Best of a bad choice?

Jeff Reardon

Jeff Reardon

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Looking for some feedback. Will be renting a cabin this weekend that comes with a 14 foot deep V boat. We'll mostly be canoeing and hiking in to nearby remote trout ponds with float tubes, but I'd like to fish "the big lake" a bit, and my wife loves to troll for lake trout. After our stay in the camp, we are on a canoe trip on the Allagash the second half of the week, so I am trying to keep gear to a minimum so anything that doesn't go downriver in the canoe with us can fit into the truck cab to be locked up.

I have my choice of two motors--a 3.5 hp long shaft from my sculling boat, or the 15 hp I use on my own 14 foot aluminum boat. I'd really like to be able to take the small motor. It has a self contained gas tank, much lighter and easier to haul around, smaller and easier to stuff into the truck cab.

Will that provide enough power to get me across the lake with a decent headwind? I don't care much about speed--just the ability to make headway and maintain the boat at ~1.5 to 3 mph for trolling.

The little motor moves my sculler at around 5 mph, but the aluminum boat is deeper draft and beamier.

Thoughts?
 
How big is "the big lake"?

For years I've used what they call a 3hp electric motor on a 14' boat. It isn't a deep v more of a medium v. Moves it along even in some pretty stiff winds. Mind you I only do this on small lakes. I think 3mph would be do-able with it but if the lake is big enough to get rough I'd be very careful about watching the weather.

Tim
 
Jeff,

Best guess, I think the 3.5 will be fine. I suspect that pushing skull boats around is no more load than the 14-ft and I get about 5 mph with my 3.5 on the 16-ft wood/glass MerryMeeting float. Before jackplate and rock hopper I used to run the 3.5 on my 14-ft aluminums when the river dropped. Never measured it but would guess it pushed me along in the 4 to 5 mph range, lets just say it was much superior to rowing. Tod may join in with what his 3.5 will push his Snow Goose along at. I think its around 4-5 mph.

Big disclaimer! - "Your results may vary."

Best,
Scott
 
Jeff
With your family involved, I'd go with safety especially with all the violent weather the entire country seems to be having. IMO
wis boz
 
Jeff,
it will be slow but it will work. And any way you are on vacation so you dont have to get back to go to work on time.
 
I just got home from a trip that was much like you describe. I ran a 3.3 on a 14 and we hit big winds and nasty weather. The motor got the job done.
 
Well, I don't care about speed, so long as I can make headway. I understand the safety issues, but it's a lake I would very comfortably canoe. Bad winds out here are almost invariably from the NW, and the camp is on the SE end of the lake :)

If worst comes to pass, we'll drag a streamer on lead core behind the kayak . . . . .
 
I too agree that the 3.5hp will do what you want it to do in this situation.

As a side note, I am old enough to remember when a 15 hp was a screaming boat and a 35hp was used only if you were pulling water skiers. Using the 3.5 might actually force you to fish the lake rather than spend time and fuel running all over it. :>) :>)
 
Jeff:
I agree the 3hp should get you to where you want to go. On the othere hand, why not rent a motor from the resort? We rented cottages in upper Michigan and Canada for a number of years. Most times taking our own boat. Every resort/cottage we stayed at had some decent reliable boats & motors for rent. Just an option.
 
Jeff:
On the othere hand, why not rent a motor from the resort? We rented cottages in upper Michigan and Canada for a number of years. Most times taking our own boat.


I could rent an outboard, but I'm a cheapskate! I thought about towing my tin boat up, but then I'd have to deal with the boat and trailer on 40 miles of gravel logging roads, not to mention the canoe shuttle. We'll probably only be on the home lake a little bit in the morning and evening, as most of our fishing will be at small hike-in ponds. I'll make do with something small and portable. If it blows, there's always Monopoly or a deck of cards, and a cooler full of beer.
Click to expand...
 
Sounds like a great trip Jeff. In agreement that the small motor would be fine (could also put an electric "kicker" on for the run back to camp. You doing just the river part of the Allagash or lakes too? Enjoy.
 
Troy, headed in to Allagash Lake, then down through to Chamberlain. Should be buggy, but the trout should be on.
 
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