Engine mount trolling motor.

[catfishr1]

Hi Guys; Have been considering an engine mount trolling motor. Have 18' Starcraft S.S. with 1500
Merc. Use primarily for fishing & towing tubers. Does anyone use the e.m. troller?

 

[fucawi]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

all you can say is when you are on the plane its out of the water and when you are not on the plane its in the water .....

 

[John_S]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

I haven't tried one. They are too pricy (for me) and have too big of drawbacks for my use. They keep you at the helm for steering, and require your drive to be lowered which is not great for shallow and rocky areas. Also, most are high thrust and require multiple batteries.

If you are fishing by doing actual trolling, then there might be a better solution to slow down your speed. Trolling plates, tabs, drift sock, or prop pitch could be some of the answer. If you are using it just for positional fishing, find and fitting a bow mount is usually a better solution.

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Thx. For input Fucawi

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Thx. John_S This helps. They r very pricy
Do very little trolling, if see a spot i like slow to idle & sound it. Your input has helped me to decide against.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

You can put the trolling motor on the transom permanantly like I do. I set it so the prop when vertical is about 3" higher than the water on SLOW plane. It still gives enough thrust to push the boat around. Not as good as a bow job. But no constant pull up & down either. It is tied to the main motor with a adjustable connecting bar. Steering wheel turns both motors.

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Thank you so very much Cyclops2. I never thought of that s/u Have transom mount troller & aux. bracket. This will work perfect
Safe& happy boating pard.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Catfisher.

I forgot to tell you that a company did make a COMPLETE package to tie any 2 transom motors together. Rubber chafing straps,SS bands , Adjustabile connecting bar with quick disconnects that work like air hose chucks. Neat.

If interested, I will try & locate the company if still around.

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Yes sir I am interested. Thx again.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Have transom mount troller & aux. bracket.

I did that on my 18'er, put an Garelick outboard aux bracket on the boat and mounted a 70# transom mount trolling motor to the bracket. It works great,,, but I had to do some re-engineering of the bracket as I didn't like how it made popping and clicking noises while I was turning the trolling motor. I made a couple side plates out of 1/4" aluminum and replaced the adjustment bar with a couple of fixed bars. The bracket is no longer adjustable, but it's rock solid.

When and if I ever decide to put an aux outboard on the boat, I'll just put the bracket back together as Garelick designed it.

Oh yeah, I looked at the engine mount trolling motors and didn't like them. They are limited to the steering of the main engine and since I have a trolling plate on the main, I would be dragging the plate all the time, lots of additional drag that the trolling motor shouldn't be pushing. Even without a trolling plate, you would be dragging the lower unit and prop through the water, extra drag and wasted power....

 

[dingbat]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Trolling motors are much more efficient pulling than pushing. I would install a wireless TM on the bow and buy a remote.

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Hi Catfisher.

Took awhile. 73 old brain. Do a web surf of ..... Main outboard motor to trolling motor connecting rod kit ....First page had a place called Dons marine ? They appear to sell every type of kit made by the E Z company. Been 20 years ?? since I used it on a 30 HP Evinrude & the 9.9 or the troller.

Post back if you can not find Don's

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

By mounting the bar high up. You can tilt the main motor out of the water & still have reasonable trolling motor directions. I did.

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Thx. for input fishrdan.

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Howdy Cyclops2; Know what you mean. Mines 63 & got the big A.:redface: Just take r day at a time & am thankful for every day Lord gives me. Have seen Dons marine while surfing web. Am going to start my search imeadeatly. Thx. pardner.

 

[catfishr1]

Re: Engine mount trolling motor.

Hi Dingbat; I absolutly agree with you, however am willing to sacrifice performance to keep bow clean. Thx. for input.