Sun Dolphin Pro 120 loading concern

[Sport53]

I'm getting up in years and recently purchased a Sun Dolphin Pro 120 11' two man boat and a trailer that is made for the boat.  I've had my 55 lb Minn Kota trolling motor in the back but would prefer to mount it in the front of the boat.  I've had litte trouble trailering the boat after fishing with the motor in the back.  No worries at all about the motor hitting any part of the trailer.  Now that I want to move the trolling motor to the front it seems to me that the motor will hit the cross members of the trailer before the boat gets all the way up on the trailer.  Any thoughts on how to overcome this without running the motor full bore and then lifting it out of the water at the last second?  I have a bad back and want to make things as easy as possible.  Thanks in advance for your insight.

Edited October 30, 2018 by Sport53
Mispelling

[OCdockskipper]

Add a 2nd motor (in the back)?

 

Most small 2 man boats need some kind of rear rudder with a bow mounted electric, otherwise the back end tends to fishtail on you.  A 2nd electric on the back would work as a rudder and then be pressed into duty for loading on the trailer.  I wouldn't even hardwire it to the battery, just use clamps when you want to use it and remove them when you don't.  When getting ready to load, sow the bow mount, connect the rear and you are off & running.

 

In an emergency, you could use both at the same time & it would be like 4 wheel drive...?

[LonnieP]

10 minutes ago, OCdockskipper said:

Add a 2nd motor (in the back)?

 

Most small 2 man boats need some kind of rear rudder with a bow mounted electric, otherwise the back end tends to fishtail on you.  A 2nd electric on the back would work as a rudder and then be pressed into duty for loading on the trailer.  I wouldn't even hardwire it to the battery, just use clamps when you want to use it and remove them when you don't.  When getting ready to load, sow the bow mount, connect the rear and you are off & running.

 

In an emergency, you could use both at the same time & it would be like 4 wheel drive...?

I agree. I have a 10 foot pond Prowler with a 55lb Minn Kota in the front. I added my old 36 lb trolling motor to the back and it helps the rear from fish tailing. The only time I run it is to pull onto My trailer.

If you don’t want to add a second motor, you could bank the boat, back your trailer in, then pull the boat onto the trailer with rope. 

[KansasBassin]

"If you don’t want to add a second motor, you could bank the boat, back your trailer in, then pull the boat onto the trailer with rope." 

 

This is what I used to do...but you were pretty much guaranteed to get your feet wet. 

[Sport53]

Thanks for the input.   When you are out in your boat by yourself, do you guys prefer to sit in the front or the back?

[Chuck Matheson]

On 10/29/2018 at 5:07 PM, Sport53 said:

I'm getting up in years and recently purchased a Sun Dolphin Pro 120 11' two man boat and a trailer that is made for the boat.  I've had my 55 lb Minn Kota trolling motor in the back but would prefer to mount it in the front of the boat.  I've had litte trouble trailering the boat after fishing with the motor in the back.  No worries at all about the motor hitting any part of the trailer.  Now that I want to move the trolling motor to the front it seems to me that the motor will hit the cross members of the trailer before the boat gets all the way up on the trailer.  Any thoughts on how to overcome this without running the motor full bore and then lifting it out of the water at the last second?  I have a bad back and want to make things as easy as possible.  Thanks in advance for your insight.

Raise your trolling motor up before putting on the trailer. 

[steve carpenter]

2nd trolling motor used as a rudder is the best solution. You can buy a bullnose rudder to clamp to the the rear motor which greatly improve steering . I always removed the rear motor when pulling tje trailer. Good little boats for pond fishing.  You can even load the boat with the wheels on the edge of the water.