Seeking advice from anyone with a similar boat. I have a 1987 four winns 195 sundowner cuddy. I have been trying to figure out how to put a trolling motor on it. The problem is the nose is not easily accessable so bow mount is out. It is an i/o with no transom so transom mount is out. Besides the full width swim platform is in the way. I concidered an outdrive mounted motor but I tried turning the wheel with the 4.3l engine off and it is tough tove. If I have to leave the gas engine running to stear I see no point in having an electric trolling motor. Has anyone found a solution to adding a trolling motor to this type of boat?
If you are going to troll then you need a real motor. Electric trolling motors are really for positioning in my opinion. OK for a bass boat moving from spot to spot and casting away,but not very good for trolling all day.Try a swim platform mount and an outboard motor. You might want to check the structure of the platform first. There a number of different models available to mount to the top of your swim platform. There are fixed brackets and adjustable height for this application,but they are harder to find . You will probably need to put a backer plate or board to through bolt to.I use an 8 HP merc on the back of my 19 foot bowrider and it works fine. When the wind blows and the lake gets stirred up I can still control her and run back to the dock if the main motor quits on me.Some Brackets: Outboard bracketsOU015 adjustableOU08 fixedOU08L fixedThere are fixed brackets listed on Iboats.The OU015 is the only adjustable I could find.