# Modifying an electric trolling motor
**URL:** https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765
**Category:** Propulsion System (Motor, Gears)
**Created:** [May 19, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765 "2018-05-19T17:53:28Z")
**Posts on this page:** 10
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@smattiso](https://foil.zone/u/smattiso)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2018, 5:53pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/1 "2018-05-19T17:53:28Z")
Has anybody tried modifying something like this for our purposes?
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### Author:  [@Alexandre](https://foil.zone/u/Alexandre)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2018, 5:55pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/2 "2018-05-19T17:55:17Z")
to heavy, not enough rpm… and you will need twice the power of the biggest
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### Author:  [@smattiso](https://foil.zone/u/smattiso)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2018, 5:57pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/3 "2018-05-19T17:57:34Z")
But is it the control system that is too heavy or the actual parts used for propulsion? And too low of RPM is that a function of the control system, the prop, or the motor itself?
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### Author:  [@Alexandre](https://foil.zone/u/Alexandre)
#### Post date: [May 19, 2018, 6:01pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/4 "2018-05-19T18:01:08Z")
too heavy : propulsion, rpm : motor , you can make x3 more powerfull, x3 lighter, x2 smaller
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### Author:  [@Mrmoerbe](https://foil.zone/u/Mrmoerbe)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2018, 1:57pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/5 "2018-05-21T13:57:55Z")
I think someone needs to try it. I thought about this in the very begging. I have an old trolling motor laying around and the heaviest part of it is the bracket used to fasten it to the boat.
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### Author:  [@smattiso](https://foil.zone/u/smattiso)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2018, 5:16pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/6 "2018-05-21T17:16:32Z")
I agree, buying pre-built from China will always be the cheapest path. I think the limiting factor is going to be engine RPM. I read a post on a different forum where someone claimed that by doubling the voltage from 12v to 24v they double the engine RPM to 2500 or so. I’m wondering if running it at 42v with a different prop would get us somewhere…?
Has anybody actually tried going down this route? I looked at the engine and it didn’t seem that crappy…
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### Author:  [@MaxMaker](https://foil.zone/u/MaxMaker)
#### Post date: [May 21, 2018, 6:33pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/7 "2018-05-21T18:33:53Z")
Just try it! Even if you fail, it will help the whole community.
A few years ago some german forum told me that you couldn’t cut aluminium if your CNC is not made from steel. We don’t know if there is not a better solution out there.
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### Author:  [@cameron](https://foil.zone/u/cameron)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 3:29pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/8 "2019-06-28T15:29:06Z")
Hey guys-
Yes I believe this does work. I noticed my local surf shop guy here in Malibu made his own eFoil, and he used a $60 trolling motor. He quadrupled the voltage, using a 40 volt weed-whacker battery, and he custom made his own prop so that it had more rake. I’m going to try to duplicate this because it seems like the easiest route by far…
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### Author:  [@Jezza](https://foil.zone/u/Jezza)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/9 "2019-06-28T15:32:52Z")
Got any pictures of his setup? It would be interesting to see what he used.
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### Author:  [@cameron](https://foil.zone/u/cameron)
#### Post date: [June 28, 2019, 4:03pm UTC](https://foil.zone/t/modifying-an-electric-trolling-motor/1765/10 "2019-06-28T16:03:28Z")
not yet - i have to go back to get some. But basically
$60 used Trolling motor from Craigslist
Custom made foil - epoxy over aluminum
40v battery from weed whacker held in a backpack
That’s it! super low-tech right now, but he says it hauls ass… The vertical post is still there from the trolling motor 🙂