Strong current with Minn Kota?

[Biggems]

Hey everybody I just got a 14'6" Aluminum Hull Northwood fishing boat and I want to take it out on the Potomac River. No outboard (yet) only a 27lb thrust trolling motor. I'd probably be launching at Algonkian Park where the current doesn't seem too bad but I want to know what I'll be able to handle with that little motor before I launch into the river.

Here are a couple pics....

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

27lbs isn't much. i would definately stay out of very much current.

 

[azlakes]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

... agree with the above. we ran a MK 30lb on a 16' Scanoe on a moderate river. we got our rear ends handed to us. it was still a lot of fun trying. check the cfs of your destination but dont expect to much going against the stronger flows.

good luck

 

[Biggems]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

What is CF's?

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

I wouldn't take that big of a boat on a river with a 27# trolling motor, it's just asking for problems. I'd stick to small lakes until you get an outboard.

I use trolling motors all the time and have even had to limp back to the marina on them a time or two, but wouldn't want to rely on them as my sole means of power. I've had to fire up the outboard a bunch of times to get myself out of a pinch, wind, waves, big boat coming directly at me...

 

[Biggems]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

ok cool thats what I was afraid of. There are some nice reservoirs and such around here I will stick to.

I'm looking for an outboard now but it's going to be a while as this boat just wiped me out! I dont want to go retarted fast in it or anything I just want an outboard with enought power to, for example, use it on the river.

What would you recomend? 10hp max? again, I dont need to go real fast.

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

A 9.9 or even better a 15HP would work just fine on that boat.

 

[Ruggybuggy]

Re: Strong current with Minn Kota?

I have a similar Northwood 14 and run a Yamaha 15hp 4 stroke. The boat scoots along at 23mph.