Use a Rowboat or a Canoe for Fishing in an Electric-Motor-Only Lake?

Just for your info, here in NJ you have to register any
boat that has power other than man power. Even an 8 foot
canoe, if under electric power, needs to be registered.
Any boat under 12' and man powered can go unregistered.

Thanks for the info. I didn't know that.

Jay Chan

Consider getting a Portaboat.

http://www.porta-bote.com/

My first 'boat' was a used 12' Portaboat. I used 2 deep cycle batteries
and an old 27# Minn Kota and it did great. Lots more stable than a
canoe and light enough so I could carry it by myself. A 12 footer will
comfortably seat 2 adults and has a capacity of 670 pounds. They come
with 2 - 2 piece oars and oar locks although only the kids ever used
the oars for fun. I still have mine in the backyard. Takes up hardly
any space and I like having a backup. Here's a Yahoo group where you
can find more info.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PortaBote/

Another nice feature of a folding boat is than you can strap it to the
roof of your car and do 70+mph on the freeway if you propery secure it.
d:^)

-phish

OK Buddy here is my take. I have been fishing all the north Jersey Lakes for
years. I had a 15'long by 42"wide jon boat the 40lb thrust minkota hand
operated trolling motor moved me the boat and my fishing partner along with
all our gear. The boat was about 275 lbs. it had a casting deck and wood
floors that I made, it had the largest deep cycle battery sears made in it,
along with anchors.and my 9.9 evinrude 4stroke. all this stuff including us
and we trolled, ran the lights, fish finder and spot light for never less
than 5 hours and had power to spare. go buy a cheap lightweight jon boat get
a good battery and trolling motor and go get em. (PS I just bought a new
Lund and my old john boat fully rigged with trailer is for sale if you or
anyone in nj is interested, it's a great monksville rig)
wrote in message
oups.com...
I would like to fish in some small lakes or reservoirs (New Jersey)
that only allow the use of electric motor. I am wondering whether I
should use a rowboat or a canoe. Regardless whether I will use a
rowboat or a canoe, I will mount an electric trolling motor to its
stern as the primary propelling power.

I need some info in order to help me to make a decision:

o Is this realistic to use a trolling motor to push a rowboat for a
distance of 1 mile back and fro? I have a feeling that the combined
weight of the rowboat, two adults, an anchor, and the wide
cross-section "may" be a drag for the trolling motor. Will this be OK
afterall? And I don't intend to use the oars as the backup propelling
power because I don't have any luck doing this.

o Seem like we cannot put too many stuffs inside a canoe as comparing
to a rowboat. This may mean that I cannot put a big trolling motor and
big batteries into the canoe. Does this restrict the distance that the
canoe can go to less than 1 mile back and fro?

o How do we anchor a canoe in the middle of the lake? Putting an
anchor inside a canoe "seems" like putting a lot of weight of the
canoe. This "may" make the canoe hard to control if the anchor is not
placed at the dead center of the canoe. Will the use of an anchor and
cross-blowing wind cause the canoe to capsize?. Am I worrying the wrong
things? Do people have a different mean to anchor a canoe without using
an anchor?

Thanks for any info in advance.

Jay Chan

On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 23:26:33 GMT, "HankCoen"
wrote:

OK Buddy here is my take. I have been fishing all the north Jersey Lakes for
years. I had a 15'long by 42"wide jon boat the 40lb thrust minkota hand
operated trolling motor moved me the boat and my fishing partner along with
all our gear. The boat was about 275 lbs. it had a casting deck and wood
floors that I made, it had the largest deep cycle battery sears made in it,
along with anchors.and my 9.9 evinrude 4stroke. all this stuff including us
and we trolled, ran the lights, fish finder and spot light for never less
than 5 hours and had power to spare. go buy a cheap lightweight jon boat get
a good battery and trolling motor and go get em. (PS I just bought a new
Lund and my old john boat fully rigged with trailer is for sale if you or
anyone in nj is interested, it's a great monksville rig)
snip

Check ur email. =)


Harry J aka Thundercat
Brooklyn Bill's Tackle Shop Fishing Team
http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com
Share the knowledge, compete on execution.

You going to get a boat Harry?


Rich P


"Thundercat" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 20 Aug 2005 23:26:33 GMT, "HankCoen"
wrote:

OK Buddy here is my take. I have been fishing all the north Jersey Lakes
for
years. I had a 15'long by 42"wide jon boat the 40lb thrust minkota hand
operated trolling motor moved me the boat and my fishing partner along
with
all our gear. The boat was about 275 lbs. it had a casting deck and wood
floors that I made, it had the largest deep cycle battery sears made in
it,
along with anchors.and my 9.9 evinrude 4stroke. all this stuff including
us
and we trolled, ran the lights, fish finder and spot light for never less
than 5 hours and had power to spare. go buy a cheap lightweight jon boat
get
a good battery and trolling motor and go get em. (PS I just bought a new
Lund and my old john boat fully rigged with trailer is for sale if you or
anyone in nj is interested, it's a great monksville rig)
snip

Check ur email. =)


Harry J aka Thundercat
Brooklyn Bill's Tackle Shop Fishing Team
http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com
Share the knowledge, compete on execution.

On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 09:04:32 -0400, "Rich P"
wrote:

You going to get a boat Harry?


Rich P


Almost bought one earlier this year, but didn't pull the trigger when
the tranny on the truck s**t the bed.


Harry J aka Thundercat
Brooklyn Bill's Tackle Shop Fishing Team
http://www.brooklynbillstackleshop.com
Share the knowledge, compete on execution.

Thundercat wrote:
On Sun, 21 Aug 2005 09:04:32 -0400, "Rich P"
wrote:


You going to get a boat Harry?


Rich P



Almost bought one earlier this year, but didn't pull the trigger when
the tranny on the truck s**t the bed.
Shouldn't you learn how to swim before getting a boat?

pat

... I had a 15'long by 42"wide jon boat the 40lb thrust
minkota hand operated trolling motor moved me the boat
and my fishing partner along with all our gear. ...
all this stuff including us and we trolled, ran the
lights, fish finder and spot light for never less than
5 hours and had power to spare. ...

This sounds very encouraging. This means using a trolling motor on a
rowboat is a practical choice for an electric-only lake.

I probably will get a semi-V boat instead of a jon boat. The reason is
that I also intend to use it in protected coastal area (of course with
a gas engine).

Thanks.

Jay Chan

wrote in message
oups.com...
... I had a 15'long by 42"wide jon boat the 40lb thrust
minkota hand operated trolling motor moved me the boat
and my fishing partner along with all our gear. ...
all this stuff including us and we trolled, ran the
lights, fish finder and spot light for never less than
5 hours and had power to spare. ...

This sounds very encouraging. This means using a trolling motor on a
rowboat is a practical choice for an electric-only lake.

I probably will get a semi-V boat instead of a jon boat. The reason is
that I also intend to use it in protected coastal area (of course with
a gas engine).

Thanks.

Jay Chan



Semi V or V-front is a good choice.


--
Bob La Londe

Win a Tackle Pack
Jig Fishing - Tips and Techniques Contest
Courtesy of Siebler Custom Baits
http://www.YumaBassMan.com

Semi V or V-front is a good choice.

Yes, this is what I have in mind. Thanks.

Jay Chan