Cutting Trolling Motor Shaft

[Hairy_Dawg]

I have a 30# Bow mount MotorGuide with a 36" shaft. The head of the motor still sticks up too high, high enough I have seen it eat a rod tip. If I lower the motor I compromise the ability of my boat in very shallow water. Is there a way to shorten the length of the motor shaft?

 

[DJ]

Re: Cutting Trolling Motor Shaft

Can't you just loosen the collar and adjust the height?

 

[Hairy_Dawg]

Re: Cutting Trolling Motor Shaft

By Collar are you talking about the collar between the lower column and the main outer shaft(already tried to break it loose and it won't budge) or the collar holding the motor to the boat? By lowering the motor into the water more it will place the lower unit a good foot or more below the hull of my boat.

 

[tprice]

Re: Cutting Trolling Motor Shaft

I do not know about yours but I think it needs to be at least 12" in the water.<br /><br />They can be cut, my fishing partner has a MInn Kota AP and cut the shaft, still do not know why, for his john boat. Problem is now he also has a pontoon and the shaft is now too short and is going to have to buy another tm wheras if he had left it alone he could have used the same motor for both boats. When I asked him why he said the longer shaft got in the way every now and then but now he wishes he had left it alone.<br /><br />To answer your question it can be cut, his was shortened by a local MN service shop.