Two Trolling Motors on Small Boat?

[Skook]

I have an older Alumacraft V-14 that I often use on electric motor-only lakes. I have a few year-old Minn Kota Traxxis 40 lb. transom mount motor for this purpose. I picked up an old 28 lb. Minn Kota motor at a yard sale for a near-steal as a "spare". Rather than just letting it sit in the basement taking up space, I'm wondering whether I should try rigging it up as a bow mount motor for the front seat passenger to operate, or whether this would be more trouble than it's worth.

The old motor is also a transom mount, and so I would probably need to buy or rig up some sort of portable side mount contraption. I'm not sure if the shaft is long enough, either. Currently, I use two batteries (one for the motor and one for the accessories), and so I'm thinking that I could add the old motor to the accessory battery.

If it is worth doing, would I be better off leaving the newer 40 lb. motor at the stern where I sit, or should I put the old 28 lb. motor at the transom and move the better 40 lb. motor to the front?

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[dlngr]

Re: Two Trolling Motors on Small Boat?

If the shaft is long enough on the 40,I'd put that one at the bow. The 28 on the stern could be used as a'helper' or mainly just for steering. A buddy of mine did this on his 12' Jon,and it was still not as fast as my one motor[about 40lb thrust] pulling my 14' v-bow.
[I don't know how powerful his motors were,but he was really disappointed when he found out he couldn't keep up with my boat!]

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Two Trolling Motors on Small Boat?

Hey Skook - Take a look at some of the side motor mounts for canoes for ideas. If the V-14 is an open bow, a canoe mount might fit or you could fab one up to fit. The length of the TM should be enough unless the shaft has been shortened. Hope this helps.

 

[Paul Pro]

Re: Two Trolling Motors on Small Boat?

Listen, I allready went thrugh all the trouble to perfect this meathod and its worth it.I am using a motorguide 54 with a 52" shaft,and a 34 with a 36" shaft "I believe"The back end is all over the place though especially without someone in the back seat,so I made a rudder,I wedge it under the handle to the stern on the port side and have my sonar attached to it,only needs 2 screws for mounting.I did a similar thing for my speed wheel,mounted to a pole,wedged inside the other handle,no screws needed.Other than that,get an extension handle,I made one from bamboo,and find a comfortable place to sit,I had to remove my middle seat,I went through some trouble,but thats why I do it,to make our lifes easier in thelongrun. No more turning around to steer,and you can raise the motor easier for shallow water,before mounted to transom I would have to trim up cause the motror would hit the bottom of the transom,on the bow just pull straight up,now you can use the full potential of your boat,go as shallow as your boat can go!Last thing I like about the bowmount,your up front so your closer to the fish,beats fishing from the transom with your buddy catching all the fish ahead thanks, this has been a fun post.heres a quick vid of a set up most likely never seen before,this is a rare one so prepare yourself its short but to the point 56sec vid prepare to be amazed,this is my latest work"I even surprise myself sometimes Paulpro" http://youtu.be/rBKSxwF4Tgw .You can't see but I added 1/4 ply on the outside of the bow for each motor,incase I run aground,this acts as transom support for the bow,its about 7" wide and runs down 1" short of the bottom of bow.about 12" long so so P.S. O' I had to remove the metal ring thats at the end of each motor for mounting,It just wouldn't fit with it there,now Its just the end of the threaded bolt that presses against the alluminum on my mount ,but it has these 4points that held that metal ring thing ,they dig in good for a solid mount,good luck with your mods,at the moment,I'm in the process of modding my life

 

[Paul Pro]

Re: Two Trolling Motors on Small Boat?

It is nice one in front and one in back,I had that set up before I got my twins 1.75 X 2 tanakas,now its too much weight for the back,plus no room,so just keep one at the bow when fishing.I especially like the fact that each guy can steer one if the other is busy.I miss that about it now,thinking of a side mount myself incase I want to take control, I let me buddy sometimes steer the bowmount so I could relax

 

[Skook]

Re: Two Trolling Motors on Small Boat?

Thanks, everyone. Your ideas should give me something to work on this spring.