170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Repair or modification of Boston Whaler boats, their engines, trailers, and gear
DiamondDog
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2017 5:12 pm

170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby DiamondDog » Sat Dec 16, 2017 6:55 pm

Hi--I'm considering modifications I'm going to make to a 2003 Montauk 170 I just bought. I fish saltwater, fish freshwater, and also scuba dive.

For someone fishing alone a lot on big lakes with downriggers, I'm convinced that a MinnKota RIPTIDE 24-Volt or similar bow motor with iPilot or co-Pilot is a must-have (paired with an auxiliary engine on the transom).

However those bow rails look problematic. I've heard some tricky mods might be needed, including cutting or removing the bow rail.

Q1: can a self-deploying trolling motor be successfully mounted [on a 170 MONTAUK]?

Please post images. Please post suggestions.

I may remove one or both of the side rails for a cleat and ease of diving.

AZdave
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:30 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby AZdave » Sun Dec 24, 2017 2:31 am

You do not have to remove the rails. Here's a link from the old forum: http://s691.photobucket.com/user/davidtollefson/library/?sort=2&page=1

There are more installations on the old forum, many may be better than mine. Searching is always a good idea. My trolling motor is designed for fresh water, but it seems to be similar to the Riptide.

jimh
Posts: 11670
Joined: Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:25 pm
Location: Michigan, Lower Peninsula
Contact:

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby jimh » Sun Dec 24, 2017 8:45 am

Yikes--that photo-hosting website has turned into a mass of pop-up ads and videos. Here is an image from there that shows the installation mentioned above. I think this might be helpful:

P1080965_zpswccmi5o9.jpg
P1080965_zpswccmi5o9.jpg (223.56 KiB) Viewed 8154 times

brianbeech
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby brianbeech » Wed Jan 03, 2018 5:31 pm

WOW! Is that an auto-deploy model, like the iPilot? I'm guessing that the motor pushes out before it swings up?

Q2: [Is there a] video of it deploying like that?

AZdave
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Oct 16, 2015 4:30 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby AZdave » Mon Jan 08, 2018 12:13 am

I'm not sure that the manufacturer has a video. This is Dave deploy rather than anything automatic. The motor is slid forward through the mounting, and then swiveled into a vertical position. It misses the railing by an inch or so. There are some compromises. You can't raise the trolling motor to a shallower depth because it would hit the railing. If the boat is only used by a couple of adults for fishing, the railing could be removed. I hope to have some short people (grandkids) in the boat soon, so I'll be keeping the railings. Dave

DiamondDog
Posts: 19
Joined: Sat Dec 16, 2017 5:12 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby DiamondDog » Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:00 pm

Thanks for the information and the photo; photobucket is almost unusable.

Q3: what is ideal shaft length [of a trolling motor] for the 170 MONTAUK [that will also allow the trolling motor] to fit under the rails?

Willdoggy
Posts: 2
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2015 2:56 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby Willdoggy » Sat Mar 10, 2018 2:38 pm

I’m using a Minnkota Riptide 55 with iPilot on my 2013 MT 170. Very happy with it.

brianbeech
Posts: 25
Joined: Tue Aug 29, 2017 4:19 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby brianbeech » Tue Mar 13, 2018 1:09 pm

Willdoggy wrote:I’m using a Minnkota Riptide 55 with iPilot on my 2013 MT 170. Very happy with it.


Q4: do you have a bow railing.

Q5: did you have to modify [the bow railing]it?

Q6: are all iPilot-enabled models also auto-deploy?

Newportwhaler17
Posts: 5
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2018 12:07 am

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby Newportwhaler17 » Tue Mar 13, 2018 10:28 pm

I have the Newport 17. The rail came apart at the turn, leaving my starboard deck bow open for the trolling motor, no interference with the trolling motor. I mounted my chair to the anchor locker lid, made a heck of a solo skiff, I know it not kosher, but i’m old and my grandson promised me he would make it all good when i’m gone. ( saved all the parts) ps my 65 I polit does not self deploy, 1k $$ more.

GWD
Posts: 6
Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2018 8:06 pm

Re: 170 MONTAUK Bow Trolling Motor and Rail Removal

Postby GWD » Wed Mar 14, 2018 10:54 am

Last week I just ordered a 2018 Montauk 170. One of the options was a split front rail ($40) instead of the full rail. The 2018 beam is a bit wider, but maybe that wouldn't make a difference since the rail comes in two pieces. It might just make the front opening 4-inches wider.

The Boston Whaler website has a photo. The front opening is narrow.

[Nota Bene: please check your private messages for advice on how to add an image to your post--jimh]