kicker/trolling motor towing and storage

[spudshaft]

Do you tow and store your boat with the kicker/trolling motor (outboard) on the boat? Seems like a good idea to take it off, but a big pain to do it. Thanks

 

[JimS123]

Re: kicker/trolling motor towing and storage

My regular launch is 3 miles from the house at 30 mph. I leave it on.

My vacation cottage is a 5 hour drive at 65 mph. I take it off.

My bracket is an OMC with gas cylinder, which IMHO I consider to be the best one available. It IS the most expensive. Its made out of aluminum. The shaft holes and bushings started to show wear last year, so I found a NOS unit and replaced the old one. The original gave me 25 years and 1200 hours of good service.

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: kicker/trolling motor towing and storage

Mine stays on.

It's a Yamaha 9.9 - 4 stroke and it's bolted on to an aluminum bracket which is welded to our aluminum boat. It's very solid. I have no worries towing the boat on gravel back roads.

I also have controls cable running to it from the helm so it would be a real pain to have remove it.

 

[spudshaft]

Re: kicker/trolling motor towing and storage

Thanks. I leave mine on unless I have to go a long way or the boat is somewhere I think someone might "borrow" it.