Newbie To Minnesota

[Zim1]

I’m a 60 year old newbie to Minnesota seeking general tips to get started. Live in Indiana inspect buildings for USPS and just inherited the whole states of Minnesota & Iowa to add to my Wisconsin & Illinois work areas.  I’ll be on the road to each of these states three weeks/year. Spend a week walleye fishing every year but most in either Canada, Lake Erie or Wisconsin spring runs. Not very good at any of these. So as a result of my travels I picked up a used 10’ folding Porta-Bote on Craigslist I can bring with me on my 4Runner cargo rack.  Never had a boat before. I need to buy a motor, seems like a ~6 HP would get me 15 mph, but less if my wife is along. She is kinda tiny 97#, but I’m kinda big 225# so combined boat speed likely limited to 10 mph max?  Know nothing about motors but reading up on line.  Anyway I am quite overwhelmed with learning about Minnesota from scratch and my boat’s limitations.  Any advice would be appreciated. 

[eyeguy 54]

Welcome to mn and fm!  You should get some good advice here. 

[DonkeyHodey]

Welcome!.  couple thoughts:
I got a new motor ~4 years ago and was almost certain to get a new merc, however, I got talked into getting a 20 hp suzuki to replace my old 1960's 25 hp 2 stroke merc.  I couldn't be happier!--the main selling point was the zuk being fuel injected (and at the time suzuki made the smallest HP motors that were fuel injected...)

When I first started the motor, I honestly thought something was wrong with the motor because I had never heard a tiller-outboard motor that was so quiet!

The ease of starting/maintaining a fuel-injected motor cannot be overstated.   Suzuki does make a 15 hp motor (fuel injected) but the 20 hp weighs the same...  I can't see any reason to opt for lower hp when size/weight are similar.--weight is quoted at 97#; maybe you're beefier than me, but I wouldn't wanna move this thing regularly (although it can be done...)

 

I know you've got a 10 ft. boat, but my advice:

1.)  I love my suzuki.

2.)  fuel injected rocks!

3.)  did I mention fuel injected rocks...

 

(My motor sits on an old aluminum 14 ft lund with wooden benches.  This little boat comfortably fishes me/wife and my 2 kids.  It also is easy for me to use alone. 

I won't take it out on a big lake in the wind; but on it's trailer, I can tow this with almost any car, put it in almost any lake with a public access and get it out easy. 

Frankly, unless it's not an option, be open to potentially getting a different boat (that can handle a 20 hp zuk like I use, cuz' I really do love my motor!))

[Zim1]

The Porta-Bote specs only specify 56# max motor weight, but I've read many guys went up to 65# motors without a problem.  I would not want to exceed that.  I'm keeping this boat because I am not towing a trailer anywhere.  Don't want the plates, taxes, space, waiting in line to launch, etc.  Primary purpose of my trips are for business, not fishing.  I'm just viewing this portable boat thing as a bonus to my travels.  I have been reading about the fuel injection two strokes that would seem practical for my setup.

Edited December 16, 2019 by Zim1

[huntnfish]

Where in MN are you going to be? There are lots of options that don’t even need a boat with good fishing. I fish a couple rivers early in the year and always find some fish. You will be pretty limited with a 10’ boat and will need to find very small lakes or calm waters. It’s a good option to keep along when you’re instate but I’d almost look at the boat a a secondary option. 

[Zim1]

I've got the entire state of Minnesota.  Will be doing about 24/year = 2 weeks but can stay as long as I want once I'm up there.  Got a lot of freedom with my job.  My thought was to grab this 10' as it was for sale near me.  If I use it often and I want to upsize I can easily buy a 12'.  That is the most popular size and quite available.  Much will also depend on what Illinois deer hunting spots this will allow me to access.  Hoping to find some island close to Iowa across a bayou.  Already found many such limited access spots. 

[leech~~]

1 hour ago, Zim1 said:

  Hoping to find some island close to Iowa across a bayou.  

 

How about this. I'm from Indiana, but Deer hunt in Illinois and would like to find an Island in the back water of the Mississippi along the Iowa boarder.

 

 

Edited December 24, 2019 by leech~~

[Sculpin]

I would want to check with the MN DNR to find the appropriate outboard rating for the Porta Boat. MN calls out outboard ratings on all licensed boats, and boats must have capacity plates displayed. You would not want to exceed the HP rating for your boat. The weight rating itself is not sufficient.