Recessed trolling motor tray on my old 18 ft nitro?

[Stevo_fishes]

Hey y’all, I’ve been thinking about doing some small upgrades this season on my boat, a 96’ nitro 180 fs. These include putting new carpet on the front deck, a bow mount bridge sonar mount with a cup holder, and maybe a recessed trolling motor tray. Are the trolling motor trays worth it? Do they reduce deck space? My boat isn’t the biggest 😂 just thought I’d try and update the front deck a little

[gim]

What kind of bow mount do you have?  Some models have more of a flatter-style foot pedal and some have the taller, cable steer ones.  If you have an Ultrex or Fortrex, I'd high recommend a recessed tray for the pedal.

[WRB]

Forget the tray with cup holder or any made from plastic. Use a aluminum black anodized tray with drain and SST screws.

Your front deck isn’t long enough for a large tray, get a model made for your TM foot control peddle that comes with a pattern for the cut out.

The only question I have is why dis you wait so long?

Tom

[Stevo_fishes]

42 minutes ago, gimruis said:

What kind of bow mount do you have?  Some models have more of a flatter-style foot pedal and some have the taller, cable steer ones.  If you have an Ultrex or Fortrex, I'd high recommend a recessed tray for the pedal.

I still have the original motor guide brute that came with it, I considered upgrading, and some friends suggested I stay with it just to learn and since those motors are pretty solid I figured might as well stay with it

16 minutes ago, WRB said:

Forget the tray with cup holder or any made from plastic. Use a aluminum black anodized tray with drain and SST screws.

Your front deck isn’t long enough for a large tray, get a model made for your TM foot control peddle that comes with a pattern for the cut out.

The only question I have is why dis you wait so long?

Tom

What would be a good size tray? I was planning on aluminum. I found a sonar mount with a cup holder that would straddle the tray. I don’t want the cup holder on the tray since that would limit what sizes of bottles I can fit in it due to the sonar mount being over it.

[WRB]

Standard size 17” x 9 1/2” x 4” deep.

TBNation has tray on sale now.

The problem with cup holder in the bow is don’t forget whatever you put in it, it becomes ballistic at speed. 

Tom

PS Spot Lock is a game changer 

[Stevo_fishes]

Sounds good! Just checking, the 17” x 9 1/2” x 4” should be good for my deck?

[looking45]

Are you planning on doing this yourself? I suggest you find a shop or someone who has done this to your model boat. You don’t want to cut into a cross beam or strut. You might not have enough room for the install. Make sure it will fit before you start cutting

[Stevo_fishes]

I was hoping I would be able to do it by myself. The deck is pretty simple, no foam or anything, just the plywood/fiberglass and an empty space, I’ll definitely look around for someone who’s done it on the same model

[volzfan59]

@Stevo_fishes, I sent you a PM.

[looking45]

If you do it yourself, make sure your measurements are accurate. Cutting the hole too big would not be good

[mcipinkie]

There is really nothing to it if you have any manual skills at all.  Check well underneath before cutting.  Measure 10 times, then check it.  If you cut with a sabre saw, get some extra blades. 

 

One possible caveat:  Should you elect go to an Ultrex at some later date, good chance the pedal won't fit unless you planned for it.  Not familiar with other brands.  Worth checking on.

 

Watch your seat base.  On a short boat, could be an issue.

[Stevo_fishes]

Definitely, probably won’t do it till I replace the front deck’s carpet in a month or so. Should the standard size tray, 17”x9.5x4 be good for my boat? Haven’t been able to find any shorter ones

[WRB]

You don’t want the tray any shorter, need space for the control cables to exit.

Tom

[airshot]

On 1/8/2024 at 3:02 PM, Stevo_fishes said:

Hey y’all, I’ve been thinking about doing some small upgrades this season on my boat, a 96’ nitro 180 fs. These include putting new carpet on the front deck, a bow mount bridge sonar mount with a cup holder, and maybe a recessed trolling motor tray. Are the trolling motor trays worth it? Do they reduce deck space? My boat isn’t the biggest 😂 just thought I’d try and update the front deck a little

Wow....being a 96' boat it will take a lot of carpet !!  Gonna need one heck of a long trolling motor shaft!!

Sorry, but couldn't help having a little fun with your post...should be '96....   My own fat fingers often get in the way of what I am typing.....lol.....

[Jabreze]

@Stevo_fishes

 

Did you end up installing the tray? thinking about doing one on my '95 nitro 180. Also concerned about it eating up too much deck space. not much room between seat base and the front of the deck. 

[Stevo_fishes]

On 3/23/2025 at 4:56 PM, Jabreze said:

@Stevo_fishes

 

Did you end up installing the tray? thinking about doing one on my '95 nitro 180. Also concerned about it eating up too much deck space. not much room between seat base and the front of the deck. 

Haven’t yet, I’m planning on doing it soon tho, I had the same concern with room between the seat and front of the deck, but I measured the length of the tray and the pedal will be the same length away from the seat base (fingers crossed). It might eat a little of that space up but I feel like the pedal sticking out like a sore thumb takes up more space, visually at least. I feel like mounting the graph over the recessed pedal would also kinda keep some deck space free.