Mounting bow-mount trolling motor, Fiberglass tri-hull

Hi folks. Installing a bow-mount TM on my old tri-hull. The bow has large flat areas on either side of the red/green nav light, plenty of room to install the quick-release bracket. The only concern is that I have no access to the underside of that area so I cannot through-bolt the plate like I’d prefer.

After doing some research it seems I have two options:

– Use the strongest toggle bolts (aka butterfly anchors) I can find

– Use Motor Guide’s fancy expanding rubber isolator bolts ($10 for a set of 4 on Amazon)

Does anyone have experience with either method? The Motor Guide bolts have enough poor reviews to give me pause.

How did they wire your bow light without access?

Assuming they dropped it before filling that area with foam. I can see the wire in my underseat storage compartment up in the bow; but i can’t follow that wire all the way up to me the light fixture. Run into foam.

If you do the toggle deal maybe have a safety cable hooked up also. If you hit choppy water and the toggles don’t work at least you wouldn’t have the motor at the bottom of the lake. I think you will be ok. Just check them for tightness from time to time. Might also want to consider a head support (Ram makes them) to keep the head from bouncing while trailering. I think that would be the hardest on it.

Thanks Dutch. The quick connect is pretty slick so I will probably trailer with the motor in the truck.

My last question before drilling is re: placement of the mounting bracket. Is it ok to mount out toward the port side edge of the bow platform? I know it’s better to mount closer to the center, but I am trying to avoid obscuring my red/green navigation lights. I also like to stand up on the platform when I’m fishing and mounting in the center would really limit my options. Some pics attached.

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