Hi All,

I bought a canoe and would like to mount a trolling motor on it. I've googled around looking for a bow motor mounting bracket. All I could find was the "side saddle" or "side kick" type mounting which to me is not very aesthetically appealing. Not to mention making your canoe lean to one side. I know you can counter that leaning issue with ballast. Are there any other options? Any input or suggestions are welcome and thank you in advance!

Some years ago I mounted a trolling motor to a canoe. I cut 3" pieces of 2x4 and attached them on the inside of the hull with wood screws so the tops were level with the top of the gunnel. I put a 5/16 hole in each, top to bottom so, a 1/4" bolt could be dropped through. Then I took a piece of 2x4 longer than the span between them and drilled two holes in it to match the holes in the mounting blocks but with enough length to stick out over the left side of the boat. The spanning 2x4 mounted long side vertical and the motor clamped to it. The 1/4" bolts were easily removed and the spanning piece lifted off for car-topping. Wing nuts tightened the spanning piece to the mounting blocks.

It is very simple, cheap, and light. Since most of my excursions were single handed, I normally paddled with the stern forward so my seat was closer to the center of the boat with plenty of room behind it. The motor mounted just behind the seat but the length of its cables allowed me to place the battery ahead of the seat in about the center of the canoe to keep the profile flatter on the water.

If I'm reading correctly this sounds like a side mount...

If you've got enough to work with at the end of the canoe you could bolt on a small mount. You would also be able to remove it if you wanted.

You could also attach the tm bracket permanently and just remove the motor like they do at http://www.bassyaks.com/. I made my Tarpon 120 like this. Except leave the tm head intact of course.

Davo,

I have plenty to work with at the end of my canoe. The 1st pic has possibilities the 2nd and 3rd I can't make out.

I'm sorry, I'm aesthetically challenged.

Hahaha sorry davo. I can see the 2nd & 3rd pics now and I can definitely use mounts like those. Are those custom made or can be purchased?

They're just pics I got from google. I've seen mounts like these at Academy before but they're pretty easy to make too. For me this project would definitely be something I would try to fabricate if I had the time. Lot's of people have mounted trolling motors on the back of their kayaks. Your canoe seems very similar to a kayak. Before I attached the tm bracket permanently to my yak I had bolted a 90 degree piece of metal with a block of wood on it and just clamped it on. Might not be as aesthetic as you would like.

That's exactly what I'm looking for. The side mount just don't look right, though it works. It's just personal preference. Thanks for the pics of those mounts. At least now I have a starting point. Thanks again!

Hey there I custom make trolling motor mounts for canoes and yaks. I also make rod holders that you can mount a hummingbird on. they are all made of alluminum and i have then powdercoated to your specs. if you are inrtrested look at my site. leave me a message.

im also affordable

What site?

Go to page three and look at canoe mounts, i posted my pics at that listing. Sorry I have'nt been able to get them up on the same page as my post.

hey, chpd207

Did canoefish show you anything good? I pm'ed him but got no response. Odd??? Guess I was too late. He must have ran out of them.... I'll figure something out. Don't think it takes a rocket scientist to come up with something. I was just being lazy. Until then....TO BE CONTINUED...

Here ya go Pie...I believe this is the site he was talking about. You will have to copy and paste it cause for some reason I can't make it a clickable link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/59391384@N04/