Re: MOunting Trolling motor
Standoffs can be anything you make them out of. A piece of copper, galvanized, or plastic pipe for example. Call them spacers if you like. You can also buy them (these are called spacers) at Lowes in plastic and various lengths.
You also don't need to get underneath the deck. Use "well nuts". These are rubber plug looking deals with a metal nut embedded in them. you drill a hole the size of the well nut. Push it in the hole. when you bolt something down on them, the nut is pulled up, expanding the rubber and therefore securing things nice and tight. Use a well nut that accepts a 1/4-inch bolt and you will be good. If you use the quick release plate the well nut also serves as vibration damper so motor noise will be cut down.
If you plan to bend somehting up, you need to make a pattern of whatever form you wish to end up with. It then must be bent in a specific sequence or you may not be able to make a cruicial bend because the previous one is in the way. it takes some thought and drawing/planning ability. You also need some fairly substantial material. If you don't have a way to make nice straight bends, you can't do this.
If you don't want to spend the money for the quick release plate, stop by a machine shop and buy a piece of 1/4 inch thick aluminum plate cut to the size for the base of your tolling motor. Then use the standoffs (spacers) and well nuts. It will be cheapest and effective although you loose the ability to quickly remove the motor. You only need to drill holes to match those on the torller and whatever pattern you need to mount the plate to the deck.
