How much of a difference is there?  I ask because mounting a trolling motor to the bow of my boat may pose some work.  

Big difference, all depends on how you plan on fishing and out of which end of the boat. My 2 boats both have bow mount and couldn't imagine going without.

I fish with 3-4 people in the boat.

Basically depends on where you're going to be fishing from.  The boat controls much easier/better with a bow mount pulling it over a transome mount pushing, but it you're sitting in the back and the TM is in the front, getting back and fourth can be difficult with four people in the boat.    

I hope that's a family outing, because there just ain't no way I would consider fishing with that many people from one boat any other way.

Yeah, that's for family outings.  Friends, the limit is 3.  I'm questioning because my dad currently mans the transom TM and uses the tiller steer and dislikes the foot pedal.  If I switch to the bow mount I am afraid I will force myself to do all of the maneuvering along with the issues with mounting the bow mount to my boat which does not yield a lot of mounting space.

If trolling with downriggers or rod holders from the stern, and that's where you mostly stay, then a transom mount makes sense.

Controlling bow turns with a transom mount requires a lot more forward boat movement relying on the bow hull to cut water, a very inefficient method of steering the bow. You might have to move the stern 10 feet to the side to move the bow 3 feet to the side. But with a bow mount you aim the motor and bump it to move the bow precisely where you want it without moving the whole boat forward. The bow mount pulls the bow, while a transom mount pushes if moving forward. Managing wind pressure against a boat is far more difficult with a transom mount. It's easier to pull into wind than push against it.

Jim

Nicely explained.

If you need a trolling motor and could also use trim tabs for better boat performance, check out this option:

http://www.boatownersworld.com/lenco/troll.htm

If you did need both the tabs and a high thrust trolling motor, this combo would be a good option. I've seen videos of a boat so equipped spinning around in it's own length. Since there are both port and starboard motors, the manueverability can't be beat.

jerry525

Using my bow mounted Motor Guide I can spin the motor nearly all around, backing the boat up or spinning it like a top.

Jim

I couldn't fish like I need to with out a bow mounted foot controlled TM.

Rattlinrogue:

The tab/trolling moters combo has a remote control foot control just like a bow mounted unit. Can be used anywhere on the boat.