Electric trolling motor question

[fethrduster]

I'm contemplating possibly getting an electric trolling motor for my 10' layout boat.  I was wondering if one of the $100 30lb thrust endura's would provide enough thrust, and would it be at all usable in salt water?  If it would last a season in the salt (I'm thinking Nisqually primarily)  it's cheap enough to use as a throw away motor. 

[singleshot12]

I'm sure it would last one season in the salt and would have enough thrust to push a weighted boat, but if traveling very far against any substantial current would not be good

[Hilltop123]

If used in the salt, chance are the warranty will be voided, just be aware.  Tides and wind will be your ememy. How far you going? Whats you hauling?

[jgoetz]

I would not use a 30 pound thrust in any tidal waters.  The salt will void the warranty if it is not the one manufactured for saltwater.  I have a 40 pound thrust that I use on my 8 ft. boat.  Works great pushing the 60 pound boat and up to about 300 pounds of me and gear.  If the wind kicks up over about 15 mph though I struggle getting to the launch.  When fishing and its just me in the boat the thing sails like a beast around the lake.  Nice to have the extra power when you need to kick it up and beat some yahoo to the blind though!   

[Kola16]

You would probably be fine. I use a 24 lb. thrust with a 14 ft. boat in tidal water and do fine.

[h2ofowlr]

I would look at a salt water series minn Kota.  The other ones will rust up and quit working.  I did a 50lb thrust, shortened the shaft and lengthened the cables.  This allowed two batteries up towards the nose of the boat.

[fethrduster]

Thanks for the replies.  This is mostly a small water/lake boat (see the boats thread above for more info)  but I'd like to be able to take it out to Nisqually on nice days, with just myself and some dekes.  As I mentioned, for $100, I wouldn't care about the motor warranty, but fighting against tides and wind could be a concern.  I wish the saltwater models came in a color other than white.   For the price of one of those though, I could get a little 2hp gas motor.  I had one of those once, a Tohatsu if I remember, and it worked great.   Hmmm.....

Here's a couple pics.  When it gets warm I'm going to build up the cockpit combing with boards that extend to the stern (like a barnegat bay sneakbox) and put a transom on it.   My only real concern after all that is weight, since it will be well over 100lbs.  Makes it a chore getting it into/out of my utility trailer.  The more I think about it, the more I like the 2hp gas motor idea.  No concerns about saltwater, I can paint it, and plenty of thrust too for cruising around and chasing down cripples, since I don't have a duck dog. 

[h2ofowlr]

Looks like an old snark or sunfish sail boat.

[LBES]

That should work for ya... but take a look at the regs for propelled watercraft in federal and non-federal waters. There's a rule that, honestly I don't understand fully, suggests you need to register it in some cases.

[NWWA Hunter]

The other problem is once batteries get older that they die quickly. If there's current you could be screwed. At least with gas you know how much you have left. I'd at least want a small gas backup.

[fethrduster]

Looks like an old snark or sunfish sail boat.

I think you're probably right.  I'm considering chopping it off a bit behind the seat  to shave weight, and adding a keel or two for better tracking.  Then I could build a transom on it for a motor, and mount removable wheels on the stern so I can wheel it around on hard ground like one of those final attack boats.   I hunt Shillapoo down near Vancouver occasionally after they flood it in November, and it would be fun to wheel it out there on the gravel dike they built.   It would fit in my 8' utility trailer then also.   

[fethrduster]

The other problem is once batteries get older that they die quickly. If there's current you could be screwed. At least with gas you know how much you have left. I'd at least want a small gas backup.

Great point!

[fethrduster]

I just went out and re-measured it, and it's eleven feet long!  No wonder it's heavier than I'd like. Geez.  

I can chop a foot off of each end to shave weight, and I'll still be at nine feet.  Perfect!  Can't wait for the weather to warm up so I can get started.

[jackmaster]

hey mark if thats the same boat you had out at my pond, then i dont know if a 30lb thrust motor would be enough, that thing weighs alot if i remember, alot more than i thought it would anyways...good luck, you should just get a little 4 horse 4stroke outboard for it, handa and yamaha make nice motors anf they are real quiet

[fethrduster]

hey mark if thats the same boat you had out at my pond, then i dont know if a 30lb thrust motor would be enough, that thing weighs alot if i remember, alot more than i thought it would anyways...good luck, you should just get a little 4 horse 4stroke outboard for it, handa and yamaha make nice motors anf they are real quiet

Yep, it's the same boat.   It would absolutely fly with a 4 horse on it! 

[AWS]

My Magnum Rat with a 3 hp motor, too much power and too heavy, with a trolling motor way too heavy with the battery and not enough power, it was a 38 lb thrust.



I picked up an outboard made from a larger 2 cycle weedeater (49cc) type motor at 17 lbs and aprox 80 lb thrust it is perfect.

[huntingfool7]

That weed eater motor is awesome.

FeathR- I have a little mahogany 1x4 that would work for building up the combing.  I handle wood products for a living and am in Tacoma also.  We've been hoarding it for project wood.  PM me if you'd like to take a look at it.

I run a 3 hp 2 stroke nissan on my little duckboats.  It'll do circles around the same boat with a 55 lb thrust electric. 
Other than power, the electric will leave you hanging when you need it most.  Getting back to the ramp when the weather/wind/waves turn on you.  It's the closest I've ever come to making the paper.

[Special T]

All of pudget sound, the mouths of the rivers that flow into it,all of skagit and columbia, Snohomish, and several others require a registration for ANY gas powered motor... Sucks but true

[huntingfool7]

All of Puget Sound, the mouths of the rivers that flow into it, all of skagit and Columbia and several others require a registration for ANY gas powered motor... Sucks but true

I don't think this applies if the gas tank is integral to the motor.  The Coast Guard stopped me a few years ago.  Had lots of questions about my little home built duck boat, the motor and whether there was an external tank or not.  The boat is 11' 4'' long and the fuel tank is internal.  They seemed satisfied with that. 

I think they were laughing a bit as my top end with two guys sitting in lawn chairs is about 6 mph.
Almost looks like we're out there fishing on a surf board. 

[fethrduster]

That weed eater motor is awesome.

FeathR- I have a little mahogany 1x4 that would work for building up the combing.  I handle wood products for a living and am in Tacoma also.  We've been hoarding it for project wood.  PM me if you'd like to take a look at it.

I run a 3 hp 2 stroke nissan on my little duckboats.  It'll do circles around the same boat with a 55 lb thrust electric. 
Other than power, the electric will leave you hanging when you need it most.  Getting back to the ramp when the weather/wind/waves turn on you.  It's the closest I've ever come to making the paper.

Yes, I would be very interested!  PM me your phone # and I'll stop by.   I was thinking of building decoy rails on the back like on a classic barnegat bay sneak box, and the mahogany would be perfect for that.  I could stain it and coat it with resin, and it would look great too.   Very cool.

I saw a small cruise 'n carry 2.75 hp outboard on craigslist recently that is light weight and looked like it would be perfect.

[BigGoonTuna]

keep your eyes out for deals on a minn kota riptide.  i picked up a 45lb thrust model 2 years ago for a little over 200 bucks from overtons(on sale + coupon code).

[bear hunter]

I have had my Minn Kota 44 mag camo for 10+ years in salt and have had no problems. You should bring oars to.. The tides will drain the battery fast in the currant. Just have oars for back up. I had to do this many times. Good luck

[fethrduster]

I have had my Minn Kota 44 mag camo for 10+ years in salt and have had no problems. You should bring oars to.. The tides will drain the battery fast in the currant. Just have oars for back up. I had to do this many times. Good luck

Thanks!

I cut the boat down fore and aft down to 9', and it is much lighter now, probably 60-70lbs.  I'm going to re-shape the bow with blocks of foam covered in fiberglass, and leave the foam in for flotation.  Same for the stern.  It should end up close to 10' and 80-90 lbs +/-.  I can even cartop it on top of my jeep now without a trailer.  As light as it is now, a 45lb thrust camo minn kota would probably work fine on small water, but I like rowing and may just install oar locks and call it good. 

Here's a couple in progress pics: