In SC, canoes, kayaks, paddle boards, windsurfers, etc. are not required to be titled or registered. Outboard motors less than 5 HP are not required to be titled or registered. You would have to check your own state laws for its requirements. But as to your OP: a 45 lb. thrust trolling motor paired up with any good deep cycle battery will keep you moving along nicely for hours on end. (You'd have to do the math - amps drawn vs. amps available to figure out how long.) Probably easier to hook one up to a square stern canoe, but I have seen rigs available for conventional canoes. I'm making the assumption you're not talking about a foot controlled trolling motor. I think you'd be pleased with it.