So most of my fishing lakes in my area are all no wake lakes. My question is for my little 14 foot aluminum boat. Would you even bother with a small outboard?

I have a 36 pound thrust on the transom now. And according to my lowrance it will push me about 2 mph. No wake is roughly 2 to 5mph.

Should I bother with a old 2 stroke like a 6 or 9.9 or just invest in another lithium battery and a 55 pound thrust trolling motor and be done with it

You would probably be better off upgrading your trolling motor than getting a small gas motor for where you fish. Look at all the kayak guys getting it done.

10 minutes ago, Susky River Rat said:

You would probably be better off upgrading your trolling motor than getting a small gas motor for where you fish. Look at all the kayak guys getting it done.

That’s my thinking. Way less maintenance. And I have a 55 pound edge bow mount and it makes the bill boat scoot real good. But I like having another one on the transom.

I wouldn't bother with an outboard if you cannot go above minimum wake.

I'd do what susky stated, look at upgrading the electric version.

I bought a Newport Marine transom mount trolling motor for a kayak build a few years ago. It is a nice unit at a nice price.

5 minutes ago, gim said:

I wouldn't bother with an outboard if you cannot go above minimum wake.

I'd do what susky stated, look at upgrading the electric version.

I’m glad I’m getting opinions. And I wasn’t thinking crazy. I wouldn’t min a gas motor. But I can’t even really use the potential. Where I can just get another lithium battery and 55 pound thrust for about the same price

Ethanol free is $4.69 a gallon in my neck of the woods. You're a mechanic so you know how much those little engines like E10 and they're talking about flexing to E15 do to the cluster in the middle east. I know you like wrenching, but probably not when you're supposed to be fishing.

I know which way I'd go.

28 minutes ago, MontanaBasser said:

Ethanol free is $4.69 a gallon in my neck of the woods. You're a mechanic so you know how much those little engines like E10 and they're talking about flexing to E15 do to the cluster in the middle east. I know you like wrenching, but probably not when you're supposed to be fishing.

I know which way I'd go.

That is so well said. I agree completely lol

On my old 14' aluminum semi-v, I had a 40 lb Minn Kota cable steer, foot controlled trolling motor, and a really old 20 hp Mercury 2 stroke. Most of my local lakes were 5 MPH max, no wake. It was nice having a "backup" for when the battery was running low, or the wind was cranking and getting back to the ramp was difficult. Just fire up the old Merc and make my way back @ 5 MPH.

Years ago was fishing with a buddy on an electric only lake down in Missouri in November. Wind picked up and there was no way we were getting back to the ramp with the TM. Buddy decided a potential ticket from the game warden for running the outboard was a better option than getting stranded, sinking his boat, or drowning. We made it back safely.

For me having a outboard motor is a safety concern.

Even on a lake that doesn’t allow wakes etc - I know when a storm rushes in and I’m a mile from the marina - they can fine me.

I'd fish in it as is for the season then revisit this discussion.

I'm with okoboji eagle. I'd fish it as it for now, make sure you have a secondard propulsion in case of an issue, and then see how it fishes. Having fished a kayak at 4 mph I can see the difference between 2/4/6 mph and it is significant if you're on 1000 acres and have to launch at one end. But if you're launching and just starting to fish then run the bow mount for now until you see what you really want.

And in your spare time, get the old outboard running that you have. If the lake is just no wake (but gas is fine) then you're not asking it to do much. And you always have it for backup. I wouldn't spend much money on it at this point, but since you turn wrenches already I'm sure you can get it puttering around.

I ran an 80 thrust 24volt bow mount and a 55 thrust transom mount. I would lock the transom and steer with the bow. This helped conserve battery on the bow mount as I’d run it at a lesser speed setting than high. The push pull effect makes a big difference. I did this on the electric only lakes on a 16ft tracker with a 20hp motor on the back as well.

I'd go ahead and find the biggest/baddest/most powerful bow mount you can. Something with spotlock. and keep that transom mount as a back up. I have 0 desire to be on the river and only have 1 means of propulsion ever again.

18 minutes ago, jitterbug127 said:

I'd go ahead and find the biggest/baddest/most powerful bow mount you can. Something with spotlock. and keep that transom mount as a back up. I have 0 desire to be on the river and only have 1 means of propulsion ever again.

Thats what I did I don’t have spot lock. But I have a 55 pound thrust minnkota edge on the bow and a 36 pound minnkota on the transom

I'm going the other way -

Small gas outboard for me.

Better to have it and not need it than to not have it and need it.

Using the motor to get to the spot so I can save all my battery juice for when I begin to fish, is how I would go. Plus as @Pat Brown mentioned, drained or dead batteries and an approaching front

when I'm some distance from where I put in,

makes me nervous.

Stay Safe

A-Jay

I’ll add another thing to consider. I’m a fan of lithium batteries but one problem with them is they go from working great to dead in an instant. The BMS monitors the voltage of all of the cells and when the weakest cell drops below a certain threshold it shuts the battery off. With lead acid batteries you can sense when they are getting weak and you know when it’s time to head to the house.

39 minutes ago, Tennessee Boy said:

I’ll add another thing to consider. I’m a fan of lithium batteries but one problem with them is they go from working great to dead in an instant. The BMS monitors the voltage of all of the cells and when the weakest cell drops below a certain threshold it shuts the battery off. With lead acid batteries you can sense when they are getting weak and you know when it’s time to head to the house.

That’s very true. I usually bring my fluke meter with me to keep an eye on it.

I'd go with the small outboard. But I agree with @OkobojiEagle just fish it as is for now until you can find a good one worth fixing up. I looked around until I found a nice '69 Johnson Sea Horse with over 100 psi compression in both cylinders.

I just got back from fishing the Roanoke river the past 2 weekends in my small V hull. Mine is only 12 feet long and I have a 45lb thrust TM up front. We put in at the ramp in Weldon and float downriver, anchoring at various spots and fishing.

This past Friday however, when it came time to go back to the ramp, we had to make the trip upriver and the flow had increased. If I didn't have the 6hp outboard, it would have been a serious struggle to make it back.

As far as Ethanol gas is concerned, the carb on an old OMC 6 / 9.9 is very simple and easy to work on. Replace all of your gaskets, float, lines with modern ethanol rated components and you won't have any concerns with ethanol gas. Mine runs like a champ on Ethanol gas and has for years now. These old motors are easy to work on and very reliable once sorted out. You're a mechanic so you won't have any problems tearing it all down in a day or two. I really enjoyed fixing mine up. Parts are cheap and readily available. Great winter project.

I agree with those voicing safety concerns, so I would say this depends on how big your "no wake" lake is. On most lakes less than 100 acres, you should be able to get back to the ramp somewhat quickly with a trolling motor and avoid storms unless you are just not the observant type. If it takes you more than 10 or 15 minutes to reach the ramp the outboard might be good to have. Observing the clouds and not waiting until the last minute to avoid a storm would be key in this decision as well.

@Carolina Pines

WTG - A 57 year old motor

That is awesome.

Like a vintage piece of times gones by.

Saying they don't build them like they used to is IMO a wild understatement.

I can't think of too many units that were built even 10 years ago that I could expect to last even half that long.

A-Jay

Personally I would opt for a dependable and small gas outboard. I agree with others who have pointed out the improved safety factor. I think it's better to have some real horsepower in a dicey situation than the .8 horsepower a 55 pound thrust motor generates.

It also increases your fishing time by getting to your spots quickly versus an electric troller. Plus, you may one day get the itch to fish some larger lakes where the increased horseower is needed.

This old Mercury 2 stoke was built in 1971...was a bit finicky at times, but ran well until I sold it in 2023.

Very nice! I've got a 1980 Johnson 35 HP tiller on the back of my boat. I just keep up with routine maintenance, and it will serve me well for many more years. Electric start with the recoil back up was a big deal for me.

I was thinking "electric only" when i read about no wake. Let me change my answer a bit. I'd get an old Johnson or merc and throw it on the back of your boat. If you only use it just in case still 100% worth it. I've probably got 50 of them running over the last few years. Fun hobby. Simple. Cheap. Dependable.

I would look for an old 2 stroke in the 4 to 6hp range that is in good condition. They are light enough to carry and move around. Very dependable and easy to work on. If needed it could move that boat around pretty good and get you to shelter much faster, if the need arises. It also could get you out on larger lakes if the conditions are ideal.