Sounds like a fun project.
You are not going to get 5 knots out of any Minkota, Motor Guide or Cheap Chinese brand Trolling Motor because no matter what the thrust in pounds, the prop pitch (4") and the top end RMPs (About 1500) is designed for trolling speed, not primary propulsion speeds (Hull speeds) There are electric outboards that will produce speeds you are looking for but the price goes up exponentially as does the power consumption.
Remember, 1 hp of power is about 720 watts, so your nominal 150 Watt generation capacity is only about 1/5 hp. you will collect a lot less than those rated watts during most of the day.
Given the usual inefficiencies of solar incidence, power transmission, storage loss and prop slippage, a canoe paddle will outpace the solar panel array if you try direct dive. Your motor will come to a dead stop when the sun goes behind a cloud or the shade of a tree. (Direct drive off a solar panel will work, but physics is always getting in the way of fun).
In reality, your cruising range will be limited to the capacity of your battery bank.
Your solar panels 150 watts, will charge a battery bank OK over time, So if you leave it charging all week, you can joyfully scoot around the lake on the weekend for a few hours.
I would suggest you double your solar collection to 300 watts, get a couple of 200 Amp Hour six volt forklift batteries wired in series with a 30 amp charge controller for 12 volts, buy a cheap Endura C2 50 pound thrust motor, get a Kipawa after market prop for the thing, wire it together with six gauge marine cable and appropriate fuses, let it charge a full sunny day for every three hours you drive it and never get more than 1.5 hours (5 miles) away from the dock and you will be fine.
A 50 lb thrust Endura C2 (40 amp, 12 volt motor draws 450 – 600 watts) could push you along at 3.5 mph (3 knots) in calm water on a calm day. Which, if you leave your GPS enabled speed indicator "off" will make you happy with the quiet and peaceful pace.
It will struggle with a head wind over 15 mph so make sure you have a small gas kicker on board to get you back to port if the weather goes south.
Good Luck and get out on the water!
Ken Cooke
Kentucky River
Sent: Wednesday, August 31, 2016 5:49 PM
Subject: [Electric Boats] Moving a Hobo [1 Attachment]
I have a 40 year old Hobo project boat that didn't come with an outboard.
I really want to power it with electric and would like some recommendations on
what model trolling motor(s) from Minkota I should consider using. Pounds of thrust and battery recommendations etc.
I already have 2x75 watt solar panels that should fit nicely on the roof.
Would like to have a simple stock system as I get bleary-eyed when going over much of the info on this site.
The boat weighs in at 1,800 lbs empty and my need-for-speed is quite modest, looking at about 5knots or so. It will mostly be used, for now on a freshwater lake that is about 10 long with about 1,100 islands so never far from shore and never very rough as found on bigger bodies of water.
Thoughts and suggestions most welcome.
Regards, Doug
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