Trolling motor mounting

[bonz_d]

I have been looking at putting a trolling motor on the front of my Lund 14dlx but this boat does not have a bow deck to mount a normal front mount trolling motor on.

What have others done to work around this? Is there an easy way to use a transom mount motor on the bow?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

You really need to mount a good strong base. Many base mounts are teak or aluminum.

Take a look http://www.iboats.com/Motor_Mounts/dm/*******.822536869--**********.779659292--view_id.238347

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

Yes, something strong but I didn't see anything there that would mount on the front of a V bow that doesn't have a deck.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

what type of trolling motor are you wanting to use. need that before can give good advice, picture of your bow would help also.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

At this point I'm not particular, just something I can mount w/o a lot of work or expense. My wife and I fish a lot of shallow rock bars and the boat already seems stern heavy as is.

As you can see there is no forward deck to mount a deck mount motor.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

Yes, something strong but I didn't see anything there that would mount on the front of a V bow that doesn't have a deck.

Thanks for the pic. That is a nice boat for its size with the convenient walk-through seat and compact console.

You can make a "mini deck" on the bow out of plywood and paint it nicely. That would also give you the added benefit of making a little cubby below that to store things if you wanted, and an easier way to climb on the bow instead of in if you launch single-handed.

The fold-up bow mounts don't take up that much space on a bass or walleye boat deck so I think you would be fine with a small addition to your bow.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

Thanks for the reply.

That pix was taken right after I bought it and got it home. If you look very close you can see the last reg. date expired 01 and it had sat for 7 yrs. Very dirty though solid.

Cleaned up, added a 1978 35 Rude and adding pedistal seats as soon as the weather breaks. Wife and I love fishing in it.

Thought about adding a deck to the front to put a bow mount on it but I see that between ebay, craigslist and adds on lakelink that there are far more used transom mount motors available here. So trying to come up with a way to use a transom mount on the bow of this boat.

Mainly it will be used to get into and out of the shallows with little trolling as we mostly anchor or drift fish and the problem we face is that with the engine down it is sitting deep enough that it strikes bottom at times and I don't want to be sending the prop out for repair every other week.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

canoe type mount. ebay item # 230325723280

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

canoe mount! now that's kind of what I was thinking but haven't seen any.

I could weld up something like that at the shop too. Though I guess I'd have to mount it backwards to be able to still tilt it up.

 

[John_S]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

If you are hitting them with the main engine, very good chance you will with the trolling motor. Go with a composite shaft. It will give some on an impact. A metal one will bend on impacts, and will no longer slide up and down, easily.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

i have seen them made from 2 2x4's.

it is very simple process to turn the head of the trolling motor around, so the handle, is in the right position. this one has been done. my home made bracket.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

If you are hitting them with the main engine, very good chance you will with the trolling motor. Go with a composite shaft. It will give some on an impact. A metal one will bend on impacts, and will no longer slide up and down, easily.

With the engine down it's drawing about 2' of water when there are no waves, add waves hits bottom. With the trolling motor I feel I can set it to run just under the surface and with the main motor up I should then be able to clear the rock bar and get to safer water.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

Thanks T,

I know that I can turn the head, my ? is do you have any problems running it with the tilt facing forward? Shouldn't it be able to brake-away and kick up if something really hard it hit? Like the bottom.

 

[John_S]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

With the bracket reversed, some trolling motors, like motorguide, will not pop out. The reason I warned about it, was I bent my 37lb with a lite 14' alum, and only myself in boat. Doesn't take much of an impact to bend the shaft, which is impossible to straighten. If you use the canoe type bracket, keep it like it is on the transom. It should help, but would still recommend a composite shaft.

You will not be able to run the trolling motor too close to the surface. It will draw air from he surface (vortex). I forget the general rule, but 18" seems about right. You will need to be deeper to deal with waves.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

Thanks John for the advice, I will keep that in mind when I start to really look for one.

This boat too is pretty light over-all but because it's only 14' and has a 35hp on the back its stern sits a lot lower than I am used to in my old rower with the 9.5hp. What's suprising is that this same boat with an old 18hp still sits much higher in the water and didn't have a problem in the shallows.

So the trade-off, more weight, power, speed, remote steering or less weight, tiller steer and ability to go into shallower water. Wife wont allow 2 boats!

Again the trolling motor will mostly be used to just get through the rock bars and the one really shallow flat were we launch, appx 50" to deep water.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

..........the trolling motor will mostly be used to just get through the rock bars and the one really shallow flat.....

Move your battery to the bow and just bolt the electric troller to the transom. 80 pounds in the bow will help balance the boat and the trolling motor weighs no where near the battery's weight.

My thoughts.

 

[John_S]

Re: Trolling motor mounting

FWIW, the 14'er I was refering to was a car-topper type alum with max hp of 15hp. About as lite as they come. I can't view the pictures here, but will this evening. I suspect your boat is closer to our 14' startcraft w/40hp nissan.