Santana 20 needs a motor maybe a trolling motor?

[acudavid]

Hi everyone, I have a 20 ft Schock Santana that I bought to support a charity for young sailors. It's in good shape except the motor bracket has damaged the stern where it is mounted giving it a flex that should not be there. There are two things stopping me from reinforcing the stern from the inside: 1. It will be hard to reach without cutting access panels 2. The boat will be used by several youngsters who will not be able to reach over the stern to pull start my 3.5 hp outboard anyway. So I was thinking electric and wondering if anyone has experience with something like a Minn Kota 55 lb thrust motor? I see a Newport with 86 lbs of thrust for around $400 on Amazon. I already have a couple of dc 27 batteries which they could be mounted in the bilge and cabled to reach the motor. The boat has a displacement of around 1400 lbs. The motor will be used to motor in and out of the dock to reach the main channel about 400 yards away. The boat has a 30 amp shore power hookup so recharging will be easy. I don't have the budget for one of the Spirit motors and am wondering if a trolling motor would work. I have no experience with them.
Thanks!

 

[dlochner]

For short distances in mild conditions it should be fine. However, this is not a "get home motor" or "I need to be somewhere fast" motor. Make sure the kids have a way calling for assistance when they get becalmed a couple of miles from home. Or at least call the parent units to let them know they'll be late for dinner.

 

[Will Gilmore]

A trolling motor is perfect for getting from the boat ramp to the rigging dock. It would be prefect to get from the dock, out of the marina. It would be prefect to take a twenty foot 1400 lb sailboat through a bridge pass. It would even be prefect to help bring the boat about if you, for some reason, lose the jib and get caught in irons. Just as dlochner says, it is not a get home fast motor. However, I've known bass fishermen with heavier boats who have told me they trolled for hours at two to three knots on 24v trolling motors. It takes the right batteries and a patient hand on the throttle.

-Will

 

[Tally Ho]

My dock neighbor has a 20 foot, full keel boat. He took the engine out years ago, and he uses a trolling motor to get in and out of the marina. it can be a challenge for him in a strong headwind.

Greg

 

[Benny17441]

It would be adequate, but just in mild conditions. It should move a Santana at 1-2 knots but will not have the power to fight winds or stiff chop.

 

[acudavid]

DLochner, Will, and Greg. Thank you! One of my Marina mates has a trolling motor and we tried it out. Definitely underpowered for any headwind. I decided to sell the boat and replace it with a friendly, electric-start outboard--an 8 hp merc. Won't have to worry about stranding any kids. Never would have even looked for a different boat, but the timing was right! Thanks for the helping hand.

 

[Crazy Dave Condon]

Your 8 hp Mercury was built by Tohatsu in case you ever need parts