Mounting New Trolling Motor

  • red89
    Hudson
    Posts: 918
    June 12, 2012 at 5:08 pm #1238987

    Traded the powerdrive in for a Maxxum, and didn’t think about the fact that the mount is way bigger than a powerdrives. This old boat doesn’t exactly provide a nice flat/large surface to mount this thing, so trying to decide if I should just try to get as many bolts in that front piece of wood as possible and call it good, or build something to provide more support. The front deck is so small as it is, and I don’t want to take up much more of it.

    I know I atleast need to add support to that board because I sags down a bit just from the weight of the heavier motor. Any ideas? How would you position it, compared to where I have it sitting in the second picture?


    super_do
    St Michael, MN
    Posts: 1097
    June 12, 2012 at 5:22 pm #1075516

    I would build a little shelf along the bow side where the motor is mounted and make sure to get one of those stabilizer rods that keeps the motor from bouncing. I’m afraid something is going to break after you hit a few waves and that thing starts bouncing. You are probably going to have to beef up that front deck as well.

    Good Luck

    jwcarlson
    Posts: 74
    June 12, 2012 at 5:45 pm #1075523

    You don’t want to just throw some bolts in it and let it rip. You’re going to want to support it as much as you can. I am trying to get some pictures of my motor mount (mine is on a jon boat, not exactly the same situation but it might make you think).

    I used 1/4″ thick steel strips about an 1 1/2″ wide and three feet long to give some support through the middle of the mount and bridge the gap.


    John Schultz
    Inactive
    Portage, WI
    Posts: 3309
    June 12, 2012 at 6:54 pm #1075543

    Quote:

    You don’t want to just throw some bolts in it and let it rip.

    X2. If you just bolt it to the wood, there is a good chance it will just rip out the first time you deploy it. I would put some steel bracing under the wood and bolt it to the gunnels on each side. Then bolt the motor through the wood and the metal bracing.

    red89
    Hudson
    Posts: 918
    June 12, 2012 at 9:23 pm #1075569

    With washer on the bottom I know the bolts wouldn’t just rip out, but the board itself is not attached to the boat very well.
    Say I just replace the front board with a longer one that goes back farther so more of the motor mount rests on it. How thick do you think it would need to be? I would think an inch thick board with bolts on the sides going right through the top of the gunwale would do it…?
    The other problem is the top of the gunwhales are not flat and level, and the bow of the boat seems to curve upward.

    Bassn Dan
    Posts: 1007
    June 12, 2012 at 10:41 pm #1075586

    Quote:

    Traded the powerdrive in for a Maxxum, and didn’t think about the fact that the mount is way bigger than a powerdrives. This old boat doesn’t exactly provide a nice flat/large surface to mount this thing, so trying to decide if I should just try to get as many bolts in that front piece of wood as possible and call it good, or build something to provide more support. The front deck is so small as it is, and I don’t want to take up much more of it.

    I know I atleast need to add support to that board because I sags down a bit just from the weight of the heavier motor. Any ideas? How would you position it, compared to where I have it sitting in the second picture?

    Add bracing inside the left side of your bow so the motor lies along the edge of the bow so that when it’s deployed it is in front of the boat’s nose – the motor will be both secure and out of the way. It also wouldn’t hurt to reinforce the plywood nose piece on the bow while you’re doing the rest of the install.

    If my description isn’t clear, think of how a bassboat’s trolling motor is mounted. That’s what you want to duplicate for your bass style trolling motor, and don’t listen to the walleye guys – they rig their boats WEIRD!!!

    Good luck.

    Dan

    BBKK
    IA
    Posts: 4033
    June 13, 2012 at 12:15 am #1075602

    I also think you should run a small platform along the left side to fully support the mount. You dont want that thing bouncing up and down as you trailer it or go across the lake.

    It would not be hard at all to build a small platform for it.. maybe a couple hours work (including a beer or two).

    nick
    Lakeville, MN
    Posts: 4977
    June 13, 2012 at 2:36 pm #1075706

    You really should consider a quick release bracket, if anything ever goes wrong you’ll be happy that you have one. I had my trolling motor accidently deploy at good speed, destroyed the shaft, I had to remove the trolling motor to even get my boat on a trailer. I can’t imagine taking it apart at the dock. Depending on the bracket you choose it may help you decide where exactly you should put the new motor.

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