Canoe registration

[ollie]

Ok Gavin thanks. I am still debating it in my head. I just can't make up my mind yet!

[Flysmallie]

Had a buddy that uses one on his canoe quite a bit. It works really well for him but he just mounts it right to the side. Kind of tight to operate but it works for him and it's easier to balance it that way. Plus he pretty much uses it as a kickstand when getting in or out of the canoe. It's great for getting through those slack water areas.

[jpb2187]

Well.....just hang 15lbs. off the side of your canoe and then see how much weight it takes in the bottom center to set it back straight. It is significant. It takes more than just a battery.

I'd agree with wrench here. I have two canoes - a old towne square stern I use for the rivers and an old aluminum I use on lakes. I made a cheap TM mount out of some 2x6 and 2x4 and some C-clamps. Works great, but the canoe tilts significantly when you step out. Don't really trust it on the river.

[Al Agnew]

The shorter the canoe, the more it goes catttawampus with a side mounted trolling motor. If you're trying to use one on a solo canoe like the 119, which is both short and wide, the canoe wants to stay at an angle to the direction its going, so when you want to turn it against that angle it resists, while if you even breath on it to turn it with the angle, it whips around. And when you want it to go straight, the canoe is resisting going that way at all. Only way to have a trolling motor be reasonably efficient on such a short canoe is to mount it as close the front or back end as possible, and then you have the problem of not being able to reach it easily from the center seat. I've noted before that I fixed those problems in a Rube Goldberg sort of way, by mounting an old Shakespeare foot control motor to the front end cap of my Old Town Pack, and rigging up a weird rope system to lift it in and out of the water from the center seat that actually worked well. But I gave up on it after a few trips because it was still more trouble than it was worth. Still have the whole system hanging from my basement wall. That old trolling motor still works, or did the last time I tried it, but it has to be about 45 years old.

By the way...if you want to register a canoe without a bill of sale, I believe you have to call the state patrol and have an officer come, take down the serial number, and check to make sure it hasn't been reported stolen. Once they give you the written okay, then you can register it. At least that's the way it was a few years ago when I had a canoe I was considering registering.

Other than using a motor with one, the other reason to register it is if you plan on using it in some other states that DO require canoe registration, like Minnesota. You can get a temporary registration in Minnesota, however, if you're worried about it, and probably in the other states as well.

[stephen seward]

My mad river adventure 16 has a rear transom mount built in. So no balance issues. Battery goes all the way in the front with the wires tucked under the gunwale.

I'd rather not have to deal with it to be honest, but I have small children who aren't quite ready to paddle yet but love to go out and fish. With a 40lbs thrust I can get up to 5-10mph according to the gps on my phone, so it really helps get around the lake to all the fishing spots faster.

Thanks for the help. I contacted the MOHP and set up an appointment to get it inspected.

[Mac's Orphan]

I used one with a home made side mount on a 14' Alumacraft canoe.

It was a small Minn Kota - 8lbs thrust. Fine for lakes / ponds but forget it in a river with any kind of current.

Balance was never an issue, but hated lugging that battery up and down hills!

My Creek Company pontoon boat has a built in transom on the rack but the oars work fine for me.

[woodman]

I modified my 17 footer for a 28 lb thrust...back when I had a canoe...http://forums.ozarkanglers.com/topic/24091-adding-remote-steering-to-a-clamp-on-troling-motor/