Trolling Motor Mounting

[Dennis Bollinger]

I am also looking for advise. I plan on installing a Minnkota pwerdrive 55lb. 54" shaft trolling mtr on my 18' Glastron Gx185. Do I need a special mounting plate to installl on the stern?? Anyone see a problem?? [h=2][/h]

 

[Silvertip]

To install a bow mount motor your need a flat surface on which to mount the motor. If there is no such surface you need to create one. There are lots of quick release plates available for trollers, but in order to mount that you still need to create a flat surface. You do realize that mounting a bow mount motor on the stern that the head on the motor will point away from the boat so it will need to be turned 180 degrees. But a bigger question is why do this? On that size boat a bow mount provides far superior boat control. The other option is to sell the bow mount and buy a stern mount tiller motor of the same or greater power. Or did I miss something in your question?

 

[fishrdan]

Punch "Glastron Gx185" into google and click on images, to see how others have mounted a TM onto the bow of your boat.

Doesn't look like a "simple" install with the complex angles of the bow. Depending on how handy you are, something could be cobbled up to work, it just needs to be strong.

FWIW, 55# isn't going to be much thrust on that big of a boat, I wouldn't count on it fighting wind and current. It would work OK positioning if the boat isn't being pushed around. I have a 70# MK PD on my 18'er and it's OK, wished I had an 80# TM though.

 

[Dennis Bollinger]

Contacted Minnkota. they said the pwer drive 55# with 54" shaft will work fine in calm water bla,bla, But contacting miy Glastron dealer they said they would need to contact Glastron Mich loc to see if they show anything for the 2000 model bow mount. I also said if anything on newer model boat are available can I get and modify?? Otherwise I think I will scratch this. Do not need a lot of grief. Response, appreciated. Thanks.