DO NOT REMOVE THE SKEG!! You can make it shorter and not as high off the hull bottom but don't leave it off. An .049 probably won't get you away from the dock. A .10 is not a screamer but it's a good start unless you have other airboat experience. If you can, try to enlarge the pylon to hold a 3oz Hayes tank. Hayes is the only one making a 3oz that I know of. I have 4.5oz tank in mine and it's just about the right size but it took some shoehorning and modifications to get it in. I can't imagine what type of electric motor would work on it at all unless you are willing to invest a large chunk of cash in one of the larger brushless motors. that would flatten a nicad battery pack in no time at all in addition to the cost of the ESC and a Li-poly battery to make it practical. For a kit boat that only costs $59.99 from Tower you would have at least six or eight times the cost in the propulsion system alone. Stick to nitro. A new LA .10 is $52.99 from tower and the .15 can't be much more. Go for the .15.