Okay, we have some smart guys and probably some engineers/scientists on this site. I have a foot controlled MotorGuide trolling motor, 71 lbs thrust. I had my gallbladder removed laparascopically 16 days ago. My surgeon told me not to lift anything that weighs over 15 pounds for four weeks after surgery.

I have a team tournament Saturday so my partner will be able to lift and lower the trolling motor for me if needed. The problem is I haven't been on the lake in several weeks and I plan to prefish tomorrow...but my partner can't make it so I will be alone.

Any idea how much force I will have to exert to lift and lower the trolling motor using the rope? I am guessing I will be okay but I also don't want a hernia.

I would say that it's about 15-20lbs of pull....but....if you lengthen your rope it will reduce how hard you have to pull. Not sure if it helps but hope it does!!!

Honestly, i would say it is closer to 25-30lbs, a longer rope might also cause a more awkward angle. Just my opinion though

Get someone else to go with you. Is it really worth the risk of further injury for a club tournament? I know, it's hard NOT to go, but I wouldn't risk it myself.... I'd volunteer to go but I'm not in your area. Would love to help out a fellow angler if i could. Prayers over you for total quick healing. Good luck on the tournament & BIG fish pot for you.

If I were in that area my response would be: what time, what lake, & I'll go just to help out.

don't be a DA I had same thing and was a DA and it hurt like hell !!!!!!!!

Thanks for the responses. It's not for a club tournament, it's for a circuit...and if we don't fish the first tournament we are out of contention for AOY and other incentives. I saw my surgeon two days ago, two weeks after the surgery, and he said I am healing well. I told him I am going to fish the tournament Saturday and he said, "Be careful for the next two weeks" I have been back at work for over a week, but I also don't have to lift anything heavier than a computer mouse at the office.

I'm just not sure how to calculate the number of pounds of force I will have to exert to lift a trolling motor that is attached to a mounting bracket and a rope. It seems like it would be less than the actual weight of the motor throughout most of the process...but maybe the full weight at the point it is entering into or being lifted out of the water. Apparently I slept through that day of class.

When I had mine removed it hurt more to cast and reel than pull up the tm. Good luck

I would be more worried about setting the hook hard than lifting the trolling motor.

It doesn't really hurt anymore. I have been walking laps around the neighborhood for the last 10 days, but I know that's not the same as lifting. One of my friends is a family doctor and he told me I'll be fine. I've been very strict about following doctor's orders to this point. I even had my wife lift the gallon of milk out of the refrigerator for me the day after the surgery.

If it were me, I'd just idle around and mark spots that have bait. Not worth it to re-injure yourself.

Hook a fish scale to the TM handle and see what "weight" it takes to get the TM up and out.

Surely you can find a high school kid to play hooky and go with you. Or see if TJC has a bass team.

Get someone local that stocks the Equalizer and have installed this afternoon. Less than 10# of effort to deploy and stow.

The kit is one of these on each side:

No idea on the force needed to lift a TM but take it from someone who learned the hard way....I would let your partner fish the event solo. I had about 15" of my colon removed laparascopically about 18 months ago and thought it would be ok to fish a tourney on Fork 3 weeks later. Not smart! The boat ride sucked, trying to set the hook sucked, trying to land a fish sucked and in the end I landed back in the ER 2 weeks later. Just call your surgeon and tell him you want to fish a tournament this weekend and see what he tells you.