I own a 16ft willie driftboat and am thinking about buying a electric trolling motor to use in places like the snohomish river and various lakes. My question is what length of shaft, and what pound thrust is recommended for use with a driftboat? What brand, Minn Kota or Motorguide? I noticed minn kota uses a lot of plastic and graphite. Advice needed........Thanks!!!

Get a Minnkota Endura 50. Best bang for the buck. @$199.99 The real investment is in the battery. A gel cell batt last's longer and has less spillage problems. There is a quazi good artical in the Salmon Trout Steelheader and it wasn't written by Herzog! I think M.K. has a 50 in a 36" shaft.

W.C.

hog i got a 55lb thrust on my clackacraft (motorguide) it was on sale and its plenty for what i do in tide water, coyote is right its all in the battery

I decided to try an electric motor this year after I watched a guy fish behind me last winter. He and his point man were fishing way more thoroughly than I can when I am rowing. He was probing every log, stump and fishy looking spot that I had passed up. The article in STS was definitely coincedental.
I bought a 3hp Minnkota and still haven't worked out the battery or wiring yet. A gel cell sounds like a good idea though.

I've got a 42" 55lbs Minn Kota Riptide. Best investment I've made. I would definitely go with a 42" shaft, shorter than that and a couple fatties up front will have your prop out of the water.

Origianally got it because I got tired of watching my buddy fish while I sat on the oars. But it also works great for trolling. I recently switched from an Endura to a Riptide so I could fish the sound and tide water. (the 55 lbs is adequate in the sound if you stay close to the launch and watch the tides and wind, otherwise it could be a long trip back to the launch).

When trolling I'll bring up to 3 batteries, for a day of side drifting one battery is sufficient. You'll want to rig a longer battery cable to put the batteries up front, so the boat is balanced better. An easy way to do this is get some quick connects and a 6ga jumper cable. Cut the clamps off one end add the quick connects and you're set.

Bossman great idea! How about the mount? I have read guys putting on the side or on the transom? Where is the best!

Hogsbreath,

Go to Anglers Choice tackle store located in the Ballinger Terrace Shopping Center just across the street from McDonalds on 205th NE
just east of I-5. They sold me a Motorguide 48Lb. thrust with a three bladed prop for my db and it really does the trick. It'll get us back up to the top of the Snohomish from the 522 bridge several times and still push us through all the frog water down to Douglas Bar, all that on a small gorup 24 deep cycle battery.

BTW, it will work best mounted on the transom but if you mount it on the side just behind the oar lock you'd be ok in frog water.

Cigar

You calling me a fatty, Bossman?

stupid question i know has been covered before and i could find out if i wasn't so lazy but

16ft clacka would i have to register the boat if i put a electric on it?

if you can afford optima batteries, they're definitely worth it. electric trolling motors are cheap compared to gas, efficient and very quiet

Rob,

Any size boat used in the stat of Washington, with any kind of motor must be registered.