Mounting a Trolling motor

[henry6759]

I'm having a problem mounting my trolling motor. Does the trolling motor have to drop in the center of the boat or off too one side of the boat. I find myself moving sideways a bit instead of moving streight and the boat is pushing water instead of going with the flow. Also, I see a lot of boats with the trolling motor mounted on the left side of the boat and i have mine mounted on right does that make a differance.

[Wayne P.]

I have had aluminum boats with the bow mounted motor on either side, it doesn't make any difference which side. It pulls a little off center. The center is better, but it may in the way unless you have a pointed bow type boat. If it bothers you and you have a deck to mount the motor on, then you can attach the mount on an angle with the front in the middle and the rear off to one side. I purposely mount the ones on my jon boats to the side for easy entry/exit over the bow and leaving room for two sonar units.

[Wayne P.]

Another point, I was assuming that you were dealing with a bow unit since you did not state which type. If that is the case, then a rudder of some type will also solve the off center tracking. I use a rear mounted trolling motor or a gas motor for the rudder.

[Just Add Water]

henry6759

Input, input input, input,

The size of your boat!. The make, flat bottom, v-bottom, fiberglass,

or ??????? We can only till you the boat's we have, NOT YOUR.

INPUT, INPUT,

If you would like the inforamation you look for.

Sorry I have to be so B-----s about it.

GOOD LUCK.

[XcoM274]

Side won't make a difference. How extreme the angle you mounted it on may, but provided its a bow mount you should be able to compensate it out fairly well. Having some kind of rudder in the back is very helpful as well.

[henry6759]

Thanks guys, I have a 1987 Ranger Aztec Bass Boat.  And I have a 40 lb thurst foot control trolling motor.  It is used and I'm not getting the speed that I want when at the highest setting.  I do realize this is a heavy boat and I don't know if 40lbs is enough to push this boat.  I see other boat with smaller trolling motor go pass me like I'm standing still, I don't know if it is the motor it self or me.

[The Rooster]

In my opinion the 40 lb thrust is not strong enough to get the speed you want. My brother in law has a 40 lb on his 16 foot fiberglass bassboat and his is fairly slow, I used to outrun him with my 36 lb on my deep V aluminum boat that's also 16 feet long. Now I just upgraded to a 55 lb thrust. Can't wait to see how that will do, I'm expecting a LOT more speed and power from it.

I have mine mounted to one side also, it's fairly close to the center but off by about a foot or more on an over 6 foot wide boat. I notice when the rear motor is not centered that it cannot be controlled well by the front motor. So I usually try to leave my rear outboard trimmed down in the water so I can use it like a rudder. Otherwise if I raise it all the way up then I have problems steering with the trolling motor.