial and tournament use, and normal wear and tear, which is a narrower promise than the name brand coverage on the picks above. The manufacturer is HASWING rather than PARKHO directly, so long-term parts support is less certain. Verify what you actually get for 24 volt thrust at this level.
Why 24V Beats 12V on a Bass Boat?
The short version: a 24V system halves the current needed to produce the same push. Power is voltage times current, so doubling the voltage for the same thrust means you draw about half the amps. That single fact changes how much battery you carry, how heavy the boat rides, and how many hours you get on a bank.
Forums have settled on a clear dividing line. Anglers on iboats and bbcboards broadly agree that motors rated at 55 pounds of thrust or below are 12V designs, and everything above roughly 55 to 70 pounds is a 24V design. Owners also use a specific figure for planning: a 55 pound motor draws roughly 46 amps under worst case conditions, and that number is what they use to estimate range.
The practical translation for a bass angler is simple. If you troll mostly below half throttle on a lake under 18 feet, a 12V motor is fine and lighter. If you run long stretches at 70 percent or above, or you fish water with wind and current, a bbcboards owner put it well: 24V is plenty unless you are at high throttle for long periods, and 24V is a lot easier on the batteries. That is the whole argument in one sentence.
Running a 12V motor on a 24V bank is not a shortcut and not safe. The controllers on 12V units are built for a specific voltage window and feeding them double what they expect will damage the motor or the electronics. If you are converting a boat, replace the motor, the wiring run, the breaker, and the charger configuration together rather than mixing voltage systems.
One more angle worth weighing is anchor holding. A 24V motor that can push 80 pounds holds a spot against a current that stalls a 12V motor running flat out, which means fewer drift corrections and less burned battery during the correction. On big water with weather rolling in, that headroom is worth the extra battery weight in the boat.
How to Match Thrust to Your Bass Boat
Match thrust to boat length first and to water conditions second. As a working rule, 55 to 70 pounds covers boats under about 18 feet, 70 to 80 pounds covers the 18 to 21 foot range that most tournament bass boats fall into, and 90 pounds or more is for heavy wind, current, or very large hulls. The motors available at 24V all sit in the middle and upper part of that scale.
Next, add for conditions rather than for boat length alone. A boat that is comfortable on a calm lake in April may need the extra 10 pounds in October on the same water. Wind pushes on the bow section, current pushes along the hull, and both force you to run at a throttle level that flattens runtime. If you fish those days often, buy the higher thrust number.
Shaft length is the spec people get wrong most often, and it drives returns. Measure from the top of the transom at the mounting bracket to the waterline with the boat in its running attitude, then add the transom height in the fully tilted position. If the shaft is short the prop will break the surface in waves, which costs range and makes noise, and if it is long you will not be able to tilt the motor out of the way.
Steering type is worth thinking about too. Cable steer gives you real force feedback, which tells you how hard the water is pushing, and it never needs charging. Foot pedals and remotes are faster and quieter, but they add electronics that can fail and remotes that need a battery. Anglers fishing alone on big water tend to land on foot control for the speed.
Finally, check the ecosystem before you commit. A motor with a built-in transducer saves you a separate cable run and a second mount, but it only ties into your display if the brands match well. This is where most disappointed owners end up, so it is worth the ten minutes of research before the purchase rather than after.
Battery Sizing, Chemistry, and Runtime Math for 24V
The runtime formula is the simplest useful thing in this whole guide: amp hours divided by amps equals hours. A 24V 100Ah battery with a motor drawing 30 amps gives you about three hours of hard running. That is the honest number, and it is why bank size matters more than most buyers expect.
Real-world reports line up with the math. Anglers on ifish report 8 hours or more of runtime on a single 24V 100Ah lithium block without a kicker battery, because nobody runs a trolling motor at full throttle for eight hours straight. The same anglers run trolling speeds 1 through 3 most of the day, which is a fraction of the peak draw. Our deep cycle battery guide covers the chemistry options in more detail.
You have two architectures. The traditional route is two 12V batteries in series for 24V, which means two AGM or gel cells, a two-bank charger, and a heavier boat. Owners who switched from 12V to 24V repeatedly recommend going to 24V with a two-bank charger and 6 gauge wiring in the same pass, because half-measure conversions are where people end up with melted terminals.
The alternative is a single 24V lithium block. It is far lighter, holds charge better in storage, and charges faster, which addresses the two-battery weight frustration that shows up in almost every forum thread on the topic. The trade is cost per amp hour and the fact that a lithium battery and a lead bank fail differently, so you want a charger that is actually rated for the chemistry you bought.
On the chemistry question, lithium trolling motors are not damaged by lithium power. What matters is that the motor and the battery agree on charge profile and that the charger has the correct setting. Run a lithium battery into a lead-acid charger set to the wrong voltage and you will shorten the life of both.
Size the bank against your worst day, not your average day. Take the amp draw at the highest speed you realistically run, multiply by the hours you need to hold that speed, and size to roughly double it so you have reserve. That headroom is what keeps you from running a spot when the last fish of the tournament is still in the boat.
Wiring, Breakers, and Shaft Length for a 24V Install
Wire the run for 24V with the gauge you would use for the current, not the gauge that is already in the boat. Six gauge is the common practice for a 24V trolling motor circuit, and undersized cable is the number one cause of voltage drop under load. Voltage drop shows up as a motor that is slower and a bank that charges poorly, and it is the thing to check first when a new install underperforms.
Every trolling motor circuit gets a breaker sized for the wire, mounted where it is reachable from the helm. Do not rely on the motor's own reset as protection. Terminals get torqued to spec and coated, because a 24V connection that is slightly loose will arc and eventually eat a cable end.
Charge with a charger that matches your configuration. Two 12V batteries in series need a two-bank charger in series mode. A single 24V block needs a 24V charger or a charger with a 24V mode. Running a 12V bank in parallel by mistake is how people cook batteries, so set the charger once and verify it with a multimeter before you leave the dock.
On shaft length, measure twice and order once. The number that matters is the distance from the transom bracket to the water surface at your normal trim, plus the extra you need with the motor tilted up. The 50 inch shaft fits smaller boats, 57 and 60 inch shafts cover the mainstream bass boat range, and the 72 inch shaft is for deep transoms. For a deeper comparison of setup, our bass boat trolling motor guide walks through the mounting options.
Fishfinder Ecosystem Pairing: Minn Kota, Garmin, Simrad and MotorGuide
Most unhappy trolling motor owners are not unhappy with thrust. They are unhappy because the motor does not talk to their fishfinder. A motor with a built-in transducer and GPS can usually be controlled from a compatible display, which means one screen, one set of controls, and one power switch at the helm. Check that pairing before anything else.
Minn Kota motors pair most naturally with Humminbird and MEGA displays through i-Pilot Link, and the built-in Universal Sonar or CHIRP transducer feeds the same network. That is the tightest integration on the market, and it is the reason the Terrova units anchor the top of this list for most freshwater anglers.
Garmin motors integrate the other way. The Force drives a Garmin MFD directly and its transducer feeds the same display, so the whole forward-looking picture lives on one Garmin unit. If you run a mixed electronics boat, an integrated motor may not be worth it and a plain foot control motor with your own transducer may serve you better.
Simrad and Lowrance share an NMEA 2000 lineage, so a RECON or a LOWRANCE Ghost motor is the natural pick for that network, with control from a Simrad or Lowrance display. MotorGuide Xi3 sits outside this entirely. It is a cable steer motor with no network connection at all, which makes it the easiest to add to an existing boat without rewiring anything, and the least capable once you want remote control.
If you fish from a kayak or a small boat on the same electronics, our kayak trolling motor guide covers the lower thrust end of the range that a bass boat never needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who makes the best 24V trolling motor?
For a freshwater bass boat, Minn Kota makes the strongest all-around 24V lineup, with the Terrova and PowerDrive models offering GPS anchoring, built-in sonar, and Humminbird integration. Garmin is the pick if your electronics are Garmin, and Simrad fits a Simrad or Lowrance network.
What is the best trolling motor for a bass boat?
Match thrust to hull length: 55 to 70 pounds for boats under 18 feet, 70 to 80 pounds for 18 to 21 foot bass boats, and more for heavy wind and current. Among 24V options, an 80 pound brushless bow mount with GPS anchoring is the most versatile choice for big water.
Is it safe to run a 12-volt trolling motor on 24-volt power?
No. A 12V motor controller is built for a specific voltage window, and feeding it double that voltage will damage the electronics or the motor. Converting a boat from 12V to 24V means replacing the motor, the wiring run, the breaker, and the charger configuration together.
How many amp hours do I need for a 24 volt trolling motor?
Divide the motor's amp draw by your required hours, then roughly double it for reserve. A 24V 100Ah lithium block with a motor drawing about 30 amps gives roughly three hours of hard running, and anglers report 8 hours or more on a single block at normal trolling speeds.
How long will a 24V 100Ah battery last on a trolling motor?
Runtime equals amp hours divided by amps. At a 30 amp draw, 100Ah gives about three hours of continuous hard running. Owners report 8 hours or more on a single 24V 100Ah lithium block because most fishing happens at trolling speeds 1 through 3, well below peak draw.
Is a 100Ah battery enough for a trolling motor?
It depends on how long you stay out and how hard you run. For a half day of trolling on a small lake, one 24V 100Ah battery is usually enough. For a full tournament day at higher speeds, a larger block or a second bank gives you the reserve you want.
Conclusion
For most bass anglers the answer to the best 24v trolling motors for bass boats question is an 80 pound brushless bow mount with GPS anchoring and a built-in transducer, because that combination covers the widest range of water and the electronics you probably already own. Our top pick, the Minn Kota Terrova 80 lb with MEGA Down Imaging, wins on owner rating and review volume, with Spot-Lock and Jog as the practical edge on tight structure fishing.
Drop to the PowerDrive 70 lb if you want the same ecosystem and a lower spend, choose the MotorGuide Xi3 if you want simple cable-steer thrust and the lowest commitment, and pick the Garmin Force or Simrad RECON when your display brand makes the decision for you. Whichever one you land on, size the 24V bank with the runtime math rather than the sticker, and give yourself more battery than you think you need for 2026 season and beyond.