Thread: Trolling motor to be used primarily as a GPS Anchor

I rarely anchor my boat except for fishing and all boaties know that wind and current are a bitch.
Have decided to get a trolling motor to use a GPS Anchor and have decided on a unit.

My problem is mounting the bastard to the bow. My boat has the room if I remove the Anchor stem/hold the rope thingy and the bow rails. Motor has say a 200 x 200mm footprint. I plan to have it detachable for storage etc.

My question is, is there anyone else on here, that has mounted one on a similar setup? Would I be better off making a bracket for the motor to mount on? It is producing 55lbs of thrust max so maybe a bracket thats slightly offset to the side may work?

Pics attached of the stuff in the way on the bow. Dont really want to remove it all but will if I have to.

Cheers.

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so if this thing is under GPS control.......so it zips itself up and turns itself etc....can you mount it on side instead???like beside where you will be sitting,maybe on swivel mount so can flick it up and tie along top of flat and swing down when you want to use it....

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

so if this thing is under GPS control.......so it zips itself up and turns itself etc....can you mount it on side instead???like beside where you will be sitting,maybe on swivel mount so can flick it up and tie along top of flat and swing down when you want to use it....

I am no expert and really not sure but the motor will hold position and direction perfectly in reasonable wind and current. I would guess it would be able to do that more efficiently on the bow?
If they work as a side mount just as well, I would do it

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Trolling motors are pretty common up here. All the ones I've seen are mounted slightly offset from the bow on a dedicated platform/bracket.

Once you get used to using it, you won't want to use a bloody great big bit of metal and a rope again! It's been a game changer for our hapuka/deep drop fishing.

They work best on the bow, to hold position when pointing into the wind.


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I’d be asking someone like @veitnamcam to run up a wee Outboard bracket with a clamp on the back that drops in here and locks onto those bow rails...

Originally Posted by ishoot10s

I’d be asking someone like @veitnamcam to run up a wee Outboard bracket with a clamp on the back that drops in here and locks onto those bow rails...

Attachment 155647

The reason they are usually offset is so when in the horizontal position they dont protrude any further forward than the bowsprit, but also so the anchor system is still able to be used if need be


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so you can buy out board brackets that pivot and swing motor up and inwards..sort of about 10'' up and inwards..... almost looks like you could poke one on upright flat of cabin wall and it would allow enough to go out and over side......I take it there is reason to NOT just put it on arse end like normal aux motor??

Nice Mclay have one myself
As mentioned I wouldn't put it in the way of the anchor area incase you need to drop it. The ones I've seen on the fishing shows ( as mentioned) are mounted just off to the side of the bow. If it's one of the micoda type ones that raise and lower themselves then you might be able to reduce the size of the footprint to fit on the side ( about 100mm ? X 200mm) and make a bracket to also mount to the pipe.

Originally Posted by Micky Duck

so you can buy out board brackets that pivot and swing motor up and inwards..sort of about 10'' up and inwards..... almost looks like you could poke one on upright flat of cabin wall and it would allow enough to go out and over side......I take it there is reason to NOT just put it on arse end like normal aux motor??

The reason is that it can hold the bow into the wind far more effectively when mounted up front


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Originally Posted by MSL

The reason is that it can hold the bow into the wind far more effectively when mounted up front


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Yup I would hazard a guess doing so with less power etc.

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Been having a nosy. Minn koda do a removable bracket which marine deals sell by the look of it. With the rails near the bow, you might need to mount it a bit further back so it clears them when it does its' downswing. You can also buy a mount that clips over the side but as mentioned I don't know mounting it half way down the boat would be the best.

As others have said I would be mounting it just to the side of the pointy bit so that.
It doesn't interfere with the use of that most valuable bit of safety equipment the anchor.
It doesn't increase the boats overall length and is not the first thing hit.
Would like to have one myself on a bigger boat.

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Originally Posted by MSL

The reason is that it can hold the bow into the wind far more effectively when mounted up front

..

and less chance of a fek-up with fishing gear wrapped round it..

This is quite a good idea. Mounted above anchor, and looking at your photo, I think you could make it work.