Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

[SilverBulletZ]

I have done a search, bu I couldn't find anything relevant to what I want to do.
We have a Sea Ray Bowrider 180, and I have been looking at a trolling motor. My dilemma is this: I don't want to drill into the bow, as I want to be able to remove the motor when we are tubing/skiing.
The only thing that I can think of doing, is fabricating a bracket (unless someone makes one) that I can mount to the side rails (the stainless rails) on the bow of the boat. Then I was thinking of just using a trolling motor that is hand controlled, and running leads from a separate battery up to the front of the boat.
I know that there is a trolling motor that mounts just above the prop, but it's expensive, and I'm concerned that it will lower the speed of the boat. It's not fast as it is, and I don't want to do anything to make it take another hit.
So, I'm wondering if anyone has done like this before?

Thanks!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

well as you see, you are putting a square peg in a round hole; that hull design is not made for bow motors. The typical brackets are for a flat deck.
I would worry that one tied to the rails, over time, would work loose.

The ones that are mounted above the main engine prop, or on the trim tabs, don't affect speed b/c they are out of the water when you plane.

Why not mount it on the transom with a drop-down bracket?
Not sure about your "hand controlled" comment; are you comparing wireless remote to manual? I can't see that as a factor in the mounting question.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

On a transom mount one word of caution: Low thrust motors do not work well back there. Reason is the physics of the boat in the water. Low thrust motors have to pull the boat and let it swing into the wind/current and follow. You don't have enough power to push the boat around and into the direction you choose to travel. You push on it alright but the boat just slides sideways and in high current/wind cannot come about to your desired heading. About the only way you can make that happen is to back through the arc passing where you want to head and once aligned then immediately change direction and you have a slim chance of succeeding. Course in doing that you are pulling the boat after all. BTDT

I wouldn't tie to the rail either.

I agree that boat was not made for fishing of the sort.

HTH,
Mark

 

[SilverBulletZ]

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

That's kind of why I'm looking for alternatives. I've seen people mount motors to the bow, and I don't like the way they look. Besides having to drill holes, it makes it more cumbersome to get in and out using the bow.
I thought about the rails working loose, but that's the only thing I could think of to avoid drilling holes anywhere.
I didn't think about that with the trim tab mounted type, I forgot that everything would be out of the water.
What I meant by manual control is no foot pedal. I wasn't even thinking about wireless, that would be nice for mobility in the boat.
I'll look at the trim tab type, but they are pretty expensive, plus I'm assuming that I will have to drill through the hull in order to wire it in.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

I also want to be able to remove mine when I'm not on a fishing outing. I'm going to install one of these: Amazon.com: Motorguide Removable Mounting Plate, Black: Sports & Outdoors Total rip off price wise but it accomplishes the goal. (I have a MotorGuide motor. I believe Minn Kota has a similar product available)

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

OK now it sounds like you are putting form over function. If you want a trolling motor on your boat you are going to have to accept having a hunk of equipment screwed into the deck and in the way. (some non-boaters think outboards are ugly and in the way, too. haha.)

Sounds like if you want to keep the bow rider all pretty you need a fishing boat, too. Just like some households have a yard-dog pick-up truck and also a nice sedan to drive to the office and church. You don't put a CB whip, swampers and a dog box on the sedan so you can also take it coon hunting.

What you are seeing is that the i/o bowrider is a specialty boat, just like a bass boat is: because it does certain things well by design, it doesn't work for others. There are good general purpose boat designs that do both well, but not perfectly (which is where I usually steer the new boat questions). Since yours is a specialty boat, not a general purpose boat, you need more boats.

And you can't have too many boats.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

That reminds me of the secretary I used to know down in Memphis. She had ten kids, a wood paneled station wagon (the nice car), and a HUGE whip antenna on the roof. I was jealous for some reason...

Home Cookin' nailed it. You're trying to saddle a goat. Spend 2 hours watching Grumpy Old Men 2, then spend $500 on an old 14' aluminum boat with a 2-stroke 1960s motor, and hoist a Schmidt beer to Max Goldman and John Gustafson as you putt your way to a fishing hole.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

You're trying to saddle a goat.

:lol: Never heard that one before.

Bass Pro has some of their Tahoe bow riders setup with bowmount trolling motors, TM mounted on a custom bracket made of Starboard. It's screwed to the hull, so you are not going to get away from that with their setup, but it's an option.

I agree with not attaching the TM to the bow rails, it will rip them off...

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Bow Mount Trolling Motor?

Minnkota makes a quick release bracket for there bow mount trolling motor, so when you take the motor off all that is left is a small black plate about 8 inches by 10 inches or so. Works really slick. Minnkota also make a hand held remote control for there motors, it's called copilot. You zip tie the brack right to your fishing rod so you can troll or jig and have boat control (turning, on/off, and speed control) litterally at your finger tip.
Something to consider - Looks like you have an 18' boat, mine is a 18 1/2' aluminum Lund with a 4.3 V-6 and a Volvo Duo-prop drive. I have the biggest 12 volt trolling motor that Minnkota makes, the next size up you go to 24 volt. I believe it's 65lb thrust, i forget the shaft length. It works OK. It works for jig fishing and pulling bait rigs at less than 1 mph. I've had it up to 1.5 mph with the drive up and going with the wind. So what I'm saying is that you wouldn't be able to do any real troling with this set up.
That and once the wind comes up to say 15 mph your pretty much at close to full "throttle" operation. Then comes the wave hieght. A 1 foot wave and the prop is starting to come out of the water and it's super annoying.

So what I'm saying is, if you go with a Minnkota brand motor you can have a bow mount motor and only have a small bracket left once you remove the motor, , which is only one screw by the way.
BUT, depending on what kind of fishing you are doing and where, you will (should) really have a 24 volt system, that will gain you trolling speed and increase battery run time.
Go to the Minnkota website, they have a sizing chart that will guide you to what lb thrust motor and shaft length you should have.

Btw - I don't work for Minnkota, Ii just have a lot of experience with them.