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Dave an experience I had with an electric trolling motor on the bow of my whaler, It was not the salt water version, but anyway here it is. I fish the break water of long beach and after a year of using the trolling motor saw divots in the motor housing. They were caused by electrolysis. Eventually the motor leaked electricity and burned holes in the aluminum plate on the transom of my boat way in the back as well as dissolve the sacrificial anodes on my main engine.

So I recommend three things for you. get the rubber transom pad and mount your motor to it on the boat transom to isolate the motor and boat, That transom is aluminum and will get eaten fast later.
Second add zinc anodes to the electric motor use zip ties, what ever you want, Just make sure the anode touches the motor. By adding the zinc you will have a gauge to tell how fast and how much electricity is leaking from your motor over time. This is for salt water as fresh water will take a lot longer to cause problems. The last thing would be to disconnect the battery every time the boat sits in the water with the motor attached for any lenght of time, as well as tilt it out of the water.

I too have gone the route of less power on the dinghy, I have a 15 hp engine I put on mine once, it sure fly's but that b... wanted to kill me picking it up all the time and mounting it. Electric trolling motor, two hp gas engine is plenty when we use them in sheltered waters close to the docks and dont do much exploring. We match the motor to the need is all. And an electric motor (as long as we factor in the fact we now have to carry a battery) is a great choice too, Let alone a better buy. Your boat sounds like mine, the Baltic. have fun life's good.
Mike

Mike, I already put a round two piece zinc on bottom of aluminum shaft. I will only be useing the motor for small trips (less than 2 miles round trip) and will store it in aft bunk.I always have had a 2 cycle 3 hp Yamaha that I liked and the 9.8 new Tohatsu is to big for the inflatable.
I chosed the elect. as it is easy to store inside the boat with no gas. If I get a year out of it down here in FL. it would be well worth the $130.
The Inflatable is much like my previous Achillies 8 ft. with attachable motor mount. I used that inflatable for 3 yrs. on my sail from Ma. thru the Carribean.
Dave

aya16 wrote:Skin, dont tell me you have one of those cats that can use and flush a toilet????? I have visions now of a cat using the porta potty, then jumping up and down on the flush bellows to flush the toilet......
Mike

We had a toilet trained cat when we owned our Hunter. He actually used the thing. No flushing which is probably a good thing because he'd flush all day and fill the holding tank.