Ok, Late last summer I was out on Clear Lake, CA and decided to move form one spot to another.  I had the trolling motor (MotorGuide 4300 Pro Series) placed on highest speed (5 & rabbit)  as I was moving I struck an underwater log and the boat completely stopped.  :'(

When I tried to yank it out of the water, it was stuck.  The TM frame was bent, the release pin was jammed in the slot, and the shaft kinked right at the bottom of the frame attachment.  (The thing with the knob that holds it to the frame)

After a few choice words and getting back home, I had to bang the frame back to shape, drill out the pin slots a bit, and using some boards and a sledgehammer, banged the shaft as much as I could to try to straighten back.  But it is still kinked a bit and takes some foot muscle to turn the TM while using.  Has anyone ever had this happen and able to get the shaft back to where the TM was easier to turn?  I though about taking the whole thing apart, but it does not look easy.  There are 4 rivets attaching the shaft to the head, thought about drilling them out but wondered if I would really be able to fix it even after that?  Anyway, any advice from anyone on how to fix the bent shaft?

BTW, The TM came with the boat (standard edition) Not real happy with it, but the best I got right now.  Thanks!

You might want to give motorguide and call and find out how much a replacement shaft costs.  It might not be as much as you think.  

A friend of mine left his had controlled trolling motor down while it was on the trailer and drove off.  He broke the "indestructable shaft" on his Minn Kota trolling motor.  It turns out that replacement shafts only cost $15.  

Good info tpayneful.  I check it out.  

Many dealers will usually have the upper and lower shafts in stock.  If the upper shaft is bent also you have a job.  The pop rivets holding the upper shaft can be a pain to get out, if not careful you will break the plastic or drill the hole too large.  You will need to completely disassembe the motor, being sure to mark the wires and pull the head off the motor.  I grind the pop rivets off from inside the shaft a pull them out.  Drilling the heads off, sometimes the bit will run off and down into your plastic.  You will also have to mark and drill holes in the replacement and come up with the right size pop rivets.  I drill and tap mine for 8-32 screws and go back with screws, but that's not easy either.

Take it to dealer. Minn Kota and Motor Guide are two different animals.

If you have insurance on the boat and the deductable is not to high call them.  That is why we pay the premium every year.

What I described was a Motor Guide.  When he gets a quote to have it repaired and he already says he doesn't like it, it will probably help convence him it's time to buy another one.   If not handy with tools or have the tools, personnally repairing it is probably going to be beyound his capabilities anyway.  I usually bend at least one every year or two, so I keep a spare upper and lower shaft and it's no big deal to replace them.