trolling motor mount for front of flatbottom

[bassnbug]

i am trying to mount a hand operated trolling motor on the front of my flatbottom boat, problem is the front is angled
so the motor sits at an angle. i can use it like this only it wont fold down flat due to the angle its mounted and i cant put my cover on without removing the motor. does any one know of a mount made for this or if one could be fabricated. i have seen other flatbottoms with trolling motors on the front so i know it can be done, i just dont have the know how or equipment to do it myself.

 

[SpurHunter]

BB, I just saw one in the spring Bass Pro catolog! It fits into the handle on a jon-boat. Cheap too, I think around 20-30??

 

[bassnbug]

thanks spur ill check that right now

 

[SpurHunter]

Here are the numbers from teh current catolog. There are two versions. </p>

20-530-100-00   $21.99</p>

and </p>

20-523-526-00   $26.99</p>

 

[bassnbug]

both these items recieved some pretty bad reviews, the seem to me like there would be a lot of flex. ill keep them in mind as a last resort but i may have somthing made a little stronger.

 

[Hal]

Bassnbug, I made one for my boat, which has an arched cowling on the bow where the motor needs to be mounted, out of a piece of treated wood. I took measurements and planed the thickness to about 1/4" on one side and whatever thickness it needed on the other to plumb up the shaft to the motor. By cutting the original board to the right length and then doing the planing I could mount the t'motor with all the bolt holes which the mount provided.
Hope this helps..........Hal

 

[bassnbug]

problen solved, a friend of mine made me a bracket at the shop where he works, its made of 1/4 inch steel plates welded together at the correct angle with a piece of marine plywood attached on both sides. we bolted it to the bow of the boat with 4 1/4 inch bolts and it is very sturdy, best of all total cost was about 4 bucks for the bolts.

 

[NRG]

I was gonna offer to make you one .. but you have it under control by the sound of things emoSmile

 

[bassnbug]

thanks for the offer but yes i have solved that problem and now on to next problem. this boat is the hardest thing to get back on the trailer, i can never get it on strait and usually have to wade out and hold it in place while someone else winches it on, which is no fun at all in the winter. i think it needs some sort of upright guides installed at the rear to help it stay centered. got any ideas

 

[mallardecho]

bassnbug - 3/19/2008 10:22 PM

thanks for the offer but yes i have solved that problem and now on to next problem. this boat is the hardest thing to get back on the trailer, i can never get it on strait and usually have to wade out and hold it in place while someone else winches it on, which is no fun at all in the winter. i think it needs some sort of upright guides installed at the rear to help it stay centered. got any ideas

Try not backing the trailer as deep in the water next time. And check Cabela's and BP for some trailer bunk guide on kits, you would only need the two footers. They will help a bunch. They are pretty easy to build, just look at some of the trailers at the ramp. But I would start by not backing the trailer as deep to begin with.

 

[NRG]

bassnbug - 3/19/2008 11:22 PM

thanks for the offer but yes i have solved that problem and now on to next problem. this boat is the hardest thing to get back on the trailer, i can never get it on strait and usually have to wade out and hold it in place while someone else winches it on, which is no fun at all in the winter. i think it needs some sort of upright guides installed at the rear to help it stay centered. got any ideas

I had same problem in the wind, I fixed mine by making light / guide posts out of 1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 1/4 box steel tube, measured down with plum bob from outside edge of boat down to trailer then out from trailer to plum bob line. which makes an L when you weld the pieces together.
Make sure you dont get it to tight to trailer you need a inch or lil more clearance on both sides from top of the boat rail.

my cost was 40 in new materials , would have used scrap if I could have found some quickly then would have been free.. of course I work at a welding manufacturer so the welding part is free

see drawing you could attach a roller to this pole, or put pvc over it too.. works great for both wind control and being able to tell where trailer is to line it up driving on trailer