If you want your inflatable pontoon boat with a trolling motor then there are a few options available, but it’s important you know what size to choose and why.

Before I get into that though, if you are looking for inflatable pontoon with a trolling motor already pre-fitted, I would recommend that your read my personal pontoon reviews first. It will be typically cheaper to buy the boat and motor separately.

Below you can find out what the best size trolling motor will be for your chosen personal pontoon. All of the products that I recommend below will work for you, and if you take good care of them will last for many years to come.

Does Size & Speed Matter?

Whether it’s a Sea Eagle, a Classic Accessories Colorado, or another brand of one-man personal pontoon, it’s not always obvious and clear as to what sized trolling motor you need… and there are some misconceptions around power and thrust.

For a start, once you have an inflatable pontoon with motor, it’s not going to go faster than 5 miles per hour. That’s how fast trolling motors are capped at. Speed is never going to be a consideration as fishing trolling motors that have higher thrust will not move the personal pontoon any quick over the water than a motor with lower thrust.

Let me show you a real-world examples;

You have two trolling motor attached to your mounts with 55 pounds of thrust each. This won’t make you go any quicker than a single 30 pounds of thrust trolling motor.

Thrust only benefits you when you are running a larger or heavier boat.

Best Trolling Motor for an Inflatable Pontoon

So, what does that mean for you, when purchasing a trolling motor for an inflatable pontoon boat?

It’s all down to what the actually need, and how much you need to spend.

If it’s just you on the boat and it’s a classic sized 9-foot personal fishing pontoon, you aren’t going to need to buy something like the Minn Kota Endura 55. You simply won’t need that amount of thrust and power.

Minn Kota Endura 30

Instead, just buy the lower-priced and lower thrust Minn Kota Endura 30 (view on Amazon). Honestly, that’s all you are going to need, and it will cost half as much as a higher-thrust trolling motor – don’t get shiny object syndrome and think you are going to need the bells and whistles that come with the Endura 55, it’s simply not necessary.

The Minn Kota Endura 30 has a 30 inch shaft (hence the name) making it just the right length for your boat, but still small enough to be able to pack up and carry in your vehicle when heading off on a fishing trip.

Specification

  • 12-volt freshwater transom-mounted trolling motor with a thrust level of 30 and a 30-inch shaft
  • 6-inch telescoping handle and tilt twist tiller for ergonomic speed control and steering; lever lock bracket offers a rock-solid mount
  • Cool quiet power maximizes battery life and doesn’t spook fish
  • 5 forward speeds, 3 reverse speeds for maximum control
  • Indestructible composite shaft backed by a lifetime warranty; two-year warranty covers the motor

What Else You Will Need

1. Trolling Motor Battery

You will also need a marine battery for your Minn Kota 30 trolling motor.

This is another area where there is a lot of misinformation bandied around, with many online stores trying to push you into purchasing an expensive Optima Blue-Top marine battery.

I personally don’t buy these batteries because they are heavy, and can be quite large, meaning I can’t fit them into a battery box on my inflatable pontoon, or out of the way.

You can save yourself significant money by instead buying a light 12-volt trolling motor battery which weighs half as much, is smaller, far cheaper, and is perfect for one-man inflatable pontoon boats.

Also, when shopping, avoid starting batteries, it’s not what you need. You need a deep-charge marine battery.

They look the same, but deep-charge batteries last longer, especially when being discharged and re-charged frequently as is the case when used with fishing trolling motors.

Specification

  • ML35-12 SLA is a 12V 35AH Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) rechargeable maintenance free battery.
  • Dimensions: 7.68 inches x 5.16 inches x 7.13 inches.
  • SLA / AGM spill proof battery has a characteristic of high discharge rate, wide operating temperatures, long service life and deep discharge recover.
  • Rechargeable battery that can be mounted in any position, resists shocks and vibration. Long lasting high performance in high and low temperatures.
  • Backed by a 30-day refund policy and full 1 year warranty.

2. Trolling Motor Charger

As you can see, the costs to running an inflatable pontoon boat with a trolling motor are starting to mount up a little, but without these essentials you won’t be going anywhere, which is why a charger is also essential.

The one that works best with the configuration I am recommending here is the Minn Kota Portable Digital Charger.

It’s a 10-amp charger and is compatible with the Minn Kota Endura 30 trolling motor that you need for your personal pontoon boat.

It’s light enough to carry to be portable and is designed to prolong the life of your battery. It does this due to the automatic shut-off where it stops charging once you the battery is fully charged, helping to protect it from damage.

3. Inflatable Pontoon Motor Mount

If your boat didn’t come with a mounted motor mount already fitted, or you bought a trolling motor without a mount as part of the bundle package, then you are going to need to purchase one.

Thankfully most inflatable pontoons do come with mounts, but if you do need to buy an inflatable pontoon motor mount then take a look around on Amazon, or shop on the boat manufacturer’s website as will undoubtedly have an accessories section.

4. Battery Box

And finally, once you have the battery on-board, you want a secure way to keep it waterproof and safe. If you don’t already have a waterproof battery compartment on your personal pontoon, then you definitely need to invest in one.

I love Minn Kota products, and again they deliver with a greta battery box. It’s called the Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center. It’s perfect for small inflatable fishing boats.

You can find others online that are much cheaper, but this truly is the best on the market, with features included (see below) that more than justify the higher price point.

Specification

  • Battery Holder/Case ONLY. Battery not included.
  • Motor center ideal for small-boat transom applications
  • Easy-access batter terminals for connecting leads
  • Built-in battery meter displays current “state of charge”
  • Designed to fit group 24- and 27-size batteries
  • Offers pair of 12-volt accessory plugs and manual reset circuit breakers

Handy Hint: This box looks like a battery, but don’t be fooled, it’s just a box. You will need to buy the battery separately.

How Long Will the Battery Last?

This is a common question asked when beginners are first starting to kit out their personal pontoon with a motor.

If you use the Minn Kota Endura 30 as your inflatable pontoon boat trolling motor then you can expect to get the following use from it:

  • Running continuously at the highest speed of 5 miles per hour: 2 hours
  • Running continuously at 4 mph: 4 hours
  • Running continuously at 3 mph: 8 hours
  • Running continuously at 2 mph: 12 hours
  • Running continuously at 1 mph: 16 hours

As you can see, it pays to conserve your battery usage, but for most guys out fishing on their inflatable pontoon, with stopping, starting, and fishing, there’s no reason why you can get a whole weekend through without having to do a re-charge.

Handy Hint: If you are looking to buy a new personal pontoon, you can see my recommendations on where to find them on sale.