For the last 3 or 4 months I have been fighting my trolling motor. One day I noticed the gator mount was loose and next thing I know the whole thing came loose. Ive had the boat for 5 years and never had this happen. When I looked it over it appeared as though the rubber on the insulators had dry rotted. I attempted to get my hands in under the top cap where it is mounted so I could install bolt with lock nuts but I can't even fit my hand through the only access I have which is where the trim/light switch panel is. I installed new insulators and the next rime I went fishin, the same thing happened again. The rubber on the insulators tore as though they were dry rotted. Maybe I tightened them too much? I tried toggle bolts and that didn't work either. I bought another pack of insulators and the same thing again. I am at my wits end with it
Any alternative suggestions are much appreciated!

Had same thing. I replaced the ruber isolaters and in one trip, they failed. Go see Greg Hodges at Lakeside Trolling Motor near Lake Fork. He has a pretty intelligent solution. Fixed me right up. (903) 383-3232

Get some stainless fender washers and some nyloc nuts and you can fix it and never have another problem with it.

http://www.westmarine.com/buy/motorguide...Hq0MaAuvu8P8HAQ

Sounds like its time to replace them. You don't have to get inside the hull. You can do it all from the top.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Hilti-1-4-in-...12329/204992997

get rid of the rubber nuts.

Thru bolt to bow with stainless bolts, fender washers and lock nuts.

I would use nylon washers of the same thickness and replace the nylock nuts. Instead use a stainless metal flat washer, a lockwasher and then a nylock. The lockwasher will apply added tension against the nut and help hold it.

I had the same thing happen on my skeeter after the 3 set i just drilled al the way thou and put longer sainless hard wear with washers. and lock nuts it never happen again it is doing these same thing to this boat the rummer leave with the nut tore and now the motor rocks a little and when it cools down a bit i am going to run it through like mentioned above it works great

Look up rubber supply of Texas get some 3/4 to 1 inch thick strips about 2 inches wide and 5 to six inches long place over existing holes and drill holes thru rubber place trolling motor on top of rubber strips use existing bolts and fender washers that trolling motor will snug down will not rock and quiter than original done mine 4 years ago no issues

As these guys say, using the nyloc nuts is the best solution, but I'm reading you don't have access under the deck, so that's out. When I have to install a trolling motor with no underdeck access, I use a product from Lowes called Toggler. Toggler
Replace the zinc screw with SS and get the 1/4 - 20 size.
John