Ever used an electric motor on a Hobie 18

I like to sail on mountain lakes, which have VERY variable winds. Sometimes the wind completely dies and I'm a few miles from the launch site. I'm content to have a slow sail home in light wind conditions, but I need a solution for NO WIND. It would be very nice to have an electric motor option for use in this situation. Has anyone figured out how to do this? What did you install, how did you install it, and how much did it cost you?

1. put a paddle between the lacing on the tramp (you could try) or into the hull

2. I suppose you could put that old hobie cooler bracker that goes by the dolphin striker... beef that up and put a battery... and put a trolling motor on the front crossbar. Mount the motor off towards one hull so you can swing it up 90 to the side (toward the other hull) when not in use....

Not exactly Hobie stylin... but that's the great thing about Hobie in general.... ingenuity to do what it takes to get on the water! Function over form. Good luck!

One of the unused 18s on my beach has what appears to be either an old OEM or aftermarket gas motor mount made specifically for the Hobie 18. It has a very sturdy aluminum frame mounted directly to the inner deck lip about 15" aft of the rear cross bar via a pre-bent rear support bar. The forward end, which is cut in around the dead eye, is secured to the bottom-side of the cross bar with heavy duty bolts. I didn't bother to inspect the actual "bed" the motor sits on, but I believe that might be made of aluminum, too (with rubber side walls to help ensure the motor doesn't go for a swim)......



Underside......

boy that'll make your bows point to the moon !!