With my trolling motor being up on my deck it is a bit of a PITA to keep on unlocking it to put down as it takes a lot of pressure to knock it out of the locked position. For now, everytime I am going to move any distance at all chasing schooling fish, I bring it up, lock it down and then put it back down when I stop.
When not moving far, I’d like to figure out a way to just pull it up and keep it in a vertical position and then just drop it down when I stop. I know I could keep adjusting the stopper, but I’d prefer not to have to keep resetting a screw.
I’m trying to think of some kind of clamp I could just use as a stopper to keep it in an upright position…something that would be easy to remove when I got ready to put the TM back down.
Any ideas?
Also, how fast do you guys feel comfortable going when running with the big motor and the TM in the water?
Call Minn Kota and buy the stop that they put in the hand controlled riptides. It is just quick latch stop that doesn"t use a screw knob. Should be the same diameter shaft and you can put it just below your set screw stop, pull the motor up, flip the latch and roll. When you get there, just flip the latch open, drop and fish.
Good idea, but won’t work. I just talked to the Crappie Hole and he brought up a good point. Since I have auto pilot, the original stopper needs to catch into the base in order to be able to steer. Adding a stopper below it would prevent it from being able to seat in the base.
Tim, cut a piece of PVC close to the same ID as the OD of your shaft and rip about a third of it out lengthwise so it will flex around the shaft. Add a piece of small rope through a hole in the top to make it easier to pull off. May not be the most convenient way but I think it would work and the motor won’t slip down in rough water.
I’d rather fish than eat.
A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.
Tim, does the clip that hold the shaft when stowed not also hold it verticle? In the pictures it looks like it would. I should be picking up my ipilot tomorrow and will be looking for a similar setup. I’ll see what I come up with.
No that clip only holds it horizontal. I know on mine the clamp that adjusts the depth is really quick and easy to adjust, but don’t know how the older co pilot worked
Last time I went out and moved around in the same area I just pulled it up and layed it in the normal position without actually putting it in the clip. I put a bungee around the head and held it there with that until I stopped the next time. That works fine.
Although I’ve never tested my theory I would imagine you could keep the TM down while under power from the outboard as long as you’re not going more than a few mph. I say this because Ive used trolling motors heading into some fairly stiff currents before and think that would subject the TM to the same type of stress. Just a thought.
I know this…If you do try to run fast with it down it usually only costs about 30$……did it once, couldn’t figure out why the boat would not plain…realized what was up or “not up” should i say…lol… went to the front stowed a propless TM. Still cant figure out how it came off.
Alot had to happen as far as the nut backing off AND the pin falling out all while spinning. just my luck i guess…
…did it once, couldn’t figure out why the boat would not plain…realized what was up or “not up” should i say…lol… went to the front stowed a propless TM. Still cant figure out how it came off.
just my luck i guess…