Re: Mounting a trolling motor on a boat with a bow rail,
Sure it can be done.
I've mounted a Minnkota Powerdrive 55lbs on the bow of my Outrage with a quick-release bracket. The same could also be done with their salwater version (Riptide model) because the dimensions are the same.
The tricky part was to make sure the motor will clear the bow rail when deployed. To overcome the uneven gunnel surface caused by the "lip", I made a "riser" out of 1 1/2 inch Starboard that I secured in place of a front cleat after some trial and errors with a wooden template for precise location.
It turn out great and is strong enough but a 54 inch shaft is a pretty big lever and I don't want the screws to pull out if I hit the motor when drifting so I also need to secure the riser toward the front but it's out-of-question to drill through the gunnel. I then made an aluminum bracket that also clamp under the gunnel. Not particulary pretty but functionnal and in 2 minutes I can remove the bracket and replace the cleat without any more holes left, but never feel the need to do so.
By your picture, I'm not sure your rail is high enough for the trolling motor to pivot under. You'll have to make some tests...
