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Does the 3 hp do the job? Thank you for the information about rudder clearance.<<

The 3hp Seagull goes the job quite well on my inland lane ( Lake Lanier, Ga) I even used a 36 pound thrust electric motor, and it did well... but there was no wind, etc. and it wouldn't drive the boat onto the trailer like a larger motor would. I toyed with the idea of getting the largest 12 V electric made (52 pounds thrust) but considered the weight of motor and a suitable battery and got the 3 hp. Seagull instead. I then got the 5 hp Seagull because the Admirable ( an accountant by trade) wasn't happy with the way we had to pole the boat out of the slip...it has F-N-R drive. You'll be able to get by with a smaller motor if you sail inland, and don't mind the lack of reverse, but do consider the larger one if you hope to sail in other areas and encounter adverse conditions. A 4 stroke motor has definite advantages over the 2 stroke, but in my case, I use so little fuel...less then a pint when I use the 3 hp... a bit more with the 5 hp, and both are the newest (1989 and 1992!!) QB series with 50-1 gas-oil mix, and using synthetic oil that's biodegradable, I don't worry about polluting. Harvey/ Ga M-17 Stargazer #294