Driver comfort comparison: side-motor on double-ender VS square-stern canoe?

[BluNosDav]

Motor-heads,

I've always paddled my canoes, but I keep getting older, and the family keeps growing bigger.
So someday, we're gonna need a bigger canoe, and probably get an outboard.

My question is; Which is more comfortable to drive?
I'd rather stay facing forward as much as possible, rather than twist halfway around to work the tiller.

Thanx, Dave.

[mainer_in_ak]

square sterned canoes arent uncomfortable at all. If you keep your arm twisted behind you.....it does get uncomfortable. BUT......if you keep a tiller extension hooked to the motor, you can keep the tiller extension under your arm right into your hand, and it's the most comfortable way to run a canoe since it's hard to sit sideways on certain models. If you do this......you can change between standing and sitting, and that's always a nice change to stretch your legs a bit. Side motor won't do much for yah up here, if this is where you plan to live. It's good to have a paddling canoe, and a motored canoe. The motored canoe can be controlled down river with a paddle, but doesn't glide too efficiently with a paddle on flat water. A paddling canoe with a motor hangin off the side aint the greatest set-up.

[VernAK]

How large is the intended big canoe and how much power. I've used both quite a lot and like the side mount for double enders to 18' and not more than three HP. This outfit is intended mostly for lake travel.

[FamilyMan]

HP and tiller extension

not more than three HP.

Ya mainer is more in the 10-20 HP crowd for a canoe. Me too.

Second that tiller extension suggestion; love mine, though I went over the top a little (happily) with the longest one that Carbon Marine sells online.

[Sid]

on large water you can sit down an run with a tiller, EXT. {long} on small water or shallow you need to stand to let you scope out the water in front of the canoe an under , also let you judge the water depth so you can use your lift to pick the motor up an slow down in the a lake or river [if the water is clear] you can read the water better if standing then siting [even dirty water]
my 2 cts
SID