My boat is your standard soda-can semi-V hull (14’ Starcraft aluminum, riveted).
I’m buying a new trolling motor soon. I usually sit in the back, or middle, of the boat and my son in the front. He’s not old enough to run the trolling motor for a day’s fishing, so I’ll be running it.
Anyone ever do a bow mount with foot pedals in a small aluminum before? I’ve literally never touched one before so I’m not all that sure how they work. Do they have a separate motor that turns the shaft or something?
Moral judgment under girds the entire structure of laws and is necessary for the rational structure of any significant statute. The idea that our laws can stand independent of moral foundation is senseless.----- Albert Mohler.
They make several different kinds of bow mount foot controlled motors. Some have the motor that turns them, some are programmable and some are like the old ones I use which are steered with a cable. You can start, stop, adjust speed and steer from the foot control. You should be able to check Bass Pro, Cabelas or Sportsmans Warehouse web sites and get a lot of useful information. Also, check with your local boating shops for any reccomendations and/or installation ideas. A lot will depend on how much you plan to spend. The spot lock and I-Pilot are both great options if you can afford them. Hopefully, some of the striper guys or bass fishermen will add their input and correct anything that I may have stated incorrectly. Also, if you are looking for a good used or refurbished foot controlled motor maybe one of them has one.
I think with your set-up that you ought to go transom mount/ tiller handle. It’s a hassle to pull up to a spot to fish and have to run up front real quick to get the motor how you want it.
Tiller handles extend and so you can reach from anywhere in the back. You won’t have to tilt it up to go from spot to spot, you can just loosen mount and raise the motor straight up and lock it down and you are ready to go so it saves space. If you want to sit up front, run longer wires and hook it to the bow.
Yeah DueSouth you are probably right. After I think about it, the bow mount will take up so much room when retracted that it will negate the benefit of the foot pedal.
I’ll be getting a variable speed 55lb soon. Now just to justify the cost difference between the saltwater and freshwater versions. I will be doing probably half my time in saltwater.
Moral judgment under girds the entire structure of laws and is necessary for the rational structure of any significant statute. The idea that our laws can stand independent of moral foundation is senseless.----- Albert Mohler.
You can’t beat the maneuverability of having one on the bow. That being said, get an autopilot remote controlled one. Run it from anywhere in the boat with the remote, problem solved.
A bow mounted one will make it a heck of a lot easier to control the boat. A transom mounted one tends the let the front kind of sway and it makes it harder to control. If its dead calm with no current or wind a transom mount will be fine but that never seems to be the case when I go fishing. It will get the job done but having one on the bow makes a world of difference.
I based my opinion on your set-up. Im assuming here, but lack of front deck, front bench seat and young son to climb over make it tough to run a foot controlled trolling motor up front. By the time you get situated the wind and current have blown you a hundred feet away and you end up using most of your battery just getting back where you started. Cost was also a factor.
You also mentioned that it was a semi v hull. Unless you have a deck up front , foot controls are b***h to operate if not on a flat surface.
And yes, bow mount will have better control but so will a tiller over a foot control model. Pretty much anyone can operate a tiller model. Unless you only fish with people up front that know how to run a foot control model you may find yourself going around and around in circles.
Id even go as far to say that I would get a fresh water model to save cost. Ive had a few boats with salt water models with both the Minn Kota Riptide (shipped with bent prop shaft so I would recommend MotorGuide) and Motoguide. They were great motors but Ive had a MotorGuide freshwater foot controlled on my jon for the last 15 years and havent had any issues with salt water. I had it set up so that I could shrimp by myself and have used it quite a bit. Still runs and looks great.
I’m wondering about the remote controlled models like was mentioned. I could definitely find a way to mount the trolling motor, since I’m a cabinetmaker, but I am not sure I can justify the cost at this point.
I may be mounting the motor (if it’s a tiller/transom style) on the side of the boat around midships. That’s where I sit when I fish and would be easier to control.
Or perhaps I’ll just start sitting up front when fishing.
Moral judgment under girds the entire structure of laws and is necessary for the rational structure of any significant statute. The idea that our laws can stand independent of moral foundation is senseless.----- Albert Mohler.
Matt, if you decide to go with a bow mount, check with Steelytom on here. I know as of last week he had a 55 lb Minnkota with autopilot for sale. I think a foot control would be awkward to use if you are sitting down very low. Normally guys using them are sitting up on a pedestal seat. Also you have to constantly correct a trolling motor with manual steering. The auto pilot will correct itself once you point it in the direction u want to go.
Peapod, yeah it was mentioned that the foot control would be a mess. If I get a bow mount, it will be remote control. which I have to admit I really like the idea of. Not the cost though, but it is a very useful idea.
Moral judgment under girds the entire structure of laws and is necessary for the rational structure of any significant statute. The idea that our laws can stand independent of moral foundation is senseless.----- Albert Mohler.
I had a 15’ Starcraft & had a Bow mount tiller handle, worked great & still had room. Only time it got in the way was when I was trying to throw a cast net.