Mounting a trolling motor.

[BIGDUFF]

So I just bought my first toon and didn't get exactly what I wanted but just as close but at a great price I wanted a front deck for casting and keeping the little ones at bay but my railings go all the way up and I was wondering how I could mount a trolling motor with out using the front gate. I have young children and I know I will have elderly on the boat aswell and as soon as I mount it in the front gate someone's gonna get hurt. Thanks for any help.

[lakerunner]

What do you have? 2 or 3 log? Years ago on a 2 log I made a frame of square tubing that mounted under deck and another frame the trollor mounted to and slid inside the frame mounted underneath deck

[jediger]

If it's a tritoon, you've got limited options. Mine sits on a quick release mount under the front gate and the gate is only open for deployment. Underway or stowed, the gate is shut. That being said, if it's stowed, the motor can be a potential trip hazard. Given how easy it is to take off, I usually leave it on shore if I'm planing on just cruising around with family. If you had the space, you could always put the motor to the side and only connect it to the quick mount when you wanted it I suppose.

[SeaBreeze]

Do you have room out back? I have seen a few with remote trolling motors on the back of the boat. I mounted mine in the front.

[bobalong]

I have mine mounted on the front, with a quick release bracket, but we do a lot of fishing, so the motor never comes off. It is a bit of pain sometime, but the control is much better on the front. I did off set mine a bit to one side, so still pretty easy walking through the gate.

[blacklabjeff]

I am curious as to what quick release mounts people have installed for their trolling motors. I am going to instally my Minn Kota on the bow of my toon. I have the MKA-21 quick release that I would like to install. When the trolling motor is removed, the only thing left on the bow is a low profile rectangular block made out of some sort of plastic like material. I have the other type of quick release bracket on my fish/ski boat, but it has sharp metal edges, so I prefer not to use that bracket.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jeff
2014 SunTracker
Fishing Barge 20DLX

[bobalong]

I am curious as to what quick release mounts people have installed for their trolling motors. I am going to instally my Minn Kota on the bow of my toon. I have the MKA-21 quick release that I would like to install. When the trolling motor is removed, the only thing left on the bow is a low profile rectangular block made out of some sort of plastic like material. I have the other type of quick release bracket on my fish/ski boat, but it has sharp metal edges, so I prefer not to use that bracket.

Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Jeff
2014 SunTracker
Fishing Barge 20DLX

I have an Mk-21 on the pontoon boat and an older model similar to the MK23 on my Sylvan, but with rolled edges. I find the MK23 style easier to slide on and off, as the "pull" locking bracket (MK23) on mine is very close to the floor and a bit of a pain to pull out and slide in.

[blacklabjeff]

Thanks for the info. I am thinking of experimenting with the MKA-21, and cutting out a shim for it. (Amazing what some of my wife's old cutting boards are good for.) The instruction sheet says it may have to be shimmed under the mounting puck for the handle to slide in and out easily. I won't drill any holes though, until I know what may work best.

[bobalong]

Thanks for the info. I am thinking of experimenting with the MKA-21, and cutting out a shim for it. (Amazing what some of my wife's old cutting boards are good for.) The instruction sheet says it may have to be shimmed under the mounting puck for the handle to slide in and out easily. I won't drill any holes though, until I know what may work best.

I did shim mine with 2-3 washers on each bolt, but should have used something at least 1" think, would have been much easier. I could redo it I suppose, but I don't remove the motor, so I have not bothered.