Trolling motor question

[Daddypleo]

On a 14' fiberglass boat, which is better, bow mount or transom mount? I have a transom mount Min Kota 30 lb thrust motor but I need to know if it is a matter of preference or if one is better than another.

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: Trolling motor question

The general consesus is that, in almost all cases, trolling from the bow is way better than from the transom.

More control, more efficient, and most people fish from the bow.

That said, I used a transom mount trolling motor on the back of my 17' boat for 3 years. Not ideal, but way better than not having a trolling motor.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Trolling motor question

It depends on how you are going to use the TM, positioning or trolling.

On my 14' jon boat I have a transom mount TM that I mostly use for trolling. When casting I just pretend the transom is the bow and pull the boat around backwards, works, not great, but it works...

On my 18'er I have a bow mount and transom mount TM's. For trolling the transom mount works great, for positioning (casting) I swap over to the bow mount TM. I've tried to run straight lines with the bow mount and it's a hassle; left, right, left, right, left, right.....

 

[Daddypleo]

Re: Trolling motor question

I want a bow mount but my Min-Kota is a transom mount....can anyone point me towards an inexpensive alternative or close?

 

[Daddypleo]

Re: Trolling motor question

Mount that is.....oops

 

[sidechoke67]

Re: Trolling motor question

I fabricated a transom mount from a Minn Kota quick release mount several years ago. Mine was on the transom, but could have just as easily been mounted on the bow. I have heard of a number of people turning the handle of a transom mount trolling motor around, and using it on the bow - as long as your shaft is long enough. If you do some searches in this forum, there are a number of pictures and descriptions of various fabricated mounting solutions that forum users have built over the years.

This is the transom mount bracket I built years ago. Mine was on the back - but I could have done the same thing on the bow. For my bow, I need a minimum of a 42" shaft, and longer would be better. I would also recommend that you through-bolt and back plate everything.

Then, I could remove everything except the center puck when I was towing the boat, or just taking the kids tubing..