I tried it on my H23...
...and found that it was only up to SOME of the tasks I needed it for. My attempt was made with a 1978 Hunter 23, about 3000 pounds of boat when fully loaded. I used a Great White T48 trolling motor (Transom mount, 48 lbs thrust, 12 volt, 5 fwd/2 reverse speeds, ~$245) with the standard weedless prop. This was attached to a dedicated Group 27 deep-cycle wet cell battery (~$50). I took the battery home for charging between uses. After initial purchase, there were really no other operational expenses. When attached to the H23, I could get about 3 to 3 1/2 knots at full power (5/5)... but only for about 40 minutes of motoring time. If I cut the power back to 3/5, I could make 2 knots for about 90 minutes, which worked much better for me. The problem for me was that there are some SERIOUS currents that pass between the islands here, often in the 2-4 knot range. The little troller just didn't have enough power to push the H23 into that kind of current, so after using it for about 3 months we decided to go back to the 5HP Nissan outboard. Overall, I'd say the trolling motor performed very well- It was perfect for getting the boat on/off the trailer and out to the open water where we raised sails. I would NOT recommend one if there are strong currents, or if you need to motor more than about 10-15 minutes each way from the slip to your sailing grounds. I have been told that a different prop would improve performance, but would place a greater strain on the motor- More speed, less operating time... I have started using this motor on my inflatable (the neighboring cruisers call it my 'Stealth Dinghy' because it's so quiet) with decent results. I can get about 1 hr 20 min on a fully charged battery, and ~4 kts at full speed. Best part about it is that it uses no gas and makes very little noise! Worst part is that it's not particularly fast or powerful, and drains the battery very quickly. Good luck! --Jon Bastien H25 'Adagio'
