Putting a Trolling Motor on a Canoe, Advice Wanted

[Marksreturn]

Hey folks, I was reading your forum and decided to register because the atmosphere seems nice. I have a 15' canoe and want to put a transom mount trolling motor on it. Before I buy the motor though, I'd like some advice on what to buy, from people with experience with little watercraft and trolling motors.

Here's the scenario - I usually fish with a buddy, so the motor would be pulling over 500 pounds with the canoe, battery, 2 adult males, and gear. We often fish lakes and go several miles to reach all points. Paddling's a pain in the back, so we want to use the motor to get around at a decent clip, something comparable to the speed we get when paddling steadily.

With that in mind, am I okay getting a more economical 30 foot/pounds unit with a 30" shaft (like the lowest-end minn-kota Endura), or should I shell out more for 36 f/p with 36"? Or should I really go crazy and get something with 40 f/p or more to avoid crawling across the lake at half a mile per hour? Thanks in advance for any suggestions!

~Mark

Also, I'm in NY - will I need to register the canoe after putting a small motor on it?

[Grey Wolf]

WELCOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Trolling motor---the bigger the better with a good battery with a high amp reserve.

Don't know about the N.Y. registration.

[surfer]

My experience with the 35 lbs on a canoe is it is as fast as me and my other athletic friend can row when we are really humping it. It puts a tiny wake out and last all day. That being said if you don't mind spending the extra cash get more. Faster is better, but 35 is sufficient.

oh. And Welcome Aboard.

[kreed]

I used one on a small boat for a while but was always being blown around so if it is possible I'd want a foot-controlled motor.  ;D  not sure how hard that would be to mount on a canoe though.

As for power, my boat is a tri-hull fiberglass 15'6" long and 60"+ wide with a 45 lb trolling motor and it will scoot pretty good. Faster than the kayaks coming out of the rivers onto the lake that I fish. Not much faster though, them boys (and girls ) move!

[A-Jay]

I put a 55 lb thrust Minnkota on a 15 ft Old Town Predator square back Canoe - I love it ! Paddling is nice but slipping quietly from spot to spot it pretty good to - and with a 115 amp / hr battery, it lasts all day or night as the case may be . . . .

A-Jay

[MA_Bass]

Does your canoe have a keel? That will make a big difference in how well the canoe tracks. I started with a 50# motor on a 17" Coleman with a transom mount and it worked very well. Have a larger setup now. I recomend getting an extension cord for the battery so you can place it in the center of the canoe to better distribute the weight. You can get kits online or buy wire at a marine store to make a custom length cord.

[Marksreturn]

It's a Mad River St Croix (since renamed Explorer TT). There's a shallow V in the hull. No square back, sadly. Here's the Mad River webpage with the detailed info on the canoe. Sorry I can't link directly, but I've not yet made 10 posts.

madrivercanoe.com/explorer-14-tt

Now, will I be able to clamp a transom motor directly to the side of the canoe? I've looked up videos of canoes with motors that are attached to elaborate mounts and I wonder if all that is necessary... Any thoughts?

Thanks for the friendly welcome and input!

[Zel]

I fished out of a Coleman canoe for about 10 years. I've used numerous trolling motors on it. Currently have a 35, but liked the 40 or bigger much better. I used a single deep cycle battery which was fine, but always took along a small garden tractor battery for emergency backup. And always have a paddle with you. Wind will be you enemy no matter what with a canoe.

They make several type of mounts to hook up a trolling motor to a canoe. Here is one from Cabelas. Mine is different, and cost less.

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0001670014526a&type=product&cmCat=SEARCH&returnPage=search-results1.jsp&QueryText=trolling+motor+canoe+mount&N=4887&Ntk=Products&Ntx=mode+matchall&Nty=1&Ntt=trolling+motor+canoe+mount&noImage=0

I would also recommend a canoe stabilizer, so you can fish standing up. Here is a link to one at Cabelas. (I built my own using a 1x3 board, 2 c-clamps, and 2 2-litre soda bottles. I attached the lids to both ends of the board with screws. When its time to launch, you fill each bottle 1/4 with water, and just screw the bottles into the lids. Wasn't pretty but worked)

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?id=0001464011360a&type=product&cm_mmc=CRR-_-RLP-_-011360-_-productname_link&cmCat=CRR&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Yahoo&cm_pla=how%20to%20make%20a%20canoe%20stabilizer&cm_ite=netcon

Don't know about NY, but here is PA if you put a motor (TM included) on it, the canoe must be registered. If you don't put a motor on it, a Launch Permit is all that is needed if you go out of any state controlled launch or lake.

[surfer]

You can get away with mounting directly to the side of the canoe but if you run into a shallow water situation and have to lift the motor up some you will not be able to turn in many directions without the blade coming in contact with the canoe.  I am sure that noise scares fish as it almost scared me out of the boat. ;D

[Marksreturn]

Thanks for the insights, guys! I put a MinnKota electric motor on, with 36 foot/pounds of pressure.

It moved us around as quickly as we could have paddled, and made it LOTS easier. Paddling is fine and all, but paddling several miles can be a real drag! We caught a decent number of fish and really enjoyed not having to muscle our way through the whole time.

Also, thanks to the company that published the book that we used to clamp the motor to the side of the canoe! the mounting apparatus wasn't QUITE big enough to fit over the edge of the canoe without something to clamp onto.