Well, age and too much fishing with my rowing canoe have taken their toll.  I have overuse injuries in my elbows and shoulders.  Funny because I bought the rowing canoe for exercise and heart health.  My blood pressue is text book perfect but I can hardly do anything physical without experiencing pain to varying degrees.  My "off season" is helping, but some injuries never heal completely, I know that is the case with my elbow, and I suspect I have done similar damage to my shoulders.  If it persists for much longer I'll get the mri's etc.  but a more timely solution is to get a trolling motor.

My canoe is an old town osprey 140.  Their is a trolling motor mount available.  I was thinking about getting a foot control and about 40 lbs. of thrust.

I haven't had a trolling motor in 15 years, so I am really out of touch.

any and all advice/suggestions are welcome.

Help out an old bass injured buddy will ya  

When I had a canoe, I bought a troller bracket and the cheapo 30 lb thrust from Wal Mart. It worked great and was plenty of power and easy to use. I put the battery all the way in the front of the canoe and made up wire extensions to reach the troller. This made my canoe much easier to steer and more stable in the wind since I had the nose planted in the water. I seem to recall getting 6+ hours on a fully charged battery.

Can't comment on the foot control as I've never been comfortable with them, never owned one.

Best thing to do is get you some Aleve, take two in the morning and two in the evening.  In about two days that shoulder and elbow will feel great.   I take them friday night before starting my weekend of fishing and then sat morn, sat night and sun morn.  Keeps almost all the aches and pains away.  By Sunday I'm suffering if I don't take them.

Oh!! you were asking about a trolling motor, I use and old M-65 on my 50 year old 17' Grumman and it pushes it very well.  I made longer cables so I can place the battery in the opposite end from where I sit.  Running some of the narrow rivers I run a 4 hp merc, that will dang near put it on plane.

I think the idea about running extra cable to put the battery in the front is outstanding.  

Unfortuantely, my injuries are beyond taking a couple of aleeve.  As a matter of fact taking ibuprofin and aleeve is what caused the injuries to get as bad as they are.  I was masking the pain with painkillers while the injuries grew worse.  I'm taking it to the next level with an othepedist but I have for an appointment.  

I am on a self imposed "off season" so I can rest, heal, rejuvinate and restore, my spirit, my body, and my equipment.  Reelmech just completed cleaning/lubing two of my most used reels.  So this off time is being put to good use.

I'm going to get that bracket.   Old towne makes one that is custom fitted, then a wal-mart minn kota is probably a good idea.  I like the idea of foot controls, but I may just scrap the canoe and go with jon boat.

I'm not sure, thanks for the advice it was great.  Anymore tips would be really appreciated.

avid