Bow Mount Bracket for 14ft Lund

I have an old 14 ft Aluminum Lund with open bow. There is a small metal support piece bolted to the very front to secure the transom and give a hand hold as well as house bow light socket. I need a way to mount a Minnkota bow mount motor. I have the quick release bracket so i would be mounting the base of the quick release. I can see that I need a platform to mount on that will attach to gunnels . Probably one that replaces current structure support. Is such an item sold or must I go to a metal fabrictor to have someing cusotmer made?

I wish you were closer I have a guy that has done several aluminum bow platforms in open bow boats.

A good metal fab shop should be able to construct and install one for you.

Let us know if you got one made or how you mounted your quick plate

Maybe I’m having difficulty envisioning your boat but can’t you form a piece of 3/4″ plywood to cover the front part of your boat’s gun wale and fasten that in order to install the motor plate? I did this on an older open bow Lund – as well as building a front casting deck – and it worked very well for the same application. It may be a less expensive route too.

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Maybe I’m having difficulty envisioning your boat but can’t you form a piece of 3/4″ plywood to cover the front part of your boat’s gun wale and fasten that in order to install the motor plate? I did this on an older open bow Lund – as well as building a front casting deck – and it worked very well for the same application. It may be a less expensive route too.

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THis was my first thought also

a wooden platform was my idea also. i’d cut a piece of 3/4 green plywood and bolt it thru the transom in three places. should work.

Wood was my first thought but asthetically aluminum would look better and the current metal support up there is in the way. I really need one piece to do it all including supporting the bow ligth. Rochester might not be too far. I would appreciate having that number while I look around for a local metal fabricator. Thanks all.

Is this similar to the metal piece your boat has on it’s nose?

Absolutely identical except my bow light is not fixed. There’s a socket there for a small light pole.

Other than 14′ vs 16′ that is basically the boat I did my work too as well. I carpeted the plywood I cut and butted it up to the handle piece and it looked pretty nice. It was nice to have the handle piece as a leverage point to pull the boat on shore. I mounted the trolling motor battery on the very front seat and enclosed the area, including a hatch, towards the back of the boat. So the handle also added additional ventilation when charging the battery.

Not trying to sway your opinion…just offering my experience.

How did you fasten wood to the gunnel? I ask because gunnel is so thin. I noticed the gunnel has a cavity that could work to run/hide the power cable if I can get a fish tape to pull it through. Opinion?

Use 1/4″ SS bolts, fender washers and nylon lock nuts. Counter sink the tops.

Maybe my gunnel was thicker than what is on your boat but it wasn’t an issue on my boat. Mine was a 1978 Lund S-16 and I wouldn’t think the gunnel thickness would vary that much. I drilled through the plywood and gunnel and fastened it with stainless screws – 4-5 each side. I would periodically check for tightness of those screws too but didn’t have any problems. I also used the hollow gunnel to run wire to the back for a bilge and nav light. Had to take the nose and back corner piece off but there were only a few screws holding them in place. I only ran one battery because I used a Vexilar with summer kit so intereference from the trolling motor on a stationary graph wasn’t a worry I had.

That boat has since gone down the road but maybe I can find some pictures of it and post them.

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Use 1/4″ SS bolts, fender washers and nylon lock nuts. Counter sink the tops.

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It would be impossible to use bolts with the gunnel on his boat I think.

What about self tapping bolts? I thought about that for mine.
DT

Here’s how it turned out thanks to a good friend.
The small water bassin assasin is ready for action.

Looks great Thanks for showing the finished product

Very nice. How thick is the aluminum plate?
DT

I dont know.