Need HELP WITH TROLLING MOTOR ON SPEED BOAT

[kcurtis86]

I am finishing up on restoring a speed boat I bought and I want to use it as a fishing boat as well. Yet I do not know where to mount a trolling motor. I feel that it will not fit on the transom because I have a 115 HP Evinrude and that takes up pretty much the whole transom area. Is there a way to mount this so I can use it for a fishing boat as well? Also, this is not an open bow, so mounting it on the front is out of the question. (I believe) Another question I had. I am looking to put a winch retrieval system for the anchor as well, but do not know where I would mount this as well. I have attached two photos of the boat. Any information would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for all the help.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Need HELP WITH TROLLING MOTOR ON SPEED BOAT

You should have bought a fishing boat. Closed bow boats do not make good fishing boats and therefore most related accessories for fishing are not designed around them. You can't use a bow mount motor because you still have to get to it to stow and deploy it. Once that hurdle is cleared, you could control it remotely provided it was any of the wireless models. The next option is a stern mount but you now need to extend the tiller to steer it and with the main engine in the way, that becomes and issue. The third option is a motor that bolts to the AV plate on the engine so you steer it from the helm. As for the anchor winch, that can go at either end but boats normally are anchored from the bow when fishing so the bow points into the wind or current.

 

[kcurtis86]

Re: Need HELP WITH TROLLING MOTOR ON SPEED BOAT

You know you make due with what you got. The boat, trailer, and motor only cost $200 and im sure i can make a trolling motor fit on there; no matter what I have to do to get it on there. But thanx for the input Silver

 

[John_S]

Re: Need HELP WITH TROLLING MOTOR ON SPEED BOAT

I agree with Silvertip, you doin't have any good options for a trolling motor. It looks like you have put allot of time into restoring this boat. Are you sure you want to hack it up to try to force it into a fishing boat? Should at least consider selling and buying something that fits the dual purpose role. OK off the soapbox.

If you absolutly have to put a troller on this boat, I would recommend putting a aux motor mount on the port transom. Don't just try to mount on to the transom lip. It will still be awkward to deploy and retrieve leaning across the back of your boat. You would want one with twist speed control and motor on/off in the handle, such that it can be controlled from the extension arm. With standard transom trolling motors and the extension arm you will have limited turning radius. An exception might be, one of the higher end models from MK. I believe they have one that has a gear set in it, that will turn the motor 3X what you would get normally.

FWIW: I have used transom trollers with ext arm such that I could be in the middle seat on a small boat. I did not like the reduced turning circle, the pain of deploy / retrieve, and the occasional unplanned motor turn-on from the handle twisting while not being held. I don't see other options for you, though.

 

[4JawChuck]

Re: Need HELP WITH TROLLING MOTOR ON SPEED BOAT

Most people with IB bow riders around here use one of these.

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/products/trolling_motors/engine_mount/freshwater.aspx

Solves all your problems and is steerable from the console, I would forget a bow mount...you have no bow area! Its not like your going to be casting from the bow deck anyway.

They are slick and out of the way and no worries about accidental deployment at speed.