We’ve been exploring jon boats, motors, and batteries for a while now. People want to know what the best trolling motor for a 10ft jon boat is. Since we are covering smaller craft I looked to the small end of jon boats, the 10-foot jon boat. We’ll discuss thrust, battery type, size or shaft length, and mounting options to help in your choice of a trolling motor for a 10-foot jon boat.
I recommend a 55lb thrust transom-mounted trolling motor with a 30″ shaft for a 10-foot jon boat read on to find out why…
Trolling motor thrust needed for a jon boat
Thrust is the force the propeller or jet motor will impart on the boat. A higher thrust trolling motor will impart more force which can translate into more speed.
In general, you want at least 2 pounds of thrust for every 100 pounds of weight that you will have on your Jon boat. Make sure you take into account the weight of any people who will be joining you on the boat! Then you can calculate the amount of thrust you will need for your boat.
For this article, I’m just talking about a 10 foot jon boat . Judging by the comparison chart below you would have to move 500 pounds at most, in theory you would only need a 10lb thrust trolling motor. However, this is not realistic and most trolling motors start at 30 pounds of thrust. My recommendation is to go with a 55-pound thrust trolling motor. This is the most thrust you can get out of a one-battery setup and would be more than enough to power a 10 foot jon boat, even if it’s loaded down. The extra thrust will also be handy when using the jon boat in rough water or against a strong headwind.
| 10 Feet (3 M) Long Jon Boat Weight Capacity | ||
| Boat | Dry boat weight | Carrying capacity |
| Tracker Topper 1036 | 112 pounds (50.8 kg) | 380 pounds (172.5 kg) |
| Smoker Craft 1032 | 100 pounds (45.5 kg) | 290 pounds (131.5 kg) |
| G3 Boats 1036 | 100 pounds (45.5 kg) | 325 pounds (147.5 kg) |
| Alumacraft 10 | 95 pounds (43 kg) | 325 pounds (147.5 kg) |
| Lowe L1032 | 80 pounds (36 kg) | 275 pounds (125 kg) |
| Waco 1432 | 78 pounds (35.5 kg) | 235 pounds (106.5 kg) |
The best battery for a trolling motor
For this application, I would select a 12 volt trolling motor battery. You’ll need to decide on the type of battery you want to use. The most common options are lead-acid batteries or lithium-ion batteries. Lead-acid batteries are cheaper but don’t last as long, while lithium-ion batteries are more expensive but will last longer. The lead acid batteries are heavier and bulkier while lithium batteries can store just as much energy in a lightweight compact design. I personally hate lugging around a heavy lead acid deep cycle battery so the light weight lithium-ion is the one for me.
Mounting a trolling motor on a jon boat
You’ll also need to decide how you want to mount the trolling motor on your boat. The most popular options are transom-mount or bow-mount. Transom-mount trolling motors are generally less expensive than bow mount. I suggest a transom mount on a 10 foot jon boat because the need for room inside the boat is important. A bow-mounted trolling motor will take up too much deck space. There are also outboard-mounted trolling motor options but they’re not practical for this set up.
What shaft length trolling motor do I need?
You’ll also need to decide on the size of the motor, which is measured in shaft length. I’d look for a 30-inch shaft for transom mount and 36 inch for bow mount. For a 10 foot jon boat go with a short shaft trolling motor, especially on the transom mount.
Trolling motor cost
Trolling motors have a very wide range of prices. A saltwater wireless gps enabled trolling motor can set you back over $2,000. But unless you are a serious fisherman with very specific needs, a regular $200-$300 trolling motor will be fine for a 10 foot jon boat. You can even look online like Facebook marketplace or craigslist to find a good deal on a used trolling motor.
Trolling motor freshwater vs saltwater
If you are strictly using the jon boat in saltwater by all means go with a saltwater trolling motor. However, for any other application, a freshwater trolling motor is fine with a little maintenance and cleaning it should be fine for almost anything you would be doing in a 10 foot jon boat.
So what do you think is the best trolling motor on a 10ft jon boat? Did we make a good pick? Tell us in the comments.