mounting trolling motor to fiberglass boat

[kbryant]

Wondering does any know what I can use to mount trolling motor to my 1994 bayliner ? I can not get into it to mount it with bolts..Any thoughts??

 

[MTboatguy]

Where are you wanting to mount it, the name brand trolling motors make several different types of plate to mount their motors, is it a bow mount or a transom mount, what band and model is it? Lots of questions to be answered before a recommendation can be made.

 

[kbryant]

it is a Bow Mount MinnKota 50PD

 

[kbryant]

it is a Bow Mount MinnKota 50PD .. I have a 1994 1700 bayliner

 

[kbryant]

I have 1994 bayliner 1700

 

[MTboatguy]

If it is a bow mount motor, why can't you mount with bolts as the factory intended? It should have a bracket specifically designed for it.

Does your boat look like this one?

it is a 96 1700 LS

http://www.boattrader.com/listing/19...0-LS-102321855

In looking, it seems you would have to have a custom plate built for your particular situation, on my older 4 Winns, I had to have a similar plate built to mount my trolling motor one, it mounted across the flat area right at the front of the bow.

 

[kbryant]

Yes it does look like that. I can not get a bolt to attach mount bracket..There isn't a way to put a nut on the bolt. Is there a screw I could use to mount the bracket? If so, Does anyone have a picture what they look like... struggling here..lol

 

[MTboatguy]

The way we mounted mine on my Four Winns was a toggle bolt type system, that you drill the hole for the bolt, then screw the backing piece on it and tighten it down, worked great on my open bow boat.

 

[kbryant]

that is what I was wondering if I could use that type.. What size toggle bolt did you use? Thank you so much for your help!!!

 

[kbryant]

was the toggle part metal or rubber?

 

[MTboatguy]

We used a heavy duty 3/8" stainless bolt and the toggle was also stainless, I was able to pick them up at Home Depot. When we mounted it, we used a small amount of blue loctite on the bolts, just enough to allow the bolt to pick it up as we tightened them and they never did loosen while in use. worked out quite good.

 

[kbryant]

what did you use to get the mount bracket level...or did you just mount to bracket ton the fiberglass...Someone told me to first mount a 1 by 1 board and then mount the trolling motor quick release bracket to that.....again struggling and again thank you for your help

 

[MTboatguy]

We actually had a plate made, that went across the front part of the bow and mounted that to the boat, then we mounted the motor to that plate, the plate was long enough to go to each side of the opening in the bow, so it was bolted down in 4 spots, two on each side of the open area.

 

[Silvertip]

Minnkota offers a trolling motor installation hardware kit that includes "well nuts" which are rubber isolators with a threaded brass insert. You drill the hole, push in the well nut, place the motor (or mounting plate) over the well nuts and then insert and tighten the bolts. No need to get under the deck and the rubber flange keeps the motor off the glass.

 

[MTboatguy]

Here is the link to the Minnkota accessories page, Iboats might even carry some of this stuff:

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/Accessories/Trolling-Motor-Accessories/Rigging/Rigging/

 

[smokeonthewater]

Yep the well nuts are very commonly used and have the added benefit of isolating vibrations and shock between the motor and hull.....

 

[MTboatguy]

When we mounted mine, we used rubber gaskets under the the plate we mounted. But it is easier if you can get a kit that was specifically made to mount it.

 

[bobdec]

No Title

Here's a pic of a mounting plate used for a Proline walkaround bow design. Not sure if yours is drastic enough to require a plate ?