Trolling Motor Vibrated Bigger Holes In Bow

[chris090981]

Recently fished a tournament on Lake Erie . The waves were brutal and made the holes that attaches the motor to the bow bigger causing the motor unsafe . Is this something I should take to the professionals to fix ? Or would JB weld fill them holes in ? Thanks

[slonezp]

Can you get underneath it and install a support of some type?

[chris090981]

I can get underneath it . I just did 2 days ago using washers so its more support and lock nuts . It was solid until I hit 10,000 3 foot waves . It's a newer z7 so I don't want to mess it up worse . Unreal how brutal Lake Erie is .

[SoFlaBassAddict]

How much newer is "newer?" If it's still under warrantee, I'd bring it into your dealer.

[Fishing Rhino]

If the holes are enlarged, you need to think about bushing them.  I'd suggest a flanged bushing.  It will raise your trolling motor about a sixteenth of an inch, but you won't have to worry about them falling through the holes when you reinstall your trolling motor.

 

The holes are not only bigger.  They are also out of round.  You'll need to make them round by drilling them as little as possible.  You'll need to get a bushing with the proper inside diameter for your existing bolts.  The outside diameter of the bushing (not the flange) will determine the size drill you'll need to use.