So after 2 years of striper fishing Murray with little success I broke down and bought a Trolling Motor with I pilot. It has come in and I’m not sure the best way to mount it. I took the template to the boat this morning and I see I’m going to have trouble mounting this thing. The lip on my boat sticks way out and it looked like on the template that I would only be able to get one or two holes drilled out of 4 on the quick release bracket. My boat is a Wellcraft 180 fisherman. Did any of you run into this and if so how did you resolve it? I keep my boat at North lake storage across from Ned’s if anyone would be willing to take a quick peep and come up with a suggestion.
I’m afraid you’re going to have to move the bow light. You can remove it and mount the trolling motor and then put a short post light behind it with one of the covered receptacles. You may even have to relocate one of the bow cleats as well.
Then you might need to have an adapter bracket fabbed up. Something like a flat piece of aluminum that you can mount to the boat and then mount the trolling motor to that. May just be your best option.
I will post some pix in a little while for ya. It may even be this evening before I can get them but no worries we will get you hooked up with what you have to do. Kinda hard to explain in words but using aluminum stiff legs is what your going to have to use.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
This is the idea of what you want to do. Thought my buddy had better pix of the finished product but this is all he had on the phone. Since using the release bracket your gonna have to get a piece of aluminum plate prob 3/16-1/4" to go under the TM. Bolt the back of the plate to the boat then use the 1" aluminum pipe as legs to bolt the front of the plate to the boat. Your also gonna need to put a piece of plate inbetween the legs and the boat. Once plate is secure mount the small release bracket where ever it needs to be onto the plate. These pix were from at first before he completed the job. But hope it gives you an idea of what to do. Not hard at all. All materials can be bought at lowes
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
Yes. Also there is a plate that is in between the legs and boat but not in this pic. Also put a plate on the inside of the hull underneath the legs for added support. And bolt it all together.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
Also be aware that the trolling motor slides into the bracket from the boat side. So you need room there, it looks like the lip will get in the way. You may have to raise the entire thing up above that lip. I have a lot of room on the front of my boat and it barely fits. I don’t see your bow rail, but if you have one you will most likely have to cut it out to deploy the motor.
Tom the new style quick release doesn’t slide anymore. It just lifts on and off and is held in place by a U-shaped pin that slides througj both the mounted plastic and the little piece mounted to the TM.
“All fisherman lie. And if they say otherwise, then they’re lying”
I’ve probably got a piece of 3/4" starboard big enough for what you need. Let me know what size & if I’ve got it, it’s yours. If you want, I can radius the top edges.
Bob Van Gundy
Marine Designs,Inc.
Custom Aluminum Fabrication
803-727-4069
Thanks, guys for all you help and advise! Bob that would be great! Tom the 180 fisherman does not have the Bow rail like your boat has so that will be one less thing to worry about. Like Chip said the new quick release brackets just lift out. Rick that is a great site, Thanks!
So it looks like after doing some more measuring during lunch that the Starboard will stick out 4 or 5 inches over the side. Is the Starboard strong enough or would I still need to add the aluminum legs?
Hi Bob, I cut it last night and plan to put it on today after work. It looks like it is going to work great. I will post a picture once I get it all mounted up. Thanks again for the board and to everyone that provided me with some great advise. This striper forum is full of great information and nice people!
