Trolling motor install.

[bjpell]

Garmin Force trolling motor 57" with a Garmin 10" fish finder. Made an aluminum hitch style mount that is quick connect, and so are the electrical connections. It uses a hitch style locking pin to keep it on the boat and hopefully from walking away lol. It works with the trailer so I don't have to remove the trolling motor when taking the boat in and out of the water. Also, the trolling motor doesn't hang over the edge of the boat so it won't hit a dock when docking, getting fuel etc. The trolling motor can be removed from the boat in about 1 minute.

 

[CLDave]

Major kudos - that's a beautiful install! You should mass-produce these and/or license out the plans and instructions. This is the best I've seen.

 

[Vikingstaff]

Agree with CLDave. Well done!!!

 

[bjpell]

Thanks guys, it was fun to do.
I think it turned out pretty good. I ran dual 2awg wire from the Garmin up front to the back where I have a single Nextgen 36V lithium battery. Their stealth charging system will charge the lithium battery off the main battery as needed till the main battery hits 80% then will Automatically turn off. It also charges anytime the motor is running off the alternator, and when I plug in my 3 bank noco charger/tender at night. Kind of a cool system.
I have a dual battery setup from factory. One of the batteries was bad when I took it off my battery tender a few weeks ago from over the winter. That surprised me because the Deltran battery tender showed that it was good and in storage mode, a solid green light... Anywho, I decided to replace both with upgraded interstate AGM's and I added an interstate AGM to run the subwoofer. The wife can lay out on the lounger and listen to the stereo while my son and I fish off the front or rear of the boat. Win win!

 

[lakeliving]

Nice setup similar to my setup with the receiver setup but mine overhangs the bow. Mine stays on a lift so trailer interference isn’t an issue. I kept my water connections above deck since I’m in salt water.

 

[bjpell]

Nice setup similar to my setup with the receiver setup but mine overhangs the bow. Mine stays on a lift so trailer interference isn’t an issue. I kept my water connections above deck since I’m in salt water.

View attachment 32415

Your post was where I got the intuition on how to make mine. Yours looks great, thanks for sharing .

 

[Bill N]

Would you consider a Ram Mount to support the head to prevent any possible contact with front fence while encountering rough waters/roads? Or don't you think that's needed? Tough to tell in a picture.

 

[bjpell]

Would you consider a Ram Mount to support the head to prevent any possible contact with front fence while encountering rough waters/roads? Or don't you think that's needed? Tough to tell in a picture.

I haven't had any issues so far. There's pretty good clearance between both the arm and the head of the unit and the fence. I could always throw a strap between the arm/head and the eyelet on the toon on that sideto keep from going backwards.

edit: I put a strap on per your suggestion.

 

[Bill N]

Those pics help illustrate that the head is not as prone to movement as say a Minnkota is.