A $150 electric trolling motor will push your canoe nicely. How big a battery you need is entirely a factor of how far you want to go.
I have a 40# MinnKota on the stern of my 17' fiberglass canoe, and with over 500# of passengers and equipment it'll push us at nearly 5 mph. The two golf batteries are good for 20 mi or more at full speed. The paddles are only there for emergencies.
If weight/cost is more important than range, you can use a smaller battery, even a smaller motor. The smallest motor you can get (about 30# thrust) will easily push the average canoe faster than you can paddle. An ordinary Group 27 marine battery should be good for a couple hours at full speed and all day of goofing around. Even a little U-1 "lawnmower" battery will work though with less range.
You don't even need a motor mount; just clamp the trolling motor to the side of the canoe. You can probably do the whole show for under $200 and about 25#, with a new 30# motor and new U-1 battery (all from Big Box). I would find it hard to justify the expense of a Torqueedo for that purpose.
If this is still too expensive, consider painting your paddle-blades BLACK (less noticeable to wildlife), and learn to paddle without removing the paddle from the water.
Good luck!!!
--- In electricboats@yahoogroups.com, Welton Rotz <welton@...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> Check out Electric Paddle http://www.electricpaddle.com/
> I saw it at the Pt.Townsend wooden boat show.
> They are coming out with a more powerful motor next Spring.
> I saw the new motor working and it looked very good!
> Welton
>
> On Sep 15, 2012, at 10:56 AM, Roger L wrote:
>
> >
> > Hello, I would like to introduce myself to the group. Name is Roger L. and I'm a northern inland sailor and tinkerer during the summer, and have been spending winters truck camping and canoeing the lazy rivers in the southern US.
> > My canoe is well worked out for efficient paddling. It is a very light Kevlar/carbon with dual outrigger pontoons and is often used as a photographic platform. But I can't help thinking an electric would be handy for sneaking up on wildlife and also for getting back in the afternoon against tide, wind, and current....but which kind?
> > Do I want to go with an electric outboard? Or an electric trolling motor?
> >
> > Since it is an outrigger type craft, a simple side-mounted motor is easy to rig up. I want to stay under 20 lbs total.
> >
> > The Torqeedo 403 looks nice, but I'm not sure I need the complexity that comes with the higher speed capability.
> >
> > An alternative would be a traditional trolling motor - possibly fitted with a hi-torque prop. But that setup would require a possible prop change and a lightweight 12 volt battery similar to the Torqeedo. Are such props and batteries available?
> > Thanks, Roger L.
> >
> >
> >
>
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