Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Hi All: Been a while... you may remember my boat - the Y-Knot which was a 16 ft. camping trailer mounted on a tritoon. It weighs close to 4,000 lbs. floating.

I've got a lake located just two hours south of me at 5500 feet, which is 3,000 feet higher than Tucson. That translates into low 80 degree days when it's 100 plus in Tucson.

The lake is tiny but beautiful: Parker Canyon Lake.

There is no restriction on size on the lake but there is a 10 hp restriction, and I thought a bow mounted clamp on trolling motor might be the way to go. When I say small lake it's only 135 acres, so getting to a remote area away from the campground is a short distance. I can stay on the lake for free since I have National Parks Pass and will be sleeping onboard.

My question is simple - will a 40 lb. thrust trolling motor even move my hulk? My very rough calculations equate 40 lbs. of thrust to 1/4 horsepower. I realize that pushing against the wind probably won't happen, but when it's calm?

Thanks for your input. Cheers, Ron

don't even want to venture to guess on this one but my initial response is no, not really.

I'd guess no, too!

Why not just get a 9.9 HP tiller controlled outboard? I did a quick Google search and it looks like they only weigh about a hundred pounds and they aren't very expensive.

Like mentioned above, any kind of wind and you are going to lose. Dead flat calm, you will move REALLY slowly. An 80 would be better but still underpowered.

Thanks guys, I'm thinking to pony up (literally) and get a 2 hp gas outboard. What ever I end up with it's going to have to mount on the bow, no room on the stern.

I'd buy bigger than 2 HP. I've never heard anyone ever say "Man, I wish I had a smaller motor".