<<I would like to solicit the lists opinion on dingy motors. I am leaning toward an electric trolling motor>> I'm a fan of electric trolling motors but they leave something to be desired for dinghy propulsion. While the motor is light, around 20 lbs, the battery is heavy. A #27 deep discharge battery weighs in the neighborhood of 50 lbs. With a 50 lb. thrust motor, the equivalent of a 2 hp outboard, you get about 2 hours run time. It will move a 10' dinghy at a top speed of about 4 kts, hence a total range of 8 miles. Then there is a long pause for battery recharge. For dinghy propulsion it would be better to invest in a small outboard. This season I bought a 2 hp, 4 cycle Honda. The motor weighs 28 lbs, about a third of the equivalent weight of a trolling motor and battery, and gets about 4 hours run from one gallon of gas. With a 3 gallon container, I can dinghy back and forth all day. Apart from being a bit noisy, it has been extremely reliable and easy to start. Where the electrical trolling motor really shines is in moving a very light craft in almost dead silence. When fitted to a Grumman 15' canoe, a #35 MinnKota pushes it to hull speed and beyond, with only the burble of the water as a sonic accompaniment. Great for sneaking up on waterfowl. The weight of the battery can compensate for crew distribution when only one person is aboard. I also use the trolling motor as a surrogate stern thruster - as described in the archives. Larry Z