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Author	Topic:   Trolling motor for MT170?
Marsh	posted 12-27-2003 12:41 PM ET (US)         Getting a new 2004 MT170 next week, and was looking for comment about trolling motor for this boat. What is best location? Recommended thrust? Shaft length? Other comments? Boat will be used primarily chasing reds and specks in coastal Louisiana salt marsh Thanks in advance, Marsh
erik selis	posted 12-27-2003 04:11 PM ET (US)             Marsh, I use a Minn Kota Maxxum 55BT (backtroller) on my 2003 MT170 and I am very pleased with it. It works with a 105Ah 12V battery that I have placed in a second Igloo 72 cooler mounted on a stainless steel carrier in the back of the boat. I also use the cooler as a seat for fishing while controlling the trolling motor. There are some detailed pictures on the link you will find in my profile. If you need more details of the bracket I had made just mail me. Cheers, Erik
erik selis	posted 12-27-2003 04:13 PM ET (US)             Forgot to mention the shaft length. The longest they have for that model. (I think it's 42 inches.) Erik
erik selis	posted 12-27-2003 04:21 PM ET (US)             Seeing that you will be fishing in Salt water I wouldn't advise you to use the Maxxum model. The Minn Kota Riptide model with the same spec's would be much better suited. Regs, Erik
Marsh	posted 12-28-2003 07:02 PM ET (US)             Thanks, Eric....anyone use a bow-mount trolling motor? Wonder if it's feasible? Later, Marsh
cape_rover	posted 12-29-2003 12:59 PM ET (US)             Make sure you check out this link before you pick up your boat: http://www.mercurymarine.com/more_power
Marsh	posted 12-30-2003 01:31 PM ET (US)             Rover: Thanks for the heads up. I printed out the promo, and will pass it along to my dealer next week. You are my hero! Marsh.
Marsh	posted 12-30-2003 01:37 PM ET (US)             Regarding trolling motors, I am looking at the MinnKota Riptide 55. It has 55# of thrust, 12v power, a shaft of (i believe) 54 inches, and comes with CoPilot, which enables remote steering from anywhere via a small controller worn on the wrist or belt. Pretty cool. Can't decide on bow or transom mount, though. I prefer bow mount, but am worried about (a) structural integrity ot the location, and (b) possible interference from bow rails. Any comments regarding bow mount or the Riptide 55? Thanks, Marsh
nolester	posted 01-08-2004 08:29 PM ET (US)             http://outdoorsbest.zeroforum.com/zerothread?id=150354
Whalen	posted 01-09-2004 05:15 PM ET (US)          Marsh, I spent yesterday at the show in Balt. I talked to the Min Kota rep, and got to play with a fresh water version of the 55 on the front of a bass boat. I feel confident that the combo you are looking at will work. I just ordered it from Cabelas. The troller has to sit just out side of the rub rail when in use or stowed, so I am going to use the mount that allows for up to 13" of slide back movement. The troller will stow on the side of the bow no problem. I plan to mount it as far to one side as possible .The way it glides out will allow me to wrangle it under the bow rail. It is not the most elegant solution, but I feel confident that I will find just the right way to deploy it. I will post pics,but the unit is backordered two weeks, and it can get mighty cold out there! I plan to mount it to some plywood and get a friend to stand on it while doing the dry fit. Bye the way, with the right kind of custom bracket it could go on the transom.
erik selis	posted 01-10-2004 07:34 AM ET (US)             For those who are planning to make a custom mounting bracket for Minn Kota transom-mount motors, be sure to make 2 blind boreholes (4mm deep, 40mm diam and 107mm center distance for the 55lbs models) to match the 2 pads on the tightening bolts. This is very important because the sideward forces will slowly make the motor slip off the bracket if the these pads are not sunken or retained in some way. It makes no difference if the motor is mounted at the bow or the stern. Without these holes the motor will fall off the bracket !! I hope you nice people understood this explaination..lol, it's not always easy to explain technical stuff in a different language. If anybody needs a drawing, I have a AutoCad drawing showing details of my mounting bracket. I could mail you a pdf- file of the drawing if you want. Just let me know. Erik

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