Electric Motor Size

I have an electric motor I would like to use on my Getaway (just purchased, no experience). It's only 17 lbs. of thrust. I know it won't exactly fly, but I just need something to get in and out of the marina. Is this enough to move the boat at a usable speed, or would I be wasting my time? If this is too small, what would you consider the minimum size to be (electric)?

_________________
Dave

It takes very little thrust to make a cat move, so just about any motor will work.

_________________
Matt Miller
Former - Director of Parts and Accessory Sales
Warranty and Technical Support
Hobie Cat USA
(Retired 11/7/2022)

What motor did you buy, and how did you mount it? Matt, can you suggest a motor/mount option? We are on Bald Head Island, and have to launch our Getaway in the marsh creek, and have a boat tow us to the beach for launching. Not a good setup. Any help is appreciated.

I'm using the Cheata motor mount with a 28 pound thrust electric motor. Haven't had it on the water yet, so I don't know how it will work out.

_________________
Dave

we use a minn kota 30 clamped to the front crossbar to get in/out of canals and it is plenty of power. funny that going past the 1-3 settings makes little to no difference but kills the battery much faster. some have said that mounting to front crossbar is not ideal for the following reasons:

1. in chop the motor comes out of the water due to bow mount
2. requires two people to control boat (one on throttle up front and the other steering aft)

for us these are not concerns since we almost never single hand the boat and the canals rarely have more than wakes for waves. i have not heard any other objections to bow mount and it saves the $450 for the cheata mount.

_________________
getaway on long beach island, nj