Bow Mounted trolling motor

Kingfisherblues · Nov 4, 2024

I have a 1980 Lowe V hull with a 10hp gas engine. I don't want to mount the trolling motor on the transom next to the gas motor. I would rather mount it on the bow. BUT, I am not certain I can just bolt one on the way it is because the peak of the bow has a fairly small, and slightly dome shaped plate. I just don't see enough space on it to do a bow mount without some sort of modification.

I hope someone here has had some experience with bow mounts and what may or may not need modified!

Still Afloat · Nov 4, 2024

Another fellow expanded or replaced the bow plate on his boat earlier this year for the same reason. There’s a thread somewhere on the forum. You could do something similar.

Also, the bow mount trolling motor does not need to come directly off the centerline of the boat. It could be mounted to either side of the navigation light or even above it.

airshot · Nov 4, 2024

Do Luke others have done, add-on to the existing bow plate, most just use plywood. On my boat the trolling motor ended up blocking the bow light, so I replaced the light with a socket, then added a light that is 15" tall that plugs in.
Do some searching, lots of boat pics where decks have been added or made larger.

David Atkins · Nov 5, 2024

Kingfisherblues said:
I have a 1980 Lowe V hull with a 10hp gas engine. I don't want to mount the trolling motor on the transom next to the gas motor. I would rather mount it on the bow. BUT, I am not certain I can just bolt one on the way it is because the peak of the bow has a fairly small, and slightly dome shaped plate. I just don't see enough space on it to do a bow mount without some sort of modification.

I hope someone here has had some experience with bow mounts and what may or may not need modified!

View attachment 123430

Go to https://www.amazon.com/trolling-motor-mount/s?k=trolling+motor+mount; they have many styles and one may work for you or give you an indea of how to make your own!

OldSailor85 · Nov 5, 2024

Do you want a foot-controlled TM, or hand controlled?

You can mound a standard hand-controlled TM with a couple of blocks of wood sandwiching the hull.

As others have stated, use some plywood and built a platform behind the bow plate.

LDUBS · Nov 5, 2024

My bow plate also has a compound curve. I milled a couple pieces of leftover starboard to fit - kind of like shims.

I would like to be wrong, but it looks like your bow plate isn't large enough to mount a trolling motor. A simple fix would be to attach a plate on top of it. Could be store bought (See David Atkins' link) or homemade. Sorta like this:

OldSailor85 · Nov 5, 2024

FWIW, I installed a quick-detach TM mount. Should have done it on my other boats.

Nice to take it off when not needed and for storage. A boat cover fits a lot better without a TM poking through.

Ray Clark · Nov 5, 2024

I have pics of what I did for my Lund S14 in my build thread.

Here's a screen shot:

Screen Shot 2024-11-05 at 8.06.08 AM.png

OldSailor85 · Nov 5, 2024

Ray Clark said:
I have pics of what I did for my Lund S14 in my build thread.

Here's a screen shot:

View attachment 123445

Nav lights still usable?

Bantou · Nov 5, 2024

OldSailor85 said:
FWIW, I installed a quick-detach TM mount. Should have done it on my other boats.

Nice to take it off when not needed and for storage. A boat cover fits a lot better without a TM poking through.

Those quick detach mounts are the bees' knees. My folks have one on their 'toon. It's so nice to be able to take it off if we are just wanting to hang out on the lake or take the kiddos out tubing.

Ray Clark · Nov 5, 2024

OldSailor85 said:
Nav lights still usable?

No. They don't have power running to them. And, as you probably noted, the TM mounting scheme blocks the starboard side lights from being seen.

I'm in no hurry to make the nav lights functional as I don't fish at night. But I have given it some thought. If I decide to have operational nav lights, then I'll get new LEDs that will be configured differently.

airshot · Nov 6, 2024

Easy to remedy...remove bow light and replace with a socket, then but a bow light on a pole high enough to clear the trolling motor. On my boat a 15" tall bow light is above the motor when in the stored position.

lightflyer1 · Nov 7, 2024

I am using one of these. I also like the fact that it all can be removed if needed.

https://www.amazon.com/PRO-CONTROLL...8&sprefix=pro+control+ez+mount,aps,245&sr=8-1

Bow Mounted trolling motor

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