Canoe.....electric motor sizing

[jondahighlander]

i was thinkin' about whether you can get TOO BIG of a motor and just waste battery juice. I have a 15'4" flat back "plastic" canoe about 85lbs.
any advice for ballast other than 5 gallon buckets of water up front when going solo???---------------thanks peeps-----------jon

[Duckman1]

The heavy battery needed to run the motor. Any other gear that you have with you.

[malainse]

2 heavy plastic garbage bags
1 burlap bag
1 50 lb bag of Quikrete

Take one garbage bag and put that inside a burlap bag. Place another plastic bag on the outside in the event the one leaks. Then can discard outer plastic after all hardens if you wish. Mix up the Quikrete and pour into the bag. Place into the front of the canoe and will mold and harden to given shape....
The burlap will make it quiet and not beat up the canoe and because it is molded to the shape it will not move around.... Place in canoe when going solo, remove if have a partner...... 1 bag worked great on my flatback W/3 hp Merc.

If need more ballast mix Two or three or.. bags of Quikrete..;):lol:

[Flash]

A pair of Nielsen Outrigger Pontoons are beneficial in a couple of ways. These are fiberglass nitrogen filled pontoons 4 feet long with a very sturdy cross brace that is moveable along the gunwales fore and aft to help balance weight. These have piston shocks and are very very stable. Will handle up to a 5 hp motor with an electric no problem. Combine the battery with the outriggers and you have an extremely nice fishing platform with the ability to optimize the trim. A MinnKota 55T is a boot scootin' boogie.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=61662&ppuser=17181

http://http://www.nielsensoutriggercompany.com/