Okay, I need some good advise.

My 1992 Champion, the trolling motor came off one day while fishing along. Two of the bolts holding bracket in broke.

So....I bought a new set of the expansion type bolts(at BPS) withthe rubber sleeve, etc. Just like the first set.

Everything is fine....but now as I fish, they start to come loose due to the torque of the motor. So I tighten them on the lake with a screwdriver.

I don't know if the holes are messed up, or what the deal is. I get those things pretty darn tight it seems. Even had to replace one on Amistad because it pulled up through hole and bent!

How do I install/fix so my troller is on real good, and no more worries?

Thanks

Maybe lock washers and some Loc-tite on the bolts!!!!

I've seen your problem a lot. Bottom line is to remove the panel on the bow of the boat and use bolts, washers, and nylon lock nuts to fasten the trollmotor down. That is the only cure. If the access hole is too small for you, do as I do, get the little kid down the street to reach in there......Hee Hee....

They are the kind with the rubber sleev and spacer collar that bass pro sells. The dont screw into anything, just stick down in hull and expand.

Mike the Boatman,

I made my last post before reading your post.

That sounds like what I need to do.

Do I put the lock nut inside the hull or up on top? Does it matter? Do I still need the rubber spacer etc?

those were made to make install easy minnkota sells some that are made of harder material or cut the brass sleve off and use fender washers and nylock nuts

I use just the rubber spacer (by cutting off the tube part) Because of the length of the bolts that will have to be used, Nuts to the bottom.... The reason that I use the rubber spacer is you can fine tune the mounting as some trolling motors will "bind up" and the locking mechanism does'nt want to work freely and this is a result of the mounting surface on the hull.

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like I need to make a trip to Home Depot.

Ditto, just did it to mine. A word of advice. Use hardened steel hardware. I had some Chinese hardware on mine, came off a big wave one day and busted 2 of the bolts. Got the hardened steel and fiber lock nuts. No prolems since.

Make sure you put the 2 longer bolts in front and the 2 shorter ones in back.If you noticed they are not the same length.If i,m not mistaken the 2 longer ones go in the front.