I often fish from my canoe so I can get to some hard to reach spots.  After paddling against a 20 mph wind last weekend, I've decided to put a transom-mount trolling motor on the canoe.  I have a couple of questions.

1.  Is a 30-lb thrust motor enough for a 14-foot canoe with one person.

2.  Do I need a marine battery or will any battery do.

3.  Typically, how many hours can you get out of a battery under normal use before it goes dead?  Obviously, I will get a battery charger, but I just need to know if a fully charged battery will last all day.  I don't want to get 5 miles out and then have to paddle my way back to the truck.

4.  Can anyone recommned a good battery charger (non-on board charger)

i would go with at least a 50# thrust trolling motor. you should get a deep cycle marine battery (wal mart 60$) and that should be plenty. i have a flats boat and a 55# thrust trolling motor and i can use the trolling motor for a good 6 hours.

for a canoe a 30# thrust will be plenty. for a battery as long as it is a deep cycle it will work. for a canoe you will probably want a smaller one because of the weight. i use trojan batteries the scs 150 should be fine for the 30# thrust. my guess is that you will get between 6 and 8 hours on a charge depending how you use the motor. if you spend alot of time in weeds or running full speed it will be less.

30# is very much all you need. i have a 30 on my 14' starcraft and loaded i will do 3-4.5 mph on my gps. just get a deep cycle marine battery and youll be good to go.

my battery will last 12-14 hours on a charge, if thats all i use.

A canoe needs about half the power that a jon boat needs. A 30 was plenty when I had a 14' canoe. I had the bracket to mount it off the side, and I got some wire and made power extensions so I could stick the deep cycle battery all the way up in the nose of the canoe. This kept the front end down and made it much easier to steer, especially in a breeze.  I can't remember ever running out of juice on a fully charged battery.

hey skwerl what battery were you using, make, size, etc.

the difference in weight vs. running time is my major concern at this time.

I bought the biggest 12v deep cycle they had at Sears. Don't remember the numbers, it's not like there's a lot of choices anyway. Hit your favorite automotive parts retailer and buy the best deep cycle battery they sell.

I bought the biggest 12v deep cycle they had at Sears. Don't remember the numbers, it's not like there's a lot of choices anyway. Hit your favorite automotive parts retailer and buy the best deep cycle battery they sell.

I agree.  A battery is not a place to skimp.  Go ahead and get a good'un.

I run a 25 year old Shakespeare 30 lb. thrust TM on my 12' jon.  I've got the biggest deep cycle battery Wal Mart sells.  I have yet to run the battery to exhaustion.  I don't have a good place at home to charge, so I usually charge the battery at work once every two weeks.  Usually go on 2 or 3 5-6 hour trips every week that I'm off work.

30 lbs will be fine.  I use WalMart Everstarts-I've got a 24 volt motor so I have to have two.  As far as a battery charger goes, I've got an Everstart charger as well, although I have an on-board system so I don't use it much.  Just make sure it has a deep cycle setting and a trickle charge-5 amps is standard it seems-mine has a 2 amp.

The one thing to be sure to do is if possible charge the battery up as soon as you get done using it.  Otherwise it can take a set, meaning the battery will not take a full charge.