The Family Boat Shop™
bringing families together on the water

Paddling a Canadian canoe is great and very satisfying.  However there are times when the current is against you or you want to see that bit more river than the time available will allow or perhaps you just need to get somewhere quickly and your thoughts will turn to an engine.

Canoes aren't designed as speed boats so unless you have a square back such as the Pelican Bayou 160, you will need to consider how to mount the engine.

The Pelican Bayou with its square back provides a strong central mounting point and plenty of freeboard to take a largish engine. (up to 6 HP)

Most motor mounts, including the one from Pelican, put the engine on the side of the boat and weight and stability become key issues.  Typically the canoe is restricted to a petrol engine under 3 HP or an electric one.  The small petrol engines have an integral fuel tank but for electric engines you also need to consider the batteries.

This is a typical configuration with a Minn Kota 36, leisure battery and helmsman all collected at the rear of the canoe.

Note that the wire to the battery and the battery itself present a tripping hazard.

With so much of the weight concentrated at the back, the nose will ride a little high if there is nothing else in the boat to counterbalance it. This can lead to instability in extreme circumstances. This is the boat with my 15 stone at the back. The canoe is used with the longer seat at the back as this is further forwards. Leg space at the front is therefore restricted.

Removing the helmsman enables the Pelican motor mount on an early version of the 15'6" Pelican Colorado to be clearly seen.

These motors don't stop if you release the throttle so if you fall overboard the boat will continue without you and possibly run over you. A safety consideration.

At speed the twisting action on the motor mount is considerable so you will want to tie it to the boat just in case!

If you run aground at speed the momentum of the boat can exert substantial twisting in the opposite direction; as will reversing.

Note how the shaft captures leaves and weed.  The occasional reverse thrust will clear it otherwise the engine has to be frequently lifted.

Lifting the engine is an import consideration. With the motor lifted on its pivot, all the weight, which is at the bottom of the shaft for electric outboards is putting significant torque on the mounting.

On the Minn Kota the shaft slides in the transom bracket giving a choice of engine depth.  However the height of the tiller will move accordingly and the greater the depth the greater the torque when lifted.

With a light helmsman the boat functions admirably with a good turn of speed. Remember to bring a paddle as when the battery goes flat it slows down very quickly

The moral of the story is that a motor on a  standard canoe is going to be a "Heath Robinson" affair.  Don't be put off as it all seems to come together well but don't cut corners on the engine mount.  A lot will be asked of it.  Click Here to buy  a proper one.