Mounting a trolling motor?

[Chris73Cobia]

I have a 1973 Cobia Trihull and I put a fishing seat up front, and for now I've got a trolling motor mount rigged up, but I really want to do something better. On max power (50 lb thrust) the motor almost pulls itself off the mount. I'm willing to upgrade to a "bow mount" model but I didn't see any that would work with the space I have. I'd like to upgrade at some point to something with a bit more "kick" (maybe a 70-100 lb thrust model, I am frequently trolling in a river that when the dam is open runs 8 knot current per my GPS).

I'm not sure this is the right subforum, so feel free to move it. I'll get some pics when I take the boat out to work on it more this week, but I figure there have to be some 70s trihull fans out there who have a trolling motor

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Mounting a trolling motor?

If you have to hold position in an 8 knot current you will likely have trouble staying in position with even a 70# motor. As for mounting, pictures of your boat would help but the smallest footprint is generally found on MinnKota PowerDrive V2 or MotorGuide motors. Use of a quick release plate is strongly suggested.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Mounting a trolling motor?

8 knots = about 9 MPH, I don't think any trolling motor will be a match for that type of current, even trying to maintain position in the current.

I've been below Hoover Dam in my jon boat when the current was ripping, the trolling motor was useless trying to go upstream. That was with a 40# trolling motor in a light 14' jon boat.