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Canoe Modification - Bow Mounted Electric

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Made a wooden mount on the bow of an old Grumman 17 I bought cheap. I put a Minn Kota quick release mount on it and can slide my 24 volt 70 pound thrust Minn Kota Power Drive V2 into it. This has the Co-Pilot remote control. I also made a mount for the rear seat with a heavy beam extending out each side. Here I can mount my Minn Kota Endura 12 volt 55 pound thrust electric trolling motor, and a 4.5 HP Evinrude engine. This gives me two electrics and a gas engine, which can be valuable in rivers with stronger current or if I want to combine distance with quiet and easy maneuverability. With all of this weight (two batteries too) it would be a bear and time consuming to pull it all out each time so I leave it on, with a two bank on board charger. This requires a good trailer. I modified a cheap 4x8' utility trailer by replacing the tongue with a 11' one. The canoe extends off the back a little less than 36" from the rear lights, and maybe 7' forward of the front. I added a drop support plate about 8' forward of the trailer on the new tongue. Then I put two 16' 2x4's as middle bunks and two more 5' 2x4's as outer bunks. This supports essentially the full length of the flat bottom Grumman. I store it upright of course, with two sheets of plywood and tarps to keep the rain and snow out.

While in use I have two side floats from Sail Boats To Go. These work very well. I like to sit on the bow with the front electric down. The canoe will not turn over.

I also bought wheels that will plug into the center bracket from Sail Boats To Go to move it around. I prefer launching by backing the trailer to the water. I plan to put PVC on the bunks to make it slide more easily.

I have photos but am not sure how to post them.

I hope you don't tip.  That is a heck of a lot of gear to see go down to the bottom of a lake!!!  :pray: Hope it serves you well.  I would probably think about putting some stabilizers on it to make sure you don't tip with all that added weight.  Love being out on the water!!!  Thanks for sharing. 

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