This is the second question regarding mounting a trolling motor at the
bow of a center console.

I have looked around with many center consoles, and I notice that
almost all of them have railing in the bow area. I am wondering whether
this will become a problem if I try to mount a trolling motor at the
bow. There is only around 1.5-ft space between the gunwhale and the
railing. Will the trolling motor be able to clear the railing when I
try to lower the trolling motor to the water?

Any idea?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jay Chan

wrote:
This is the second question regarding mounting a trolling motor at the
bow of a center console.

I have looked around with many center consoles, and I notice that
almost all of them have railing in the bow area. I am wondering whether
this will become a problem if I try to mount a trolling motor at the
bow. There is only around 1.5-ft space between the gunwhale and the
railing. Will the trolling motor be able to clear the railing when I
try to lower the trolling motor to the water?

Any idea?

Thanks in advance for any info.

Jay Chan

It may very well interfere. You might have to remove a portion of the
rail, and move the supports, or add supports.

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:
On 11 Oct 2005 09:47:50 -0700, wrote:

This is the second question regarding mounting a trolling motor at the
bow of a center console.

I have looked around with many center consoles, and I notice that
almost all of them have railing in the bow area. I am wondering whether
this will become a problem if I try to mount a trolling motor at the
bow. There is only around 1.5-ft space between the gunwhale and the
railing. Will the trolling motor be able to clear the railing when I
try to lower the trolling motor to the water?

Any idea?

Thanks in advance for any info.

I just measured my Great White and it's 2'7" at it's highest point in
the travel arc.

I don't think my MinnKota's arc is that high. I'll measure it tonight.

I just measured my Great White and it's 2'7" at it's highest point in
the travel arc.

This large arc seems like will not fit into the relatively small space
below the railing.

Depending on where the rail is, it might clear if you put the motor in
the right angle and position.

If there is not enough space, I may have to get rid of the railing. Or
I may need to replace it with railing that is sticking out away from
the gunwhale. Hopefully, this will allow a lot more room for the arc.

Jay Chan

I don't think my MinnKota's arc is that high. I'll measure it tonight.

Please measure how tall the arc is and how far forward the arc needs to
take. And please tell me how much thrust your model of trolling motor
is.

Thanks in advance for any following up info.

Jay Chan

wrote in message
oups.com...
I just measured my Great White and it's 2'7" at it's highest point in
the travel arc.

This large arc seems like will not fit into the relatively small space
below the railing.

Depending on where the rail is, it might clear if you put the motor in
the right angle and position.

If there is not enough space, I may have to get rid of the railing. Or
I may need to replace it with railing that is sticking out away from
the gunwhale. Hopefully, this will allow a lot more room for the arc.

Jay Chan


Sticking way out...you might want to consider whether you'll ever dock at a
place where the boat's up against a wall higher than the boat. That could do
a real job on the railing as the boat rocks. You can protect the gunwales
with fenders, but railing's another story. I've seen railing removed by
neighboring objects, and some of the fiberglass along with it.

wrote:
I don't think my MinnKota's arc is that high. I'll measure it tonight.

Please measure how tall the arc is and how far forward the arc needs to
take. And please tell me how much thrust your model of trolling motor
is.

Thanks in advance for any following up info.

Jay Chan

Just took a break and went out to look. The highest point mine gets
from the gunwale is 25". That arc needs to be maintained pretty far
forward, that is, most of the way until it goes down into it locking
position. What I'm saying here is that it continues almost that high
until it gets far forward, then falls almost vertical to it's locked
position. It's a Minn Kota All Terrain, 55# thrust.

wrote in message
oups.com...
I just measured my Great White and it's 2'7" at it's highest point in
the travel arc.

This large arc seems like will not fit into the relatively small space
below the railing.

Depending on where the rail is, it might clear if you put the motor in
the right angle and position.

If there is not enough space, I may have to get rid of the railing. Or
I may need to replace it with railing that is sticking out away from
the gunwhale. Hopefully, this will allow a lot more room for the arc.

Jay Chan


Where in the SF Bay area are you?

Just took a break and went out to look. The highest
point mine gets from the gunwale is 25". That arc
needs to be maintained pretty far forward, that is,
most of the way until it goes down into it locking
position. What I'm saying here is that it continues
almost that high until it gets far forward, then
falls almost vertical to it's locked position.

Thanks for taking the time to measure the arc of travel of your
trolling motor for me. I appreciate your effort in trying to help me.

Sound like sticking the railing out forward will not avoid the problem
because the arc of the trolling motor head needs to take up a lot of
room when we are moving it into trolling position.

At this point, I really don't have any good alternative that can help
me to get around with this problem:
- I can cut that part of the railing away. But this
surely looks odd.
- I can replace the railing with something really tall.
But this costs money and this obstructs my view.
- I can remove the entire railing. And I may as well
doing this. But this will be the last option.
- I can look around to see any trolling motor that takes
very little room to move it into trolling position.
But I am not keeping my hope high.

Sound like I should simply get rid of the railing. Oh well...

It's a Minn Kota All Terrain, 55# thrust.

I am looking for something slightly bigger than yours. This means if
yours won't fit. Mine likely won't fit either.

Jay Chan

Sticking way out...you might want to consider whether
you'll ever dock at a place where the boat's up against
a wall higher than the boat. That could do a real job
on the railing as the boat rocks. You can protect the
gunwales with fenders, but railing's another story.
I've seen railing removed by neighboring objects, and
some of the fiberglass along with it.

Thanks for the warning. I didn't think of this. OK, I will have to
cross this out from the "possible list of alternatives".

Jay Chan