trolling motor question

[jhundleywatson]

Hi Everyone,
Great forum. I hope you can help me solve a problem. I just bought a minnkota bow mount manually operated trolling motor. I got one of the smallest i could find with 45 lbs. of thrust and a 45" shaft.
My boat is a 14' welded aluminum v hull fishing boat with a 15h.p. motor. The boat planes well and travels nicely.
The boat has a deck at the bow on which i can mount the trolling motor.
My buddy and I have seen guys with transom mount motors on the decks of their boats. I have read the directions on how to re-wire the transom mount.

My buddy thinks that I should exchange the bow mount motor for a transom mount motor. Then he thinks I should build a "transom" on the deck to which I can mount the motor (once I reverse the direction). He believes that the bow mount motor is too heavy and that I will want to remove it from time to time.
The quick release mechanism for the bow mount motor will cost me over $100.
Meanwhile, I could get a much lighter transom mount motor for half the price of the bow mount motor. (He is concerned that the bow mount motor is too heavy).
I would welcome opinions from the experts.

Should I go ahead and mount the bigger bow mount motor on the bow?
Or should I go with a lighter, less expensive transom mount to convert?

Thanks for your suggestions.

Here is a link to a photo of my boat.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_67Sr7PeQbr8/S5rjkkf1ASI/AAAAAAAAAHk/W58vHwdc-pQ/s1600-h/CIMG0068.jpg

 

[jtexas]

Re: trolling motor question

What exactly is the weight differential? It's just the mounting bracket, right? Sure makes it easy to stow & deploy.

Why would you want to "remove it from time to time" -- it's not exactly going to double as a family ski boat.

Hard for me to see weight as being an issue, but sounds like the cost difference would just about pay for the battery and charger. Is that enough to give up the convenience of the bow mount? To me, that's the question.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: trolling motor question

What on earth kind of quick release plate are you looking at. Minnkota quick release plates can be had for around $40. You don't rewire a transom mount motor for use on the bow. You simply turn the head on the shaft 180 degrees so the handle points at you rather than forward of the boat. Bow mount motors are more convenient to stow and deploy and can be controlled from anywhere in the boat. Weight is not an issue as there wont be more than about 15 - 20 pounds difference. Quick release plates are very handy if your boat must be stored outside. The motor can then be quickly removed for inside storage or for travel.

 

[jhundleywatson]

Re: trolling motor question

Hey Guys,
Thanks for your two cents. I agree with you totally, and i can't wait to mount that bow mount trolling motor. I was just measuring it a few minutes ago.

thanks,
James