I have never used a drift boat, but if I understand you are going to use the trolling motor to move through slow moving water in a river. A couple of thoughts, I think trolling motors are better at pulling a boat than pushing it, I have my jon boat wired to supply power to trolling motors at each end. Fishing lakes for bass and bream this allow the fisherman at each end to keep in position. There are wireless foot control available where the boat can be steered from anywhere in it. It just depend on how much money you want to spend.