motors: 2.5hp gas or electric...

motor for canoe
just bought a water quest squareback 14’ and a Water snake 54lb thrust you said you shortened the shaft. is this easy to do. I havent recieved it yet just ordered last week. also i got nervous about the motor being too big for the canoe when i read on Cabelas site that the canoe was rated for 30lb thrust with 15 in. shaft

Two questions
Dear pilot,



What gauge wire did you use for your jumper from the battery. Reading on the internet everyone seems to suggest 6 or 8 gauge but I’m only running a 40# thrust motor. You could build a suspension bridge with 6 gauge wire.



I’d like to know more about shortening the shaft on your motor. I have a 40 inch shaft on mine I spent today fishing a local lake. I run my motor on a 15’ Grumman Sport boat. I didn’t even know I could get my arm into the postion I used today to run the motor. I’d rather not do it again though!



Regards,



Goobs AKA Tim Murphy

Shorten TM shaft
Check this site for complete instructions

http://www.ecanoe.org/

Thanks, I think???
Dear 3bearnight,



Those are great instructions and they appear to be modifying the very trolling motor that I own.



The problem is I’m not all that confident in my mechanical skills? I’m sure I could do it but I lack some of the tools needed to do the work.



Fortunately, I have an authorized MinnKota warranty shop just down the road from me. I think I’ll take my motor to them and ask them what they will charge for the modification?



If it’s reasonable, they will get the business and we’ll both win.



If it’s pricey, I’ll probably ruin a perfectly good trolling motor trying to save a couple of bucks! :slight_smile:



Thanks for your help.



Regards,



Goobs AKA Tim Murphy

Trolling Motor
I checked with a MinnKota warranty shop in my area and was given a price of $35.00, not bad and he has the parts, seals and tools to do the job. If your TM is still under warranty shorting the shaft may void it. Check with your shop.

Short Shaft trolling Motor
Found this trolling motor and ordered it and returned the watersnake,

http://www.boatstogo.com/Electric-Trolling-Motor.asp

Oars
Are not tiring. It is as easy as walking and you can row all day.



They rarely get stolen.



Some models require no maintenance.



They are lighter than motors and gas.



They do no pollute.



They can be very quiet.



They can last longer than a motor.

My arms argue against you.
Rowing against the wind all day for two days is not as easy as walking. But oars are good. I like rowing.


  • Big D

Go with gas
I have had a trolling motor for my canoe for about two years now, and I am pretty dissatisfied with how quickly it runs down a deep cycle marine battery. I could get a bigger batty, but that would mean even more weight. I am looking to sell or trade the endura and get the smallest outboard I can find.

Test your battery first
Dear reefmonkey,



A group 24 or 27 battery in good condition should easily push a canoe with two anglers around for two 8 hours days on lake before needing a recharge.



I’m not talking about trolling for 8 hours, that’s a different story but you should get one day out of a good battery. I’m talking about moving you to a spot for drift or anchor fishing, and then moving you back numerous times in a day.



I routinely moved an 1685 jonboat with a 40hp jet on the back in the Susquehanna with three anglers and a dog plus gear and beer, well over 1200 pounds total weight, with a 43# thrust transom mounted Minnkota for a weekend’s fishing before recharging the battery.



I’ll bet your battery is on it’s last legs and it might be worth stopping by a boat dealer to get it load tested after a recharge to see if it is?



One last thing. Deep cycle batteries require deep discharge and then recharge to function properly. Using your electric motor for a couple of hours and constantly recharging the battery will kill it quickly.



Regards,



Tim Murphy AKA Goobs

Nope, it’s always been like that

– Last Updated: Jun-25-12 11:27 AM EST –

since the day I bought the battery, and I do know how to maintain deep cycle marine batteries, though in this case the practicality of maintaining this battery is another downside, which is why the battery has gotten worse, to the point of where if I want to use it this summer, I am going to have to get a new battery. Part of the problem is the battery is kept down at a vacation house, in its garage here on the Texas coast. So fall through spring I may get down there once a month if I am lucky, and May through September it gets really hot in that garage. However, I just don't have a better place to store it. This situation makes another argument for me at least getting an outboard.

However, again the battery just didn't give me the endurance I wanted even when new.

Suppose I could get a bigger battery with more amper hours, but that means just a bulkier, heavier object in a small canoe, at which point it really just makes more sense to get a little outboard. It may be that I am operating on a bay, with more distance to croass and more wave action to fight than a lot of lakes, and no current to help me out like rivers.

Many pros and cons both ways, but based
on your first sentence and being close to big water,

I’d recommend square stern and gas outboard. Much more power to get going when you need it, and sometimes you will need it.

not satisfied

– Last Updated: Aug-17-12 11:46 PM EST –

I am not satisfied with how fast it runs deep cycle marine batteries. Leather items are always destined to be a pleasant addition not only to the [Leather shoulder messenger bags](http://www.cwmalls.com/men-s-simple-fashion-genuine-cowhide-leather-shoulder-messenger-bags-cw972101) of any person, but to the everyday life of a person.

I just bought a Honda 2.3 motor
for my 17’ aluminiun Grumann square stern canoe. It weighs 27 lbs empty and has a quart/liter gas tank on the motor. Haven’t figured out the gas mileage yet but it seems to run quite a while on a tank of gas. It runs at a pretty good speed with my wife and I in it and can run at trolling motor speeds. While it is not real loud,it is not as quiet as I would like it to be going slow. I need to take it out with my GPS to see how fast it can go and what the gas mileage is. When I find out I will come back and post it here.

electric
ON MY WOOD RIB 16 FOOT CANOE THERE IS A 35 LB THRUST MOTOR I USE A MARINE BATTERY OR ONE OUT OF A CAR BOTH GET ME 2 TO 3 HOURS TROLLING



THAT IS AMPLE TIME FISHING FOR ME

gas
i bought a pelican canoe in the spring for fishing along banks near the landings. i was gonna paddle for exercise. caught in a wind one day that caused more exercise than i wanted as a heart patient, i went with the minn kota. now i needed a transom, insurance, registration, battery but it was worth it. if…my transom wasn’t off the side of the boat causing balance problems, i’d take the 2 horse any day. my day is limited due to battery power. the small motors have self contained fuel for about 30 miles. to carry a small amount makes for twice that and a little quicker. if i find a good one light enough and good enough i’ll go with one.

Registering electric
In the last few years (maybe 06 or 08) TN changed it where like NC any motor and you have to register. Prior to that electric didn’t require registration.

Trolling with gas
4 stroke motors idle well enough that I can say there is nothing wrong with trolling at idle with them.



I wouldn’t reccomend trolling at idle with a 2 stroke, they dont idle as well and the gas oil mix likes to foul spark plugs if they stall on you, then you are looking at paddling back unless you have your tools on you.

ELE vs Gas HP
an electric with a like 2.5-3 hp rating is gonna have like 50-60 lbs of thrust a 2.5-3 hp gas is gonna have like 75-80 lbs of thrust because they are rated in a different manner, but lbs of thrust is the more accurate way to compare engines because lbs of thrust arent rated different on one vs the other.



Also a large electric has a prop pitched for moving a MUCH larger boat at trolling speeds rather than moving a tiny boat at a reasonable speed.

keeping a battery in good shape
There are little battery conditioners that keep a 12 volt battery charged up for only a few dollars at Harbor Freight and other stores. I have kept a used battery on one for over a year and it was ready to go when I needed it. It does not charge a battery, but keeps a trickle of electricity on it to compensate for losses and it works.