A 46# Endura isn't what you want. You'd want at least a 50# and I'd get a MK "Maxxum" which has variable speed, as opposed to the endura 5 set speeds. I was advised the same thing and didn't think it would be as important as it is, yet I now know.
I just got a MK Max 50# for my 14' fiberglass, and I can troll at 10%-25% with no wind, and a single 115 amp/hour battery will last me 3+ days. My motors slightly over powered, but I get much better efficiency as a result. Mine a transom mount, and in hind-sight I wish I would have saved up even more for a bow mount.
A bow mount steers much better, and they usually have auto-pilot which would be night and day from what mine steers like. Since you have to put the transom mount off to one side, and manage both motors so they dont impact another, your always crooked. Add some cross wind, and you'll have to adjust a transom mount every nano-second to stay straight, and even then its impossible some times.
Its like steering a drunken mule, and unless your already used to a tiller, it takes some time to adjust. Just imagine if you put your 55 hp motor off center, how it would steer. One solution is to back-troll, which isn't too bad if the waves are decent, yet you'll use more power to push your flat transom though the water, rather then the Bow, but again, its not too bad. A hundred times easier to steer. The way I look at it, is that most pro's have both a bow and a transom tolling motor, so I got one end covered. lol
If your like me though, $500-$800 wasn't something I could spend at the time. I got my MK at Costco, for $350 if I recall right. It was by far the best place to get that MK at, so if your "in my boat" check them out. The batteries are a good deal also.
If I had to buy one all over again, I'd have probably waited till I had enough to get a Bow mount with Auto-Pilot, and with a 16.6' boat I'd guess a 70# would be good. Check out MK's website, they have a Motor-selection-guide thingy.
Tight Lines
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Theres a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.
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