Mounting a trolling motor

[gray1402]

Have a question for you guys. Just bought a 20ft boat and it has a Motorguide bow mounted trolling motor that was mounted using the "Motorguide Rubber mounting isolators". This is a link to show you what I am referring to.

http://www.motorguide.com/store/accessory/mounting/mounting-isolators

One of the rubber mounts pulled through and now the whole mount is unstable. I would like to get this put on right but I don't have any clue. The trolling motor is loose on that side and I am now afraid to use it. I would like to get this trolling motor mounted on the bow the right way but I don't think you can get under there to put bolts and nuts . Can someone please tell me or suggest someone that may be able to show me or help me get this on the right way.

Thanks and any help would be greatly appreciated. Be well.

Kind Regards,

Greg

 

[fish4life]

well when i put my terrova on our boat,up front where the other electrics and such are there was a hole bout arm size that was covered by a plate with several screws,where the fishfinder was mounted and such.i could just get my arm under the deck and screw them under.thats all i could think of.we had to drill new holes on our deck to mount the new one.

 

[ditchdoc666]

hey greg, welcome to our forum, you can buy those rubber isolaters or if you have front bow panel take it out and you should be able to reach if you want to use washers and nuts, take a pic of the front for us

 

[gray1402]

ditchdoc666 - 3/19/2011 6:17 PM

hey greg, welcome to our forum, you can buy those rubber isolaters or if you have front bow panel take it out and you should be able to reach if you want to use washers and nuts, take a pic of the front for us

Thanks so very much for the warm welcome. I have been around for a little bit but just watching really as I have never done any forum posts before. Apparently I have been missing out! I thought about this fine group as soon as the problem happened and thought this would be were my best advise would come. I couldn't figure how to upload pictures but as it was a v bottom bass boat it did have that front panel where I was able to reach up below the trolling motor. I was ASTONISHED!!! though to find that the hole behind the panel was seriously no bigger than a Coke can. I finally got one of my Son's friends whose arm was much smaller than both mine and my Son's to help us get some new bolts in. I am gonna have to try it but honestly the larger toggle bolts along with rubber grommets on the back were by far the most stable of any nut and bolt combo we could come up with. And I think the rubber grommets will help spread the stability, but after testing it was BY FAR the most stable of all bolt-nut combos I could come up with. I really didn't want to do the Motorguide isolator screws but I do understand there are times that that is all you can use. In my situation the toggle bolts along with some rubber grommets ended being the most stable and finally got it taken care of.

Thanks again and as always.... be well.

Kind Regards,
Greg

 

[ditchdoc666]

your welcome anytime you need anything just ask the knowledge we have on here in all areas is amazing and somebody is always willing to help

 

[TheFisherman]

Actually those rubber isolators really do work well and it is unusual for them to fail, although maybe not somuch now that trolling motors ar eso much bigger and heavier. You could just shift the motor over a little, drill new holes and put in new isolators Hopefully you can do it and the braket will cover the old holes. Nuts and bolts are not the permanent solution either, as they tend to vibrate loose, even with locknuts. Use some red Locktite to minimize it. I have nuts and bolts on my boat that I am constantly having to tighten up. Personally, I like the isolators better, but I'm sure some will disagree.