Messing In Boats wrote:

Minnkota sells a bunch of electric trolling motors that would work, but
you have to deal with a battery which may weigh 50# or so, much heavier
than the 4 hp Johnson, (I have one, a 1987 model that weighs 33#. I love
it!) although not quite as awkward to handle. I once read something that
said 15# of thrust is approximately equal to 1 hp, but then a whole
bunch of posters chimed in with the information that thrust and hp were
as different as apples and chipmunks, so.....

I had a 7' Livingston that I am happy to be rid of, as it was too heavy
to handle and tended to like to take on water over the bow when power
was cut. I replaced it with an inflatable, which runs a little bit
wetter in big waves, but I will take it out in stuff I wouldn't even
consider doing in the Livingston.

Thanks for the reply. I guess I'll stick with the Johnson, for a while, anyway.
I agree with your comments about the Livingston 'box', but as much as I'd like
to have an inflatable, I really don't have the need for A) speed and 2) range.
Putputting to the dock and back is about it, or setting the odd crab pot near
the boat, or looking around a small bay. Would be a waste for an Avon, like
hooking Secretariat to a wagon for toddlers.