Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

D

dtrman1318

Cadet
Joined
Mar 12, 2010
Messages
25
I have a flat bottom jon boat and I was looking to upgrade my current trolling motor to one of the foot conroled ones. I want a Minn Kota quick deploy one, but i hear they need a level surface to mount them on, but I have about a 1 inch rise on the edge of the boat due to it being a jon boat. Is there any way possible I could mount this type of trolling motor on the stern of my boat?

Dan
 
5150abf

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

Welcome to iboats, how good are you at building things?

You can certainly do it but not how it is now, you are going to have to build your own mount for that.

Seems like you could make that out of wood pretty easily, a couple bolts from the harware and there you go.

As far as the design it is hard to say without seeing your boat but yes that can be done, just keep in mind as you are drawing this up that there is alot of force involved so make it really strong.

Until you can have the complete thing drawn on paper I wouldn't even start on it, I have found if you can't draw it you can't build it. Good luck
 
dozerII

dozerII

Admiral
Joined
Oct 25, 2009
Messages
6,527
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

A picture of the front of your boat would help, but if you are saying you have a flat surface with a one inch lip around the edge, you will have no problems. All you need is to cut out pieces of a shim material, plastic would be best. You could use puck board, or those cheap white plastic cutting boards they sell at dollar stores. Just go at least a 1/4 inch more than you need so 1&1/4 inches. You will have to buy longer stainless steel bolts than come in the kit.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

Installing a foot control troller on the stern is not only a bad idea, it defeats the purpose of having a trolling motor in the first place. Trollers are far more efficient pulling a boat rather pushing. Boat control is simply far better, especially when the wind picks up. As for the bow issue, it really isn't an issue. Use a little creativity to fashion a spacer to level the plate and go fishing.
 
Silvertip

Silvertip

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 22, 2003
Messages
28,771
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

Well, those are very nice pictures -- all of them being of the same thing and so close that I certainly can't make anything from them. It appears though that all you need to do is make a spacer so the plate clears the lip.
 
F

FAC

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Jul 30, 2009
Messages
79
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

a spacer of some sort would be the perfect (or close to) solution
 
arks

arks

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Messages
1,936
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

My 14 foot Lowe has the same lip. In my case the deck was 1 3/4" lower than the rail.
I used a length of 2" x 6" aluminum square tubing to create a mounting surface for the troller. I used large self-drilling machine screws for attachment. Works great.

Hopefully you can see it here:
Interior002.jpg
 
D

dtrman1318

Cadet
Joined
Mar 12, 2010
Messages
25
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

thank you. that looks very promising. so you just drilled the piece of aluminum right into the deck and then mounted the trolling motor right on top of the aluminum with no problem
 
arks

arks

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Messages
1,936
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

That is correct.
Just use beefy screws and don't strip the threads when running them in.
 
N

nimmor

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
May 15, 2003
Messages
313
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

If you are interested in mounting it on the stern check out this.
http://procontroll.com/
You can get it for around $150. But like stated you will get better use with your trolling motor on the bow.
 
D

dtrman1318

Cadet
Joined
Mar 12, 2010
Messages
25
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

how did you secure the aluminum tubing to the deck of the boat
 
arks

arks

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Messages
1,936
Re: Minn Kota quick mount on my jon boat?

My Lowe has a big, empty storage locker under the bow deck.
After determining the exact location I wanted, I drilled 6- 5/8" holes thru the TOP of the aluminum tube around the perimeter (the screw heads I used were 1/2") .
I then drilled smaller (7/32" I think) holes thru the bottom of the tube that matched the centers of the large holes on top.
Next, I ran 3/16" x 1" chrome-plated self-drilling flathead machine screws thru the holes into the boat deck. I was careful to make 'em tight without stripping the holes. A cordless impact drill works well. The square tubing was now firmly attached to the boat.
I placed the trolling plate on the tube where I wanted it and and used the same size screws to secure it. Mounted the motor and checked for any bracket movement (none).
Been using it for 2 seasons with no problems at all. I'll check the screws this spring before launching but I'm sure they'll still be tight. Down the road if they get loose, I'll simply repace the screws with bolts and nylock nuts. The whole job took about an hour.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top