If you have any kind of serious freeboard in the boat you
intend to purchase, then I would stay away from the remote
control types and stay with the stick steer.

I assume you mean a high freeboard can be a problem with remote control
type. Why is that? Does the remote control type tend to have a short
shaft?

Second, if you need to measure from the gunnel to the water line and
about a foot and a half beyond to see if you can even purchase a
trolling motor with a long enough shaft.

Thanks for the tip. I will keep this in mind. Anyway, I assume a 18-ft
boat should not have a very high bow. Therefore, I am thinking that I
should not have a problem finding a trolling motor that has a long
enough shaft.

Third, you have to determine what pound thrust you require. I assume
that this boat weighs around 2200 or there abouts so probably anything
from 60 pounds to 100 pounds would be sufficient. I have a 67 pound
thrust 24 vdc on a Ranger bay boat that does a fine job.

Good to know this. I intend to operate this boat in some electric-only
lakes. Therefore, a powerful trolling motor is something that I would
like to have. I am also thinking of something like 60 to 100-lb of
thrust. How long is your Range bay boat? I am trying to see how large a
boat a 67-lb thrust trolling motor can pull.

Sixth, you have to have a storage area for two batteries and the
ability to run at least #6 wire from where the batteries are to the
trolling motor.

Yes. I assume those two batteries are quite heavy, and I probably need
to carefully position them (and the people seating positions) to make
sure the boat will be balanced.

Thanks for the info.

Jay Chan