I've got a 15 ft center console glass boat (inshore salt oriented) with a bow rail, but I also use it for fresh water bass fishing and I want to add a bow trolling motor. This obviously gets in the way of the bow rail.

 

TM operation would be on fresh water lakes only; I don't plan to use it on salt

Want a bow mounted TM (not transom) for better control, and boat is already rigged with wiring there and a pedestal fishing seat

Don't want to remove bow rail (for safety especially on salt water. The bow sits fairly low)

Don't want to cut a section from bow rail (for rail strength and I don't want a hack job)

 

I'd like your opinions on this solution in case I'm missing anything: Run a manual stow/deploy, cable steer TM with the mounting base under the rail, but keep the motor in the deployed position. When not in use, loosen one thumb screw, raise the shaft within the collar and tighten it down. Sure it would look a little funny motoring along in the raised position but I can live with that. For outings when the TM isn't needed (salt) the shaft/head/motor assembly is removed by pulling one plug and undoing one thumbscrew/clamp (at least on the MotorGuide I had before). The advantage of using a manual cable steer TM is I don't run the risk of accidental stow/deploy which would run into the railing and damage the motor, railing or both.

 

What am I missing?

 

How high is the rail

A picture is worth ten-thousand words.  Let's see the bow of the boat.

I'd guess the top of the bow rail is about 12 inches up from the TM mounting surface. Top of the rail to water I'd guess about 36 inches. I'll try to get a photo in the morning - she's sleeping in the shed under a tarp in a snow at the moment  

 

MK has a 52" shaft bow mount hand control motor. That's the only option I can think of at this time.

Here's a shot of the bow with my son for scale (before getting his first bass 

 

 

and a shot from the side

 

 

Nice Whaler!  Have you talked to your dealer to see if anyone else has tried this?  The hand control mentioned above is the only thing I can think of that would work.

Thanks J

 

I haven't asked the dealer yet but will do that when I bring it in to un-winterize.

 

I hadn't considered the hand control version but it would still have the same stow/deploy interference from the bow rail.

 

But now that you mention it... it would make raising and lowering easer (even if it's now tilted to lay flat). I hadn't considered that the high rail would make it more difficult to reach the thumb screw on the manual version.

 

The split rail up front might give just enough access (also helps for dealing with anchor, boarding and unboard, etc.)