Can You Have A Canoe With A Trolling Motor?

A trolling motor can significantly enhance your outdoor adventures by providing power to fight potential wind and chop without being too bulky. However, it is crucial to choose the right motor, mount it properly, and maintain it regularly to ensure safe and enjoyable experiences on the water.

A 55 lb thrust motor is suitable for a canoe, providing enough power to fight potential wind and chop without being too bulky. Both electric and gas powered trolling motors can be used on a canoe, but electric motors are more efficient. It is essential to decide whether to go with a small gas outboard motor or an electric trolling motor, and whether to mount the motor at the bow or stern of the canoe.

A canoe motor mount can retrofit almost any canoe, giving you a secure point to fit your motor, allowing you to fish more and paddle less. To ensure a quality mount, consider factors such as thrust, shaft length, and power.

There are two main types of motors commonly used to motorize canoes: electric and gas-powered. A 40 pound thrust motor moves most canoes well in still air, but a 12 horsepower motor provides about 38 pounds of thrust, similar to a strong paddler. A 30 lb thrust motor makes a 166 canoe go faster than it can paddle.

To ensure the best performance, get a marine battery and make a sturdy mount for the motor. The shortest shaft you can get is essential for a canoe’s power needs. Rowing the canoe upcurrent is the ideal solution for carrying passengers upstream.