randy-
there was a thread on this very subject earlier this year, you might want to search for it. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the idea. Here's my reasoning.
If you use a trolling motor and battery, you're probably looking at 20 lbs for the trolling motor and at least 30 lbs. for the battery. A 3.5 HP four-stroke motor with 1/3 gallon
fuel tank weighs about 36 lbs. A one gallon tank of gasoline weighs about 10 lbs. With the internal tank full, and the external one gallon tank, you can run for about four hours, and getting more
fuel is generally quite simple. IIRC, the electric trolling motor and battery won't run as long, or be as easy to re-fuel, or give as much power in general.
Adding a solar panel just adds complexity to the
dinghy setup, and is just one more thing that can be stolen from the
dinghy.
__________________
Sailingdog
Telstar 28
New England
You know what the first rule of sailing is? ...Love. You can learn all the math in the 'verse, but you take
a boat to the sea you don't love, she'll shake you off just as sure as the turning of the worlds. Love keeps
her going when she oughta fall down, tells you she's hurting 'fore she keens. Makes her a home.
—Cpt. Mal Reynolds, Serenity (edited)
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