Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

Fisherman94

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
21
Hello,

I am new to the forums and I thought that I would like to tell how I converted my Minnkota 30 pound thrust transom mount trolling motor to a bow mount. First off, I have a 14 foot aluminum Seaking boat with a 2008 Yamaha 8 HP motor.I know you probably think that a small 8 HP motor goes very very slow but it really does not. Especially for my boat. My boat is small and light which makes it go at least 30-40 mph. Anyways, I had been searching the internet like crazy the past week and could not find any bow mounts for a transom mount trolling motor. So I decided, why not make something? I came up with an idea that turned out to work.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I did flip the head around 180 degrees on the trolling motor.

Here are the pictures. (Only 6 are not links because there is a 6 image limit..)

DSCF0315.jpg

Only a 30 inch shaft. My boat's height is very low though.

DSCF0316.jpg

Bungie cord to keep it from bouncing up and down well trailering.

DSCF0317.jpg

Top view. The bottom of trolling motors are heavy. So, I decided to make the heavy side be on the right because the previous owner's of this boat I bought smashed the boat into a large rock so when it is on the right it will even out the boat.

IMG_0730.jpg


IMG_0731.jpg

Right side.

IMG_0732.jpg

Left side.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0733.jpg
Inside right side

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0734.jpg
Inside left side

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0736.jpg
Trolling motor off, outside of mount with countersunk carriage bolts. Notice the grid pattern left behind from the transom mount on the trolling motor.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0737.jpg
Trolling motor off, inside of mount. I did notice that the bolts are a little crooked but that does not matter too much because it is very sturdy.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0738.jpg
Added four washers to each bolt to keep outside of mount straight because the outside of my boat is curved. (Obviously)

Also, I do keep my battery for my trolling motor near the transom. The trolling motor's power cord that connects to the battery is only 5 feet long. I have a 14 foot long boat. So what I did is bought 12 feet of 10 gauge wire in red and black and I am going to wire it to the current cord. I bought a few feet extra just for some slack.

Why did I do this?

Well, the main reason is because I rarely backtroll with it so when it is windy on the lake I usually just troll forward but then the wind blows the bow around making me lose control of the boat when the trolling motor is attached to the transom.

The other reason is because I did not want to spend over $300 for a bow mount trolling motor when this one only cost me a little over $100.

Materials used

Pressure treated wood


Outside block mount, 2 and 1/2 inches high and 4 inches long.

Small square shaped blocks that troller was mounted to, 1 and 1/4 inches high and 1 and 1/4 inches long.

I will have to go check what the width of each piece of wood was.

Hardware

Two 2 inch carriage bolts (countersunk into outside mount) with a 1/4 inch thread

Two 1/4 inch nuts

Eight 1/4 inch washers

----------

Thank you for taking the time to read this thread and I hope this will help you out, too!
 
Last edited:

AZcamperguy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 28, 2009
Messages
130
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

Thanks for sharing.
 

Boss Hawg

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
1,433
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

Is that hunka 2x4 treated :confused:
:D
 

b67bubba

Recruit
Joined
Aug 16, 2009
Messages
2
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

I have been in the boat/marine business for 22 yrs. There is no 8 hp motor that will push any boat (even a rubber raft) 40 mph. I suggest a GPS to determine triue speed.
Hello,

I am new to the forums and I thought that I would like to tell how I converted my Minnkota 30 pound thrust transom mount trolling motor to a bow mount. First off, I have a 14 foot aluminum Seaking boat with a 2008 Yamaha 8 HP motor.I know you probably think that a small 8 HP motor goes very very slow but it really does not. Especially for my boat. My boat is small and light which makes it go at least 30-40 mph. Anyways, I had been searching the internet like crazy the past week and could not find any bow mounts for a transom mount trolling motor. So I decided, why not make something? I came up with an idea that turned out to work.

EDIT: I forgot to mention that I did flip the head around 180 degrees on the trolling motor.

Here are the pictures. (Only 6 are not links because there is a 6 image limit..)

DSCF0315.jpg

Only a 30 inch shaft. My boat's height is very low though.

DSCF0316.jpg

Bungie cord to keep it from bouncing up and down well trailering.

DSCF0317.jpg

Top view. The bottom of trolling motors are heavy. So, I decided to make the heavy side be on the right because the previous owner's of this boat I bought smashed the boat into a large rock so when it is on the right it will even out the boat.

IMG_0730.jpg


IMG_0731.jpg

Right side.

IMG_0732.jpg

Left side.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0733.jpg
Inside right side

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0734.jpg
Inside left side

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0736.jpg
Trolling motor off, outside of mount with countersunk carriage bolts. Notice the grid pattern left behind from the transom mount on the trolling motor.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0737.jpg
Trolling motor off, inside of mount. I did notice that the bolts are a little crooked but that does not matter too much because it is very sturdy.

http://i657.photobucket.com/albums/uu296/alexelliott1994/IMG_0738.jpg
Added four washers to each bolt to keep outside of mount straight because the outside of my boat is curved. (Obviously)

Also, I do keep my battery for my trolling motor near the transom. The trolling motor's power cord that connects to the battery is only 5 feet long. I have a 14 foot long boat. So what I did is bought 12 feet of 10 gauge wire in red and black and I am going to wire it to the current cord. I bought a few feet extra just for some slack.

Why did I do this?

Well, the main reason is because I rarely backtroll with it so when it is windy on the lake I usually just troll forward but then the wind blows the bow around making me lose control of the boat when the trolling motor is attached to the transom.

The other reason is because I did not want to spend over $300 for a bow mount trolling motor when this one only cost me a little over $100.

Materials used

Pressure treated wood


Outside block mount, 2 and 1/2 inches high and 4 inches long.

Small square shaped blocks that troller was mounted to, 1 and 1/4 inches high and 1 and 1/4 inches long.

I will have to go check what the width of each piece of wood was.

Hardware

Two 2 inch carriage bolts (countersunk into outside mount) with a 1/4 inch thread

Two 1/4 inch nuts

Eight 1/4 inch washers

----------

Thank you for taking the time to read this thread and I hope this will help you out, too!
 

Boss Hawg

Lieutenant
Joined
Apr 9, 2009
Messages
1,433
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

"Hello,

I am new to the forums and I thought that I would like to tell how I converted my Minnkota 30 pound thrust transom mount trolling motor to a bow mount. First off, I have a 14 foot aluminum Seaking boat with a 2008 Yamaha 8 HP motor.I know you probably think that a small 8 HP motor goes very very slow but it really does not. Especially for my boat. My boat is small and light which makes it go at least 30-40 mph."



OK, i let the 2x4 thing go but DAM son- My 70hp Johnson barely pushes my 16' boat 40 MPH :p
 

4JawChuck

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Aug 7, 2009
Messages
504
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

I wasn't going to say anything either, my 90hp Merc gets me 45 mph gps.:mad:

Maybe if I stack 8hp motors on the transom, I could probably fit 5 on there...probably enough prop area to get me 70 mph or more!:p
 

Fisherman94

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
21
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

OK I do have to admit that I should have said it sure feels like 30-40 mph. :p

I honestly do not know how fast the thing goes. It goes pretty fast however only being me in the boat 90% of the time. Next time I take it out I will be sure to bring my GPS.

:rolleyes:
 

manley09

Recruit
Joined
Jun 8, 2009
Messages
1
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

I just wanted to say thank you so much for posting this! It works great!!!! THANKS!!!
 

Fisherman94

Cadet
Joined
Aug 14, 2009
Messages
21
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

No problem. Glad to hear it works. I'll have to post some pictures of the new way I came up with to mount a trolling motor to the bow.
 

RonJon24

Seaman
Joined
Apr 17, 2012
Messages
66
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

I have the same issue, and would like to find a solution without drilling holes. Any ides??? Also, I have a very similar motor, how did you reverse the top and bottom? I need to do that.

As far as speed, I have a 14' light tinny with a 2003 15hp Yamaha and only get 23/24 mph, confirmed by gps. When I had a 7.5 merc I was only getting 7/8 mph. My boat may be a little heavier than yours, but it can't be much. I did sell it to a guy with a really ligiht 12' flat bottom boat and he got 12/14 mph out of it. I'd say you are probably closer to the 15-20 mph range.
 

TerryMSU

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 31, 2007
Messages
743
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

Yes it is.

Fisherman...

I don't know if you are aware of this, but the new treated lumber will eat a hole through that aluminum in a year or so. Other that that, looks good to me.

TerryMSU
 

JB

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Mar 25, 2001
Messages
45,907
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

I wonder if either of you guys are aware that Fisherman94 has not been on iboats for two years and this thread has been dead for that long?

Interesting topic, but it is like speaking to the dead. Why not start your own, current, thread?
 

RonJon24

Seaman
Joined
Apr 17, 2012
Messages
66
Re: Transom mount trolling motor converted to bow mount trolling motor

Point taken JB... someone forwarded it to me for the trolling motor issue. Thanks for pointing it out.
 
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