recessed trolling motor pedal mount

[soloman]

This topic has probably been beaten to death on the forums in the past but I cant seem to find the answers I am looking for. I would really like to add one of these onto my 02 stratos 21xl broke my right foot last year and ever since by the end of the day fishing i can hardly walk I feel like having the peddle a little lower into the boat will help me distribute my weight a little better. The actual installation doesn't worry me at all I am a fabricator by trade and will probably even make my own mount but cutting a hole in the bow of my boat is a little intimidating. I dont want to cause any structural issues that could weaken the front of my boat out on lake mead its not uncommon to get waves breaking the 4 and 5 ft mark as it is now the boat does great in the rough stuff just dont want to cause any issues later on shes all I have and want to make sure it will last as long as possible. picture of said boat. 

[Sam]

Solo, how much room do you have in the area where you will want to cut out the area to install your recessed trolling pedal mount?

I wanted to do the installation on my old Tracker 185 but there was no room.

I do have a recessed trolling pedal mount on my Ranger 185VS as that craft has the room for the installation.

May I suggest asking your local Stratos dealer's repair people if there is room for the recessed mount. You can also call Stratos and after fighting the red tape get to talk to someone in the manufacturing department that can tell you if there is room and what size mount you will need.

You can inquire if the mount will weaken the boat's structure, which I doubt since it it just a hole in the floor and you should not have to cut through any ribs or support material.

Let us know what you find out and if you go through with the installation.

And it is great having the trolling motor pedestal recessed. it is no longer in your way and you will not get as tired as you do now with the one you have sitting on your deck.

["hamma"]

If there's no supporting structures in the way? why not,.. Even if there is, add support where its due. As a fabricator, you should already know, anything can be done, the question being how far do you need, or are willing to go, to accomplish it,.. is what remains. Do you plan on exerting all your weight on this well? is your boats decking fiberglass or wood? and so on

[soloman]

I tried calling stratos already they said they didn't know and wouldn't let me talk to anybody in the manufacturing department. My guess is because the boat is an 02 and if I am not mistaken that was before the ranger buyout. Also no luck on going to a dealer I have none within a reasonable drive. The idea is to split my weight evenly so no not all of my weight I'll more than likely but building the mount out of 12g stainless because I already have some that has no use. I'll make it with a 1 1/2in lip and use nut inserts to mount it down to the deck. As for knowing I have never done any real work on fiberglass or boats for that matter from what I can see I may have to trim some foam but nothing else is in the area I'd like to put the mount. Just not sure if the hull gets much added strength from the cap on the boat even at that recessing the peddle with some stainless shouldn't hurt the strength much because it will be supported by the mount not just hole but none the less I'd rather find out what people's experiences have been before I go through with it. 

[fishnkamp]

Have you thought of using a hand control trolling motor and the T&H Marine extension handle. I know that it is not the "popular" way. I fished on a guide's boat years ago and he fished Lake Erie often. His back was damaged in an accident so he changed over to it. Later I chose to go that way on my ProCraft when I ordered that boat new. I really liked it. Now some 23 years later I have had several; foot surgeries and I am about to switch over to one on my Lowe aluminum boat.  The big advantage to the hand control is you keep both feet flat on the floor all of the time.

I have a friend that installed a recessed foot pedal tray in his Triton and loves it. Take a look at his video on you tube

Go Here"  Mark did a really nice job. He also has a video on installing a Deck it mount over it and he even did one when he added led lights so he no longer uses a front bow light in the socket. This added to his ability to flip docks easier.

 

[Al Wolbach]

If you can remove the switch panel on the bow, run your hand/arm under the deck and feel for structural supports. If there aren't any, and I would be surprised if there are, you should be good to cut without any problems. Or if you have a built in fish finder remove it. You could always talk with other Stratus owners at the local ramps after a tournament. From my experience, most of the tin boats have support, most fiberglass do not.