I am looking for a trolling motor for my 17'Drift Boat, but I am not sure what pound thrust will work the best. It's going to be used mostly in the Upper Snohomish River during salmon season. I have seen other drift boats with them. Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated! Thank you

I haven't used one on a drift boat but I did have one on my Fl. Keys flats boat. It had 55 lbs. of thrust and held my Hewes (about 1700 lbs. dry weight) just fine in 4-5 mph current, with plenty of reserve. The things I would suggest is to get the "power" propeller rather than the weed-cutter prop; get the infinite variable speed; and an on-board charger can save a lot of hassle.

I have 2 Minn Kotas for my drift boat, a 36lbs thrust that works good for slower rivers and a 70lbs thrust(24 volt) that I use in the cowlitz. If I was you I'd get the biggest you can get that will run on 12 volts and that should be plenty for the snohomish. Also get variable speed rather than the 5 speeds forward and 3 reverse.

heres a related question. If you put an electric motor on your drift boat do you have to license your boat? Thanx and tight lines
Kevin

Yes you still have to license your drift boat

I think you only have to license your driftboat if it's 16' or over and has more than a 10hp motor on it.

I have a 17' drift boat and use a 8 horse on it. I checked on getting a lisence and they told me if it is powerd buy any motor it has to be lisenced. no size just do you put a motor on it? I know dudes that don't and use a eletric trolling motor and have never lisenced it and not had any truble and probably won't but if you have my luck you better get it.

dcrzfitter

You only need to be licenced if you are on federal navigatable waterways. If your on a boat in a lake (like tapps for instance), and its under 16 feet with a propulsion system you dont require licencing...Lake Washington and the Columbia are a different story. You should however check regulations because I think there is a h.p. limit. I learned of all this the first time I went to Tillamook in my driftboat with a 7.5 Johnson on the back. It cost a 100.00 for the on water coarse. Much less if you take care of it on land.