So I just bought a very expensive I Pilot TM and I’m wondering if I need that RAM mount bracket that supports the head of the unit while it’s out of the water. I really don’t want to drill more holes in my boat but I will if I have to. Any thoughts on this?
Thanks
My personal thoughts were that I definitely wanted it!
I figured if I am dropping that much $$ on a trolling motor I wanted to protect it. Not only when driving out of the water, but if crusing through some good chop, keep the support on so the TM head/shaft don’t bounce all over and get damaged.
Well worth it in my opinion. 
Quote:
My personal thoughts were that I definitely wanted it!
x2. Drill, baby. Drill!!!
-J.
It was a no brainer for me to have the support when trailering or going across rough water and I don’t even have a fancy I-Piolt 
We had a autopilot deploy in 3′ waves on green bay and rip the trolling motor right off the bow. It was only saved due to the power cord. So, yeah, it’s worth it.
So do you leave the upper part on the trolling motor all the time?
If you don’t want to drill into the side wall of your boat then drill into the floor board and mount either a ram mount there or they make a velcro strap that will also do the trick, just not as good as the ram. this is an option if you don’t want to drill into the fiberglass.
YES $50 to save your $1500 
Quote:
So do you leave the upper part on the trolling motor all the time?
by this, I assume you mean the RAM ball. And yes, mine stays on always.
The support has nothing to with the electronics on the Terrova the reason is so it does not self deploy. I hate the Ram mount it is pain in the arse. You can just slide the locking collor down when running, or I just took some velcro and screwed it down to my deck. total cost $3
Quote:
Quote:
My personal thoughts were that I definitely wanted it!
x2. Drill, baby. Drill!!!
x3 just buying and mounting mine today…
-J.
If you have a rail in the front of the boat, you can use this if you don’t want to drill more holes
Quote:
The support has nothing to with the electronics on the Terrova the reason is so it does not self deploy. I hate the Ram mount it is pain in the arse. You can just slide the locking collor down when running, or I just took some velcro and screwed it down to my deck. total cost $3
Tom,
I’m curious, with the strap mounted where it is, what keeps your motor head from bouncing off the side rail of the boat when running in rough weather.
Quote:
Quote:
The support has nothing to with the electronics on the Terrova the reason is so it does not self deploy. I hate the Ram mount it is pain in the arse. You can just slide the locking collor down when running, or I just took some velcro and screwed it down to my deck. total cost $3
Tom,
I’m curious, with the strap mounted where it is, what keeps your motor head from bouncing off the side rail of the boat when running in rough weather.
First off I don`t have a side rail and the velcro is snug enough the head does not bounce anyway.
I’m not so much worried about the motor deploying as I am the GPS antenna in the head smacking against the gunwale when I hit pot holes or big waves.
Quote:
We had a autopilot deploy in 3′ waves on green bay and rip the trolling motor right off the bow. It was only saved due to the power cord. So, yeah, it’s worth it.
Brutal, one thing I like about the terrova is that it locks when it’s up but yeah let’s hope that never happens.
Quote:
YES $50 to save your $1500
I wouldn’t say it’s that simple of an equation, it’s more like $65 to save you a POSSIBLE couple hundred dollar repair.
Thank you all for the feedback.
I saw one deploy once while I was going down the hwy coming back from up north, it was not pretty. 
I would not be without the ram mount for my trolling motor.
The power drive motors I could see deploying on its own, but not a terrova. I have had two terrova’s on two different boats, and didn’t have a support on either of them, and maybe I am lucky. The motor never hit the edge, and I never shy away from the throtle too much in big waves. If you are running a terrova, and it will give you piece of mind then go for it.
I’ve heard of someone having a head get busted up pounding some waves. Maybe it’s just an urban legend, but my trolling motor now has a support. I got off cheap, though. I found a rail mount GPS (RAM product)holder on clearance (literally less than $3 – it must have been for a discontinuted GPS). I took off the GPS attachment and I used electrical tape to secure the ball end to my trolling motor. Works great!
Quote:
My personal thoughts were that I definitely wanted it!
I figured if I am dropping that much $$ on a trolling motor I wanted to protect it. Not only when driving out of the water, but if crusing through some good chop, keep the support on so the TM head/shaft don’t bounce all over and get damaged.
Well worth it in my opinion.
My question is by tieing the head unit ridged to the boat aren`t you actually increasing the shock to the head unit. The shaft flexing and moving absorbes some of the shock of pounding waves. Like going to a smooth moves seat is to insulate you from the pounding from the boat. You don`t tie yourself ridged to remove the shock effect.
You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
