For many, owning a pontoon boat is all about fishing. For those fishing enthusiasts, having a trolling motor on your pontoon boat is quiet a good addition. They allow you to move quietly through that the water thereby ensuring that you are not scaring the fishes and getting them spooked. You can maneuver your pontoon boat well even while casting for fishes. You need to get the right trolling motor for your pontoon boat and you may need trolling motor mount in the process. You need to look for the right shaft length, which is a minimum of 52 inches with thrust of 55 lbs minimum when it comes to trolling motors for pontoon boats. This article we will deal about trolling motor mounts for pontoon boats.
Where to mount trolling motors in your pontoon boat?
Now there are actually three locations for you to mount your trolling motor in a pontoon boat. You can get them installed on the bow, transom (rear), or engine. Now let us see more about these mounting options.
Among the three mounting options, bow mount is pretty common. It is popular and advantageous as the trolling motor which is bow mounted pulls your pontoon boat. It is not actually pushing you from behind. This actually makes a great difference in the performance of pontoon boats with bow mounted trolling motors. You get increased boat control. With this type of mounting, you get good amount of steering control as you traverse the water. They are indeed a great option. However, they can take up more space at your bow area. There are bow mounts for trolling motors which are versatile and can still consume less space. We will deal about them later on. Also, you need to drill a mount onto the front so as to install the trolling motor. Bow mount trolling motors are also way more expensive than the other trolling motors.
Transom mount trolling motors are less space consuming option. Small pontoon boat owners actually opt for such space saving designs. They also come at a more affordable price point. These are also much easier to install as there is no need of drilling holes. You just need to clamp the transom trolling motor onto the stern of the pontoon boat. They are not that efficient when it comes to providing control over the pontoon boat and maneuverability.
The engine mount trolling motors will be clamped onto the engine. To be more specific, it is to the cavitation plate that they are attached. They also consume less space. However, they are difficult to control. They are also expensive.
Pontoon Boat Trolling Motor Mount
So as we have already seen, it is with the case of bow mounting trolling motors that we need the mounting brackets. The transom and engine mount trolling motors are actually clamped directly onto the transom and the engine respectively. The mounts usually come included as you buy the trolling motor. You can also buy them separately. They need a little bit more work. You need to drill a hole on the deck at the bow area, where the mount needs to be fitted so that you can connect the trolling motor. Now the motor can flip up and down into the water as and when needed. Though more work is involved, you get more in return in terms of the maneuverability.
What to look for when buying trolling motor mount?
Look for strong and sturdy options. Investing in low quality options can be dangerous. Look for compatible options that will ease the work for you.
Let us see some of the best options of pontoon boat trolling motor mounts.
Newport Vessels Pontoon Trolling Motor Mount
If you are looking for options to mount trolling motor to your pontoon boat, then this is the best option you can have. The mount will install the trolling motor securely and with ease. The model is universal so it will work whatever be the brand of the trolling motor be. Made from heavy duty materials, they are strong and also durable. All the mounting hardware is included so that you need not worry much about the installing the mount. However a 9/32″ drill bit is required. The trolling motor mount comes with a 2 year warranty. It is recommended that the measurement of the shafts should be between 1.15″ – 1.25″ in diameter. It will cost you around $140.
Toon Troll Bow Mount Trolling Motor Bracket
We have discussed earlier about the difficulty when installing bow mount trolling motors. They can consume more space and also make it inconvenient for passengers to get on and off the boat by blocking the gate. This can be solved by using a quick release bracket so that you can take the motor on and off when not in use or to allow when people to conveniently get through the gate. Toon Troll by Ride Style is a trolling motor bracket designed specifically for pontoon boats. Here the mount extends from bow, holding the trolling motor in a horizontal position. So you do not have to mount the trolling motor lengthwise on top of the deck which may take up deck space or block the gate. As it does not extend beyond the deck, trailer can also be used without interference. So when you need to use the motor, you can deploy the motor and rotate the mounting bracket. This allows you to take the motor on and off with ease.
The bracket or the mount is constructed from 6061 aluminum using CNC machining offering high tensile strength. It also includes stainless steel components. The bracket can be easily installed using a few carriage bolts and a small mounting support bolted to the underside of the deck. The bracket comes with a quick release function which will allow you to take your motor on and off quite easily. Now the mounting support does not extend beyond the deck and hence you can use your trailer without any hindrance. The Toon Troll bracket comes in 3 models: the Standard Model is for motors with up to 55lbs of thrust priced at $350, the HD Model which is priced same and the new SR model having an updated quick release function which is priced at $375.
Brocraft Deck Mount Trolling Motor Bracket
The universal trolling motor bracket is for clamp on type electric trolling motors. It is constructed from marine aluminum with black Nylon plastic. The design allows the motor to be removed when boat is under engine power or being trailered. This is meant for electric trolling motors and not for outboard engines of any size. The maximum recommended trolling motor thrust is of 36 pounds. The trolling motor mount comes with two years limited warranty. You can have two options: standard bracket ($103) and the straight mount bracket ($106).
AQUOS Black Haswing Quick Mounted Plate
The mount is meant for Haswing bow mount electric trolling motors as well as competitive electric steer motors. It is made from ultra durable composite plastic. Stainless steel hardware is included. With the positive locking mechanism a rigid mounting platform is provided for the trolling motor and this eliminates noise and movement. With the lock pin the trolling motor loss can be avoided and hence the lockable design makes your trolling motor safer. The mount has an easy 3 step installation procedure. It can also be removed with ease of any Power Drive with Auto Pilot. It is priced at around $80.
Generic Trolling Motor Bracket Mount
The electric trolling motor mount is suitable for 28, 36, 46 and 50 pounds of electric thrusters. The support bracket is rotatable. The 90 degree rotation allows the motor mount to be adjusted as per your need. The trolling motor mount is flexible and easy to use. This will be a great choice for pontoon boats and especially a great hanging option for inflatable pontoon boats. It is made from high quality Aluminum alloy. They are sturdy and durable. They are easy to install and operate. They are very affordable and are priced at $52.
Minn Kota MKA-16-03 Trolling Motor Quick Release Bracket
The mount will allow the bow mount trolling motor to be quickly removed from and reattached to boat deck. They have a solid and anodized aluminum construction, which is built to last. All the mounting hardware is included. With the side screw design the trolling motor attaches to the top bracket and slides into bottom bracket which is mounted onto the deck. The deck mount is compatible with Ulterra, Terrova, PowerDrive, PowerDrive V2, PowerDrive Pontoon and DeckHand 40. You can also include padlocks for additional security. The product will cost you around $62.
Watersnake Trolling Motor Quick Release Bracket
The Quick Release Bracket will make way for quick attachment as well as removal of bow mount trolling motor. The mount offers compatibility both as a standard bow mount or a scissor bow mount. They have two heavy gauge nylon plates, one of which attaches to the trolling motor and the other attaches to the deck. All the stainless steel hardware is included. You can have additional security by attaching a padlock. The trolling motor mount will only be consuming minimum deck space. They are not only easy to install and remove; they can also be stored with ease. The mount is priced at around $56.
Motorguide Aluminum Quick-Release Bracket Kit
The Trolling Motor Mount offers great versatility for the demanding anglers. With low profile and small foot print, they won’t take up much of the deck space. The quick release composite bracket can let you quickly attach or remove a bow mounted MotorGuide Xi Series trolling motor. The motor mount is available in two options: one made from full cast Aluminum base ($94) which offers great stability and the other made from composite material ($59). Security clasp comes included for padlock. Mounting hardware is also included.
