Can i fit a bow mount on this boat?

[Craigums]

I would really like to have a bow mount trolling motor on my boat. I currently have a transom mount and its difficult to control my boat and keep it on course. It's only an old 14ft aluminum with a fairly shallow hull. Does anybody have any ideas how I can mount a bow mount to this thing?

Thanks alot,

Craig

[bemidjibasser]

Are you willing to drill thru the hull? I have mounted a couple of bow mounts to aluminum boats that didn't have the necessary mounting equipment.

First step: get a 2x2x8 and a sheet of 3/4inch plywood treated would be better than not treated, nuts, bolts, and washers that are at least 2 3/4 inches long and 1/4 inch to 7/16 inch diameter, and some wood screws. You will need a saw and a drill also

step2: measure how long the base of the trolloing motor mount is that you are going to mount to the boat and mark off about 5 inches longer than that on the 2x2, then cut two pieces to that length form the 2x2.

Step3: place the plywood over the bow and trace the shape of the boat onto the plywood with a pencil or fat sharpie back a little farther than you plan to use for the mount area.

step4: cut out the shape that you traced with a jig saw or sawzall,etc...

Step4: It's time to start drilling holes in your boat... take one of the pieces of 2x2 that you cut earlier and place it on the inside of the hull at teh bow where the motor will be mounted. With the sharpie or pencil, mark at least 3 points to drill through the aluminum and into and through the 2x2 (these holes will be used to secure the 2x2 to the boat). Clamps are helpful to hold the wood in place as you drill the holes. Repeat this for both sides and attach with the nuts, bolts, and washers.

Step5: Put the Piece of plywood on the newly secured 2x2's and trim if necessary. Attach to the 2x2's with wood screws.

Step 6: mount the trolling motor on the boat with some more nuts and bolts or get one of those quick release brackets for your desired trolling motor and attach that with nuts and bolts

step 7: wait for the ice to melt then go fishing!

[bemidjibasser]

You could even use the rest of the plywood sheet, if it is big enough, to make a deck/ platform for the bow too following similar procedure, only you wouldn't need to put in the 2x2's as you have the bench there already... I did this too in my Lund Laker. It makes a good storage area underneath and keeps the battery out of the way too.

[Craigums]

Thanks bemidjibasser,

Im trying to visualize how you have everything mounted is this correct?

[Musky hunter 82]

Cragiums, I redid my boat last winter (a 14' 1974 Lund)and I put a bow mount on it. I haven't had any problems with it, if you have an email I can send you pictures of it. the best thing is i did it all for under $300 bucks. That includes a livewell with a recirculating pump, all the materials and carpeting.

[Musky hunter 82]

can someone tell me how to load pictures on here? that way others could see what I did to the boat.. It was a great winter project, I had a 15 horse on it, but i had a hrad time plaining out with 2 people in the boat. So i put a 25hp on it last year and with just me in it, i clocked i with my GPS at 26 mph. That might not sound really fast, but man it moves good.

[ikeslayer]

the answer to that question is always yes

so what if it is like putting spinners on an OMNI - she will fish

[hamms-scooter]

can someone tell me how to load pictures on here? .

You need to go to photobucket.com and upload from your computer to that site then copy and paste the image code to your post.Watch the size of the pics they can appear really big on here. Same thing with your profile pic if you want.

[Musky hunter 82]

Where do i find the image code on photo bucket, I've never used that sight before?

[Musky hunter 82]

[Cicada]

Do you plan on keeping the transom mount back there? You can use that one on the bow. On my first boat, I found a mounting plate that the motor fit into. This kept the motor from moving on the bracket I had built out of a 2x4. Then I added a trolling motor lock to keep the screws from coming loose.

On the boat I currrently have, I could not find the plate. It was made by MinnKota. I , again, built a mounting bracket out of a 2x4, but removed the screws that came on the motor and replaced them with bolts that goes through the entire bracket.

To make the transom motor work on the bow, you will need to loosen the head of the motor and turn it 180 degrees.

I prefer having a transom mount motor on the bow. I don't like having to use a foot pedal. It is too slow to respond and more difficult to control the boat.

Two things to consider. One, can you reach a motor mounted this way from your seat? And B, is the shaft of the motor long enough so it will stay under water in windy conditions.

[Craigums]

Musky Hunter, Got any close up pics on the bow? also I didn't get the email it may have been accidentaly deleted....

[bemidjibasser]

Craig- your drawing is about right, just that the 2x2's will lay flat against the hull. The mounting area I made on my old lund is still holding up today, and it was built in '97...

[polarsusd81]

Craig, I am about to mount a Maxxum 74/24V system to the front of my 14' Lund. Should get me around on the river pretty nicely. I am just kinda waiting for a nice day to get out in the garage and get started on it. Plan to put in a front deck finally and a storage box under it as well. That will store my life vests and batteries for the 24v system. I am probably going to mount my vex up there for summer time use as well. Should be fun.

I am in the camp of you can't have too big of a trolling motor, though any bigger on my Lund would probably not work. Couldn't really do a 36v in there due to size restrictions and I got my Maxxum 74 with the batteries for 300 bucks. Absolutely could not pass that up.