Trolling Motor Shaft Stabilizer - How necessary is it??

[TSCTSC]

Last few months have seen several of these products coming on. First RAM, now even Minnkota themselves have two versions - one 29USD and the other 39USD. Is it necessary to have a trolling motor shaft stabilizer? Before these things appeared, I did not even think about the motor when it is stowed.

[prov1900]

I have owned an Autopilot and now a Maxxum. I have never used a stabilizer and have never needed one. On the Autopilot and Maxxum types, I believe that if you are going to run full throttle in heavy seas, then it is necessary to "lock them in" with the strap or slider thing. I watched my Autopilot be deployed without my assistance in rough water because I didnt lock it in. I can't see where you need to buy that Ram thing unless you're having problems with it bouncing on your gunwales?

[JohnMickish]

Take a look at how much the head bouces while you are towing your rig down the road and think of the pressure it puts on the plate. I had the bow plate on my 1988 Lund Renegade crack because of the movement. A ram stabilizer would have prevented it.

[Northlander]

Ya I will be getting one for my Minkota. My old one was so loose after years of bangin in waves and dirt roads that it would jump out of the rest whenI hit big waves. Almost tore it off the deck a few times. I think its a good product if you run in bigger waters.

[mamohr686]

I watched a member of our bass club destroy a minnkota autopilot when it deployed going at about 50mph. It actually snapped the "unbreakable shaft" in half and was replaced my minnkota. If you have a trolling motor shaft 50" or longer or else have you motor mounted on a quick release bracket I would highly recommend stabiliser.

[TSCTSC]

So it seems that the reason is to avoid damage to the bow deck plate and to prevent shaft breakage?

I spoke to some guys at Cabelas and they say that it is to prevent the head from hitting the gunwale or deck of the boat.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

Quote:

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I watched a member of our bass club destroy a minnkota autopilot when it deployed going at about 50mph. It actually snapped the "unbreakable shaft" in half and was replaced my minnkota. If you have a trolling motor shaft 50" or longer or else have you motor mounted on a quick release bracket I would highly recommend stabiliser.

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I had this happen to me a couple of years back!

NOT GOOD! I almost lost the whole trolling motor and mounting plate. Some how the Power cord held and I was able to pull the motor back into the boat. Over $250.00 in repairs!

The ram stabilizer is cheap insurance.

Cliff

[TSCTSC]

You mean to say that the bolts pulled out from the bow deck and the trolling motor basically fell into the water hanging by the power cord??

[Surface Tension]

I've had the motor pop out of the cradle, once on the water and once on the road. Luckily I slide the collar down and lock it before running. I now take the hillbilly approach with a sort bungie cord around the shaft and to an eye bolt to keep the head from bouncing around when traveling.

[Down Deep]

I had a 1999 Auto Pilot with the wireless remote. What happend to mine is that after about 5 years the cradle where the motor rests cracked. Of course it cracked on the side were the electronics were located $260 instead of the other side which cost $24. I decided to replace the motor. There is no doubt in my mind that the stress caused by the shaft and head bouncing caused the motor rest to crack. I bought the Ram unit when I replaced my trolling motor.

[deadminnowcatcher]

I lost a whole auto pilot motor several years ago on Mille Lacs. A storm was comming and while going in to shore the motor came out of its bracket 2 times beacause of the pounding in the waves. The 2nd time I did not stop because I had a wall cloud behind me. It tore the motor right off the front of the boat. I was just glad to get to shore and insurance helped me out. The manual says that if you tighten the ring on the shaft it will not come out but that is not true. I do not care how tight you get it if you are pounding on big water it will come lose. Spend the little extra and buy a ram mount or something. I did and have not had a problem since.

[Cliff Wagenbach]

That is exactly what happened!

Cliff