Conference wahoo::fishing

    
    David,  I also have given this a bunch of thought.  What I came
    up with for my purposes is electric and gas.  
    I like the control of an electric.  And gas for getting there.
    I still haven't spent the & for the gas,  What's the deal with this
    tanaka?
    
    TBDW
    

    What's the weight limit on the Crawdad? I was under the impression
    that with both an electric and gas (small) motors and all associated
    equipment that it would leave almost zilch for people etc.
    
    What do you Crawdad owners do?
    
    Richard

	Another option might be a 3hp Minn Kota elec trolling motor. From
	what I've heard in this notes file, a powerful electric motor is
	more than adequate for a canoe/crawdad for fishing, and the xtra
	power of the 3hp Minn Kota should be able to motor your family around
	with plenty to spare. Also, remember that some places don't allow
	gas motors of any size. That thing is too small for two motors anyway.
	Just get yourself the biggest marine battery you can, and a good 
        charger.
    
	If the 3hp Minn Kota has 'Maximizer' circuitry (and I thing it does),
	it should easily run all day on one charge.

	I say spend a little more and get the best electric you can.

    	(although that battery would weigh a ton!)

     I just can't remember what the weight limit is on the crawdad,
    but I can tell you what they can hanle. I use an older sears 5hp
    to motor the stern and a MINKOTA 28lb to motor the bow. This is
    the max for power on both ends, as a mater of fact, the electric
    is almost as fast as the gas, "down wind that is". Well anyways,
    I had my brother (160lb) and myself (145lb) with both motors, all
    tackle, cooler, battery and a 3.7gal gas tank on board at one time
    and handled fine for being over max. I would say at LEAST 100lbs
    over. I forgot to mention that I have a crawdad XT model which has
    a carpet over wood floor, more weight but also more stability. 
        If you go this route, using electric in the front can be tricky
    when your by your self, especialy in a cross wind, it'll spin you
    in circles. What I do in this situation is drop my anchor about
    1'-2' off the stern, and keep all but my rod and box in the rear,
    it helps keep control.
                 
       Hope this helped.... 
                                                      CLEM....

    Clem,  What's your dtn?  I nmeed to tyalk to you.
    
    I'm at 296-4198
    
    thx
    
    TBDW
    

                           Liquidation Sale!
    
    Just happen to run across this liquidation sale in my Bass magazine
    this weekend. A company located in Kansas, Source Assoc, Inc.
    is having liquidation on brand new Eska outboard.
            
             15 HP  729.ea      Source Associates
            9.9 HP  669.ea      Dept.BM04
            7.5 HP  439.ea      2111 E. Santa Fe
            5.0 HP  369.ea      Olanthe, KS 66062
            2.0 HP  199.ea
   
    These price include 3.25 gas tank and prop.
    Phone # 800-234-3333 
                        
     Kliff,

    I'd recommend the 3hp MinKota also.  I've never used a Crawdad,
    but I did fish out of a jon boat for awhile.  I had a 4.5hp Merc
    outboard on the back and a 21lb thrust Merc elec on the front, looking
    back on it, I would have been better off with the 3hp elec. You'll
    save weight by not having the gas outboard and tank, you won't have
    to mess around with gas, and it'd be less of a pain setting it up
    with one less motor (I'm assuming you don't trailer it).  
           
    As far as going with just the gas rather than the elec, when I've tried
    fishing with just a gas outboard on small crafts, it drove me crazy.
                    
    Don Mac                                                
           

    I cannot go for the $$ to put both a gas and electric on the boat,
    as well as the weight considerations.

    re .1
        
>>    David,  I also have given this a bunch of thought.  What I came
>>    up with for my purposes is electric and gas.  
>>    I like the control of an electric.  And gas for getting there.
>>    I still haven't spent the & for the gas,  What's the deal with this
>>    tanaka?
    
>>    TBDW
    
    Extracted from the Tanaka brochure:
    
    "You've found the first small outboard that runs just as efficiently
    at low prop speeds as it does at high speeds."
    
    "Before Tanaka introduced Dual Automatic Drive many fisherman needed
    two motors.."
    
    
    "How the Dual Automatic Drive Works"
    "When the engine starts, the motor is in neutral. As the throttle
    is advanced, the high-ratio, stage one clutch automatically engages
    for efficient , low prop speed operation. At 3600 RPM (approx 6
    MPH), the second stage clutch engages to provide direct drive for
    faster speeds."
    
    (Accompanied by graph of boat speed/engine speed showing how
    traditional drive and "their drive" compare.
    
    Being a marketing person you learn to take with a grain of Salt
    brochure claims. However This sure looks good when you compare the price
    of $390 (3hp) for the unit (Country store, Milford NH). It also
    comes with a 2 year warranty, 5 years on ingition.
                 
    
    Has any one ever seen or heard anything about these engines????
    
    Thnaks for all the info, comments and suggestions.
    
    David.
                 
                      

    I fished out of a crawdad most of last year and I have to agree
    with Don (.7). If you're heading for some big water where an electric
    might not be enough, you probably shouldn't be there with a crawdad
    anyway. We used a Minn Kota on the back and had no problems at all.
    (I don't remember the size right off, it was a friend's motor.)
    Besides, I have yet to see (or hear) of a gas motor that didn't
    bug the .*%# out of me when it went buzzing by - no matter what
    the size.
    
    Mike

    I bought a 1.75 Tanaka at sears surplus in NJ and put it on a grumman
    canoe.   

    For fishing it was a disaster!  The little tank would run out of gas at 
    the most inopertune times.  Messing with a gas can in a canoe tended to 
    be very exciting.  Also very pretty with the gas rainbows on the water.  
    I'm sure the fish loved the scent. 

    When it wanted to be obstanant, trying to start the little sucker was 
    like being on a roller coaster.

    If I were to do it over again, I would go with an electric with a built
    in maximizer.  The heavy battery I would use like balast to level out
    the canoe/crawdad.  If eventualy I wanted to buy a larger boat,  the
    electric could still be used as a stearn mounted trolling motor.

    Keith

    Dave, I have had a 3hp Minnkota on my boat(12.5' fiberglass dory)
    for the last year. Prior to last year, the boat was powered by a
    25lb Sears electric. 
    
    I have had in excess of 450 lbs. in the boat, and moved along at
    a good clip. A friend of mine has an old Sears 5HP gas on a 10' jon
    boat. I'll take my set up over his any day. Have you ever heard
    a gas motor on a small pond early in the morning? My experience to
    date has negated any thought of me switching to a gas powered motor in
    the 3-5HP range. 
    
    I could go on, but I have to go to a meeting. Let me know if you
    want to follow up on the subject.
    
    				Ed 
    
    
   
     

    I think I have answered my questions.
    
    The Sears 3 Hp and smaller are all made by Tanaka. They confirmed
    it at the Nashua store Yesterday.
    
    I have decided to buy the new Sears 3hp electric made for them by
    Minn Kota. This motor is on sale this week for $399, (no shipping
    charge in the store).
    
    Does any one know of a better price anywhere?
    
    One more question, How and where do I register a boat with  an electric
    motor in NH. Also what do I have to do to use that same boat in
    Maine this summer?
    
    Thanks for all the advice and help.
    
    David.
    

>    I have decided to buy the new Sears 3hp electric made for them by
>    Minn Kota. This motor is on sale this week for $399, (no shipping
>    charge in the store).
    
>    Does any one know of a better price anywhere?
    

DAVID!  NO!  NO!  NO!   DO NOT BUY IT AT SEARS FOR $399 ! ! !

THE SAME MINN KOTA 3HP FROM BASS PRO IS ONLY $279.97 !!
(Note:  Bass Pro's shipping charges will only amount to $6.45 for surface 
delivery, and if you're in a rush, 2nd day delivery is only $16.60!)


Joe


    

David,


>>  I have decided to buy the new Sears 3hp electric made for them by
>>  Minn Kota. This motor is on sale this week for $399, (no shipping
>>  charge in the store).

JOE IS RIGHT!! (Can't belive it)  Sears has a very high markup on all 
their fishing/boating equipment.      
    
>>  Does any one know of a better price anywhere?
Call 1-800-BASS-PRO
    
>>  One more question, How and where do I register a boat with  an electric
>>  motor in NH. 
Call the local boat dealers to find one that has boat registrations.
In Nashua, try Briand's 888-1717.

keith

    I bought a Sears motor once, nothing but problems, but the Minn
    Kota at any cost.
    

    Joe called me this afternoon with the info on Bass Pro. I have ordered
    one from them, Actual price was $274.97.
    
    
    Thanks again to you all for saving me from a big $$$$$ mistake.
    
    David.
    

    After all the great help and advise I thought I should give you
    a report on the first trip of my rig.
    
    I went out yesterday afternoon (Sun 17-Apr) on the Nashua River.
    
    Weather was excellent sunny, warm, but fair breeze.
    
    I had purcahsed a 105 amp battery and it was fully charged.
    
    The plan for the afternoon was boat testing. I did not plan on fishing.
    
    The crawdad can eaisly be lifted out of a bed of my small truck
    by one person. Slid down the ramp and motor and battery installed.
    
    This was my first experience of an electric motor. The 3HP Minn
    Kota was super. At full power, up stream and against the wind made
    good progress and produced "a fair wake". Turning the motor to <50%
    headway was good but the wind effect was noticeable on the bow.
                          
    After ~2hr running, mostly at full I had no noticeable degredation
    in performance. I must do a test to see how long the power will
    last. (I do have a spare battery to take with me).
    
    I am really pleased at the lack of noise as compared to a gas was
    wonderful, but do note they are not absloutely silent a >60% power.
    
    Next weekend I will be getting my fishing license so it will be
    back on the water next weekend to ???? (get skunked, I hope not)
    
    Thanks to all who helped me and gave such good information.
    
    David.
                              

    
     I have a question on the Minn Kota 3hp. I just bought a 12 foot
    aluminum v-hull row boat and need a motor.
      Would a 3hp Minn Kota work better then a small gas? I looked over
    the notes but I saw nothing with small v-hull boats.
    
     I am mostly just going in ponds and bays And I don't anticapate
    too much long distance travaling.
    
    		Wayne

MOST DEFINITELY GO FOR THE MINN KOTA 3 HP!

Regardless of whether it's a V-hull, flat-bottom, or canoe, if you've got a 
12' boat and planning on fishing smaller waters, I think the electric has a 
lot more advantages over a small gas motor.  The primary advantage is 
SILENCE and manueverability!  The 3HP elec. will move you right along and 
allow you to change position easily and quitely.  No fussin' with gas, 
yanking on the rope, and creating noise!  It will certainly help you to get 
closer to them hawgs with less chance of spooking them!

GO ELECTRIC!

-HSJ-

    Most definitely I second Joe's note.
    
    In fact I would go further, based on my experience of 2 weeks ago.
    I was on Perch Pond in Campton with my Crawdad and 3HP Minn Kota
    trolling for trout and doing quite
    well. There were approx 6-8 others on the lake with electric motors.
    
    Then came this ********* with a rubber boat and 1.5 gas outboard.
    Until then I was not concerned about the noise now I beleive
    differently. There should be at least effective mufflers for small
    motors. To brighten a noisy situation this guy had troubles starting
    and manouvering so we had some laugh on him.
    
    Just think - to reverse with most small o/b you have to swivell
    the motor through 180 to go in reverse with the Minn Kota - turn
    the switch. to start the motor turn the switch. Its a whole lot
    more convinent, eaiser and SAFER. - safer from wobbling the boat
    to lack of fumes and liquid gasoline on board.
                             
    As far as running time - I have used the motor trolling and full
    speed running on a 105 amp battery for 5 hrs and still had 75% power
    left.
    
    Down side - its heavier, the battery that is. 
    
    David
    
                                            

    
    
    OK, OK, OK,
    
    TBDW screwed up........
    
    I bought the 1.6 hp ESKA for the CRAWDAD and didn't listen to you folks....
    
    Although I use an electric on the front, I should have saved my
    money.  The eska is cute but all ELECTRIC is the way to go.
    
    Anyone want to buy my gas motor?  Call me and I will tell you why
    YOU want it.
    
    TBDW (with_gas_motor_for_sale)
    

    OK, fellow geniuses, here's one for you!!!
    
    I have two electric motors.  A 12 lb. and a 17 lb.  What are the
    possiblilites of running them both off the same 105 amp battery
    at the same time.  My john boat is a 17' and just the 17 lb thrust
    will get you where you want to go but you have to be mighty patient.
    I figure the two together would increase power dramatically
    
    The world is awaiting your knowledgeable answers.
    
    						The old ALFer

    Just hook both of them up to the battery in parallel -- works fine.
    It would be a good idea to connect both of them directly to the
    battery, as you will be pulling twice as many amps.  This trick
    has been around for a while -- mostly from a few years ago when
    electric motors were weaker than current ones.

    
     I looked around this weekend for proces on the Min Kota 3hp and
    I found one for sale a Service Merchantise.II think it was $260
    and I found a deep cycle marine battery on sale at Sears.I had
    to have it so now I am the proud owner of a new 3hp Minn Kota and
    a Die Hard.  I wanted to use it this weekend but the boat is not
    registered and my wife did not want to take a chance,So I rowed
    around the pond in Westboro with all the stumps.
    
     Thanks for the advice!
    
    			Wayne 

       Die Hard marine batteries are on sale for $49.95.
       Must be fun trying to steer with 2 electrics!
                                                       Denny

>>      Must be fun trying to steer with 2 electrics!
  

I'll bet he turn on a dime, though!

    For the first chance in some time I have had the time to browse
    the file. I noticed my last reply on this note was March. I read
    the replys and have a few comments and questions. 
    
    I too have enjoyed the 3HP since buying one last spring. I would
    like to mention I had one problem with it, a bad switch, and sent
    it to MinnKota for repair. They were prompt! Very satisfied with
    the service even though it was off season. When the failure occurred,
    last November, no MinnKota dealers in Mass. were fixing the 3HP.
    At one dealer I was told the test equipment to fix the 3HP and 
    4HP are to expensive for the average dealer. (if any of you have
    problems, you may want to call and ensure the locals can fix it
    - just a thought).
    
    One earlier note mentioned the aluminum boat, and could the 3HP
    push it. NO PROBLEM! My 12ft. dory weighs 79lbs., I have on occassion
    had my wife and two kids in the boat(once in a while I get crazy)
    with a combined weight of about 430lbs, a motor and battery that
    weigh about 75lbs and rods, tackle box, minnows, worms etc. Even
    in wind the motor gets me where I want to go. By the way, I used
    the motor on the Merrimack this spring for shad. The water was MOVING!
    and I was able, although not very quickly, to go back upstream to the
    ramp. 
    
    I was wondering if anyone has used a smaller battery. I bought a
    105 AMP thinking the motor would draw a lot of current. The maximizer
    sure does the job. I have fished for eight hours and still had more
    than 40% charge. If I had to do it over I would have went for a
    smaller battery. Most of the time I only go for a couple of hours
    anyway. That battery is over kill for my kind of fishing.
    
    Finally, the TBDW's note says it all. These new electric motors have
    it all over the small gas engine. 
    
    				Ed
    
    

    
     The paper that came with the motor recomended the 105 amp battery.I
    had some problem with the salesman on this as he only knew "cranking
    amps".This is the way they are rating them now,according to the
    Sears guy.
    
     I would rather have the extra size (call that reserve power!) battery
    and have that comfort factor than worry about the capacity of the
    battery late in the fishing day!
    
    			Wayne

    
    	Okay, so the votes is in for the electric - now, does anyone
    	out there want to part with one of your small gas jobs??
    
    	G_B

    
    
    Big GEORGE.....
    
    Call TBDW for yhe DEAL of a lifetime
    
    

    re .28
    I was at Sears in Leominster this week.
    
    They have a large marine battery rated that 3.3 hrs with 25 Ampere
    draw with a price of $99.  They also have one on sale for $49 that
    has (I think ) 2.5 hours at 25 Amperes.    They also have a NEW
    battery that they have just introduced for $59 that is rated at
    3.0 hours at 25 Amperes draw which looked like the best buy.
    
    I would like to know how they compare to the old ratings.  I think
    that the $99 one is the 105 A.H. unit