[Sonny.Barile]

Hey.....Just got a new Duranautic 13 ft. aluminum. I have a transom mounted trolling motor from my previous boat but I want to put it on the bow. The power head turns around so that part is ok. I have no idea how to mount it. I dont have a deck...just a rub rail. I tried putting on the side and it doesnt have much to hang on to. It will end up coming lose. I am putting a pick up of the boat so you guys can see what I am faced with. Any ideas would be appreciated..............

Sonny

[nova]

Take a piece of aluminum plate 1/4" in the shape of the bow of your boat. Have a vertical piece welded on it so you can attach a wooden block with bolts to mount the t-motor. Attach the whole thing to your rub rails with ss bolts. You should be able to do this for less than $100.

www.novalures.com

[CreekMonster]

A lot of folks here mount theirs on the bow. The watersheds here tend to be windy so they use a trolling motor on the front and back. Make a large "L" bracket wide enough to fit across the point of the bow (6 to 8" wide) and sturdy enough to handle the pressure. A piece of angle iron could work. mount it with one side to the front and secure a 2X4" or 2X8" piece of treated lumber to the bracket. In a sense, making a "mini stearn" on the bow of the boat. The wood will give you the thickness so you can mount your motor. If you need some drawings, PM or email me and I will be happy to draw something up and send it to you.

Jay

[Sonny.Barile]

Thanks guys............That is what I was thinking also.....only I dont want to put any holes in the boat. I can put that on top of the little plat that is on the boat and put another small plate below and come up through the handle slot with two bolts. Esentially samwiching the front plate like a clamp. This way I dont have to drill into the brandy new boat.........

Do you think 1/8 stainless plate would do the job......I could use a peice of pressure treated 2X4 for the wood backer.....?

[Spike-A-Pike]

I think I'd go with the .25" aluminum plate; illuminate all possibility of corrosion. Don't forget, any holes you drill you can fill with J-B Weld and a little touch up paint.

[CreekMonster]

I don't know exactly how the handles on your boat are made, but the type on flatbottoms are riveted on. if this is the case on yours, you may want to drill the rivets and replace with bolts (ss) as these type of handles will break a lot easier than you think. I agree 100% with the choice of aluminum. If you are going to have this welded up, why not just take your boat and have them weld the plate directly onto it, eliminating holes and or breakage. Good Luck..

Jay

[King Bait Co.]

I have a simalir boat I checked into it a little. Bass Pro sells a kit for around fifty dollars to mount the trolling motors on the front of our boats. Their is no cutting, welding or drilling. Maybe it was twenty dollars.

[MDC]

Like King said, I think Bass Pro has a kit.
If not find someone in your area who can TIG weld and have them build up the bracket out of 1/4" aluminum and TIG it to the bow brace. No Holes (as long as your welder knows what he's doing)