Trolling Motor for a 10' Inflatable

[Jigfishn10]

I'll be using an inflatable this year to dinghy out to my boat moored in the bay but I want it to do double duty and take it out night fishing in the bay. The inflatable is 10' (9.8' TBH) and weighs 78 lbs. It can handle 4 ppl - it's really too tight with 4 ppl, really 2 fisherman. 

This is not the actual inflatable, this is my OG back in the day:

 

Same size, same shape, different color. The new one is still in a box, no pic yet.

 

The inflatable can take a 10 hp...you can see in the bottom left corner a 10hp for the Zodiak in the pic.

 

I mostly drift fish, but I want to be able to troll back to a starting spot to make a new drift. 

 

I'm hoping a 55lb trolling motor for a few reasons.

 

• 1 battery and trolling unit to bring back (walk back) to the house
• Less weight and "stuff" taking up real estate in the boat
• Easy enough for my son to fish out of

 

What do you think?

[WRB]

Where do you plan to mount the TM?

Swivel seats may be a good addition.

I would get a large wheeled wagon to haul stuff.

Avon style rubber boats are very seaworthy as long as you stay seated.

Enjoy!

Tom

[Jigfishn10]

You got me  …transom mount 

 

I agree and will be accessorizing  

[Jig Man]

You should have several options for a 55# tmotor.  A good lithium battery will cut down the weight a bunch.  I have a 100 ah for all my electronics and it only weighs 27#.

[Jigfishn10]

Thanks! The bigger question is, does a 55 lb thrust TM work with the inflatable below?

 

EDIT:
Here's the inflatable I'll be fishing out of - 9.8' l x 55" w

[Fishingmickey]

A 55# trolling motor would push it fine. The only issue I see is windage. It breezy conditions it would become a booger bear to try to drive it in a straight line. I'm not sure how much keel is on the inflatable RIB.  But tracking may be a problem in windy conditions.  The other consideration is if you run the trolling motor on high your pulling about 50 amps and that will suck a battery dry pretty fast.

FM

[WRB]

Fly Craft makes a bow mount kit for 55# TM for inflatable boats.

Use a small OB engine on the transom to get where you are going like any other boat.

Tom

[GRiver]

Hey @Jigfishn10

I’ve got a 55 motor guide for my 15/48 mod-v boat. It moves it pretty good, I’m happy with it.