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Author Topic:   Engine mount trolling motor

johnny99 posted 01-03-2007 04:46 PM ET (US)
Does anyone have any feedback on the engine mounted Minn Kota RT55/EM ?
I'm thinking about adding one to my 2002 BW Montauk (90 HP Mercury engine). It appears to be the way to go but I'm wondering if anyone heard of any performance or hardware concerns regarding the outboard. I can't seem to find any reviews on this product.
cmarques posted 01-03-2007 08:17 PM ET (US)
I had considered this motor when I was looking for a trolling motor for my Dauntless 160 last year. I ended up with a bow mount RT-55 insead. Bass Pro Shops had one on display and it looks like a very big motor to put on a 90hp motor. I don't know how it will perform mounted to the engine but the bow mount model has enough power for my boat.
Chris
jschmidt63 posted 01-07-2007 01:22 AM ET (US)
I have been thinking about them too but from what I have seen in forums on the web and talking to a few guides, they say its harder to control a boat with a pusher trolling motor on the stern then a typical puller on the bow.
but I dont have the experience to back up the claim. They seem to price well compared to a good bow mount model.

John
Royboy posted 01-07-2007 03:50 PM ET (US)
I don't have direct experience with an engine mounted trolling motor, but I believe it would work at least as well as one that was conventionally stern mounted. With this, I do have experience on a 130 Sport and a stern mounted 30 lbs Thrust Minn Kota. First, I should point out that I used my trolling motor for positioning the boat for casting/jigging and moving short distances for more of same, and not for "trolling" in the traditional sense of the term. For this use, a stern mounted trolling motor works fine, although having used bow mounted motors for this purpose, I would have to conclude that the bow mount has the advantage of more precise control over the stern mount. However, a stern mounted trolling motor has an advantage over a bow mount in the ability to troll in the traditional way, i.e. dragging lures behind the boat.
I would expect the engine mounted motors would be even better in this regard, than a standard stern mount. Also, it gets the motor completely out of the way, and does effectively add anything for a fish to get fouled in (since you have to keep lines away form the Engine anyway). Since it is also out of the water during planing, it should have very little effect on the performance of the engine.
Ultimately, it comes down to what your personal preferences are, and how you intend to use it.
Roy
Royboy posted 01-07-2007 03:53 PM ET (US)
Oops, that should have read: "doesn't effectively add anything for a fish to get fouled in".
Roy
Dick E posted 01-11-2007 08:34 PM ET (US)
I've been using the engine mount Minnkota for 6 years.
It has plenty of power for my Montauk on lakes under normal weather.You do not have to raise and lower as bow mount.
Disavantage Fishing line can easily get caught in prop. Hard to take prop off when on the water.Your pushing rather than pulling which makes more diffucult to steer.
Conclusion Get bow mount
jmorgan40 posted 01-14-2007 07:59 PM ET (US)
Johnny,
I installed a Motorguide Engine mounted trolling motor on my 1986 Montauk with a 2000 90 HP Johnson. It worked great for my purposes. I installed the batteries in the console and the controller was velcroed to the top of the console. The only drawback to any rear mounted trolling motor is they do not perform well in the wind. I needed it for freshwater Striper fishing where you only need to go straight at about 1-2 mph. Also I saw no performance issues when on plane. It had no negative impact on how the outboard performed. Hope this helps
Joe
Erik Mayo posted 04-24-2008 12:50 AM ET (US)
Hello all, sorry for jumping in the conversation. I am also looking into purchasing an engine mount for my 17' Montauk for two reasons: 1) Lack of room to stabilize the bow mount, and 2) would have to find a way, other than my rub rails, to get power to the bow.
I noticed that there is a concern with pushing a boat as opposed to pulling it. What about in shallow shallow water? Sometimes when you are too shallow you can trim your motor up and use the bow mount with the little water you have. I noticed the engine mount is above your cavitation plate. Does this make it impossible to use your engine mount motor to get you out of marsh like situations?
kemo111 posted 08-30-2009 10:09 AM ET (US)
I have Used one of these motors i found it did affect my preformance not top speed but when running less then top speed the motor drags in the water. it did have a hard time pushing the boat and if you did not stay right on the controls the wind would spin the boat. reverse on the motor was worthless the boat would not move. my boat is a 21 foot cc i fish in the gulf in quoet calm water the boat would travel at about 4 mph but in the gulf the boat could not overcome the current. maybe a stronger motor would be better but i really wish it would have had a way to raise up and down only a few inches so it would be out of the water when motoring at 70% of speed.
srec1 posted 08-31-2009 08:37 PM ET (US)
I have the 70 lb thrust motor mounted on an evinrude 150. The boat is a 19 foot outrage II. I have had no issues. it works great, no additional "drag" on the steering at any speed, max trolling speed 3 mph. We get 2.5 hrs at 2.3 miles per hr. It is used to fish for salmon in the great lakes.

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Author	Topic: Engine mount trolling motor
johnny99	posted 01-03-2007 04:46 PM ET (US) Does anyone have any feedback on the engine mounted Minn Kota RT55/EM ? I'm thinking about adding one to my 2002 BW Montauk (90 HP Mercury engine). It appears to be the way to go but I'm wondering if anyone heard of any performance or hardware concerns regarding the outboard. I can't seem to find any reviews on this product.
cmarques	posted 01-03-2007 08:17 PM ET (US) I had considered this motor when I was looking for a trolling motor for my Dauntless 160 last year. I ended up with a bow mount RT-55 insead. Bass Pro Shops had one on display and it looks like a very big motor to put on a 90hp motor. I don't know how it will perform mounted to the engine but the bow mount model has enough power for my boat. Chris
jschmidt63	posted 01-07-2007 01:22 AM ET (US) I have been thinking about them too but from what I have seen in forums on the web and talking to a few guides, they say its harder to control a boat with a pusher trolling motor on the stern then a typical puller on the bow. but I dont have the experience to back up the claim. They seem to price well compared to a good bow mount model. John
Royboy	posted 01-07-2007 03:50 PM ET (US) I don't have direct experience with an engine mounted trolling motor, but I believe it would work at least as well as one that was conventionally stern mounted. With this, I do have experience on a 130 Sport and a stern mounted 30 lbs Thrust Minn Kota. First, I should point out that I used my trolling motor for positioning the boat for casting/jigging and moving short distances for more of same, and not for "trolling" in the traditional sense of the term. For this use, a stern mounted trolling motor works fine, although having used bow mounted motors for this purpose, I would have to conclude that the bow mount has the advantage of more precise control over the stern mount. However, a stern mounted trolling motor has an advantage over a bow mount in the ability to troll in the traditional way, i.e. dragging lures behind the boat. I would expect the engine mounted motors would be even better in this regard, than a standard stern mount. Also, it gets the motor completely out of the way, and does effectively add anything for a fish to get fouled in (since you have to keep lines away form the Engine anyway). Since it is also out of the water during planing, it should have very little effect on the performance of the engine. Ultimately, it comes down to what your personal preferences are, and how you intend to use it. Roy
Royboy	posted 01-07-2007 03:53 PM ET (US) Oops, that should have read: "doesn't effectively add anything for a fish to get fouled in". Roy
Dick E	posted 01-11-2007 08:34 PM ET (US) I've been using the engine mount Minnkota for 6 years. It has plenty of power for my Montauk on lakes under normal weather.You do not have to raise and lower as bow mount. Disavantage Fishing line can easily get caught in prop. Hard to take prop off when on the water.Your pushing rather than pulling which makes more diffucult to steer. Conclusion Get bow mount
jmorgan40	posted 01-14-2007 07:59 PM ET (US) Johnny, I installed a Motorguide Engine mounted trolling motor on my 1986 Montauk with a 2000 90 HP Johnson. It worked great for my purposes. I installed the batteries in the console and the controller was velcroed to the top of the console. The only drawback to any rear mounted trolling motor is they do not perform well in the wind. I needed it for freshwater Striper fishing where you only need to go straight at about 1-2 mph. Also I saw no performance issues when on plane. It had no negative impact on how the outboard performed. Hope this helps Joe
Erik Mayo	posted 04-24-2008 12:50 AM ET (US) Hello all, sorry for jumping in the conversation. I am also looking into purchasing an engine mount for my 17' Montauk for two reasons: 1) Lack of room to stabilize the bow mount, and 2) would have to find a way, other than my rub rails, to get power to the bow. I noticed that there is a concern with pushing a boat as opposed to pulling it. What about in shallow shallow water? Sometimes when you are too shallow you can trim your motor up and use the bow mount with the little water you have. I noticed the engine mount is above your cavitation plate. Does this make it impossible to use your engine mount motor to get you out of marsh like situations?
kemo111	posted 08-30-2009 10:09 AM ET (US) I have Used one of these motors i found it did affect my preformance not top speed but when running less then top speed the motor drags in the water. it did have a hard time pushing the boat and if you did not stay right on the controls the wind would spin the boat. reverse on the motor was worthless the boat would not move. my boat is a 21 foot cc i fish in the gulf in quoet calm water the boat would travel at about 4 mph but in the gulf the boat could not overcome the current. maybe a stronger motor would be better but i really wish it would have had a way to raise up and down only a few inches so it would be out of the water when motoring at 70% of speed.
srec1	posted 08-31-2009 08:37 PM ET (US) I have the 70 lb thrust motor mounted on an evinrude 150. The boat is a 19 foot outrage II. I have had no issues. it works great, no additional "drag" on the steering at any speed, max trolling speed 3 mph. We get 2.5 hrs at 2.3 miles per hr. It is used to fish for salmon in the great lakes.