See the thread in this area on the limitations of trolling motors. Realizing that my 30amp electric was not going to cut it in coastal tides, I aquired a 2hp Honda (recommended elsewhere on this forum). To give you an idea of how clueless I am about motors, I had no idea that small outboards have no transmission, reverse, or neutral. They are like lawnmowers: Caution: When Motor is Running, Blade is Turning.
I'm still trying to wrap my brain about how this will work in cases where I need to use the motor to back out of my slip. I think the steps are:
1. Tie the boat securely to the dock finger, so it can't move fore or aft.
2. Start the motor. which immediately tries to drive the boat into the dock, but can't because of #1.
3. Once the motor has thrashed in place long enough that I can push in the choke, turn the throttle down to minimum, which causes the centrifugal clutch to relax and the prop to stop or almost stop. (You can't start the motor below clutch speed; the "start" position is at about half throttle.)
4. Turn the still-running motor around backwards. (You can't start the motor when it is reversed; the starting cord pulls forward.)
5. Release the dock lines.
6. Give the motor enough gas to engage the clutch and back out.
7. When far enough away from the dock, cut back the throttle and turn the motor to it's normal position.
8. Have extraordinary luck, such that the wind doesn't drive me back into my neighbors' boats while I am doing #7--or the motor doesn't stall.
9. Assuming #8, give it some gas and get the hell out of there; otherwise institute normal out-of-control procedures (climbing on other boats, fending off with feet, promising to come back next week to buff out the scratches.)
Is this the standard protocol, or am I missing something?