Elec Trolling Motor-Help

[gjboomer]

I can't afford a new foot controled bow mount trolling motor, i have a 14ft 86' sylvan (not sure I could even mount a bow mount on that). I am looking to get a transom mount 36lb thrust minn kota endura, but would like to rig it up to the bow, i've heard most people don't like a transom mount trolling motor, hard to manuver I guess. Any ideas of what I could do? thanks

[Tom Linderholm]

It ain't gonna look the greatest but I have pulled off this feat. Take a large piece of angle iron, big enough to mount on your bow and enough to mount the trolling motor on. Use a backing plate when you mount the motor mount so that it does not pop the bolts through your fiberglass (that is if it is fiberglass) Then check your transom mount motor and see if you are going to be able to turn the head 180 degrees, mine had a small bolt which I could take out then I had to drill a another hole where I wanted my bolt to be back in. The most important thing will be making sure that you can spin the head around on the motor. Look at some used ones the older ones should work better for this.
It is do-able. Good luck

[Northlander]

It can be done. Transom mounts work well for detailed backtrolling but will also work to trol forward but with way less control. I have a 55# minkota transom mount that I may sell if you want to try it out.
walleyes4me32 at aol dot com That would work well for that size boat.

[Fishing Junky]

Hey Northlander. If the other gentleman is not interested in your motor, please email me about it. Thanks, Junky........
[email protected]

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A fishing guide is just a fishing junky who takes others with him to support his habit.

[loadmaster]

Hey Junkie going pro on me one for the front and one for the back. I see your boat is still under plastic>>>later the load

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T view Pictures click on link Fishing Photos

[Fishing Junky]

Hey Load. Actually the Bro is in the market for a motor. Won't be long and I'll be getting the boat ready. Hope all is well. Junky..............

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A fishing guide is just a fishing junky who takes others with him to support his habit.

[gjboomer]

Northlander, I have sent you an email. thank you.

[Guido]

Cabelas and bass pro shops sell a bracket and clamp system for the front of the boat so you can mount a transom mount motor on it. $90

[Surface Tension]

I've seen it done just as Cheffrey has described. Hopefully you have a seat in that location to comfortably operate the motor.

[DuluthGuy]

DJBloomer - Issues that may arise.

1) Transom mounted elec motors have a shorter shaft, usually 36" shafts. So, any wave action can start lifting the blades out.
2) Moving the battery to & fro?
3) Northlander brought up the seat placement issue.

With that said - I assume it is for something like shore casting vs. trolling cranks. Also, bowmounts cost $$$!

Good luck - let us know how it works for you, and maybe after a while - what you would do different or the same?

B2

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See Ya on the H2O

[gjboomer]

I think being that I usually back troll or like you said, casting shorelines, I should be ok with a transom motor. I would just like to easily be able to cruise a shoreline for smallies with ease. But I can do all that in reverse with a transom mount. thanks for all your help guys, i'll post any results if I try to mount it on the bow.

[DuluthGuy]

gjbloomer - I have used the same set-up your discribing for bass - it works!

B2

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See Ya on the H2O