I have a 12' flat bottom boat and a 1.5hp 30lb thrust trolling motor. I went to the river. Went down the river and went to turn around and I couldn't get back up the river. The dam had 3 turbines on. All I had in The boat was floats, paddles, me, one other person, battery, trolling motor. Is the trolling motor to small or was I supposed to have the trolling motor all the way into the water? Thanks in advance

That's a pretty small trolling motor and no way I'd be on a river that was generating in a boat that size and with just a trolling motor.

I have a 12ft boat with a 55 TM and a 20hp outboard. The TM will pull me upriver in a 3mph flow, but it's working hard, I wouldn't dream of going out on the river with just my TM. Your combo is probably nicely suited to a small protected pond, but I think it may be foolhardy to take it anywhere more challenging than that.

 

 

Sounds to me like you dodged a bullet