trolling motor stabilizers

[meathunter]

Are the ram stabilizers worth the money? Also do you think they are needed and is there other options out there besides the ram brand? What are your thoughts on this?

[JohnMickish]

If you have the auto pilot feature on your TM, they are worth way more than what they charge. Depending on the size of your boat, how you drive and what kind of water you are on you can destroy the AP in a short time. Just watch the head of your motor bounce around when you run across the lake and remember, there are sensitive electronics in there. For $50 it's real cheap insurance.

[PerchJerker]

I agree, they're great at protecting the motors.

The bouncing shaft doesn't just damage the head, it also puts stress on the mounting bolts that hold the motor to the boat. And the RAM stabilizer will stop the motor from deploying by itself ---- and there's enough stories out there about motors deploying by themselves, either while the boat is bouncing across the water or being trailered down the road.

There's also a strap option, the strap screws to your boat and velcros around the trolling motor shaft. It works okay but not as well as the RAM mount.

[MIDNIGHT777]

I have had a trolling motor stabilizer on every boat I have owned that had a bow mount. The previous 2 posts give the main reasons this is necessary. Spend the few bucks and save yourself the possible trouble down the line. I have used the RAM mounts.

Matt