Bow mounted electric motor advice please

[Capt.Todd]

I have a 1983 Seacraft 23’ CC with enclosed transom. I am planning to install a bow mounted electric motor. I am hoping someone out there has done the same on their 23’ and will offer me some advice. I fish the Chesapeake Bay, rivers and creeks in Virginia. Tide, wind and chop. I am assuming 100AH batteries will be needed with a 36 volt motor. Does anyone think 50AH batteries would suffice considering the 105lb+ thrust and the conditions I fish? Does anyone know of a quality battery that is more affordable than say Ionic or Dakota? I measured 46” from the bow to the water. What shaft length and brand should I get? The Motor Guide Xi5 has the built-in GPS and communicates with my Simrad electronics but their max shaft length is 72” which is probably the minimum I could get away with but I am not sure. Should I go with a longer shaft length to keep the motor head higher above the bow for more leverage when retrieving the motor, ie. the Rhodan 84”or 96” shaft or the Minn Kota Terrova 87” shaft? I like the idea of self-deployment with the Minn Kota Ulterra but the shaft length is 72” and I see there have been several issues with this model. Do you know if the bugs have been worked out of the newer Ulterra models? Pricey addition so I want to get it right. Thank you in advance for any advice you can give me.