Couldn't resist that subject line. Sadly, I'm only asking about trolling motors. I've got a 12' Porta-Bote that weighs 80 pounds and am trying to decide how much electric trolling motor to purchase.

I'm thinking I'll go for a 50-lb thrust Minn Kota, and skip the gas outboard completely. I'll be mainly on Lake Sammamish, SE Lake Washington, small neighborhood lakes and various spots in E. Washington like Potholes, Lake Roosevelt, etc. I don't need to venture too far, but I'd like some flexibility. Can't afford an outboard right now, so I figured a powerful electric would do the job. Right now, we're limited to oars and my husband's biceps.

Is my logic sound? Or should I just save my money and get a smaller trolling motor and get a 5 HP outboard when I can afford it?

Get as BIG as you can afford. There is a BIG jump in price to a 50 lb'er. I have one on my 14' Northwood and that motor pushes it along at 3 MPH. If you are fishing BIG water like Samm and Washington a lot you may want to hold out for a gas motor. Even though electrics are ideal for trolling. Either way you won't go wrong with electric and gas. I have both.

My wife thinks so! Anyways... I wouldn't go quite that big on the electric motor. You have a fairly small boat and you might not be able to troll slow enough,if need be.I have a 15' aluminum and I run a Minn Kota Endura 30lb,and speed 2 is usually the right speed. I can go up to speed 5 but it's rare I go past 3. I can also troll all day on a group size 27 battery,if you get 50lbs thrust you probably need 2 batteries to fish all day. Do a search for trolling motors.. we had this topic up about 3 weeks ago,same question was asked,and there were some good responses.

I say go for the electric.
I don't think you need a 50.
I get around fine with a minn kota 34.
You also may want to save the big windy water ways for the extra calm days,and master the smaller lakes. untill you have the cash for a small gas motor.

Get both. You'll remember reading this post when your stomach is turning and you feel like your gunna hurl as the feeling of helplessness overwhelms you as you drift helplessly in big water, if you don't. It happened to me once and i almost lost my boat and all my gear because of it. Who'd of thought?? ALWAYS have a backup. Shjt happens....be prepared. I couldn't imagine being adrift in washington or samamish. The waves can get pretty big. 5.5hp 4stroke for $900 at GIJoes. Minkota Endura 44lb $129 at Walmart. If new is what you had in mind.

I had a battery die on me fishing off of Redondo a couple of years ago. I had a 12' fiberglass back then with just an electric. The waves were huge that day, I was taking water over the bow. I managed to row back a mile or two to the dock. That day I said to my self, never again and went to Costco and bought another battery so I would have one battery to get me out there and one to get me back.