14' V-Hull Trolling Motor Preferences

[Chubminnow]

I'll be buying one within the next two months or so and was curious to know if any of you all have had much experience with trolling motors on a small V-bottom boat...the main thing I was wanting to get is your all's opinion regarding which type of trolling motor you prefer for this kind of boat, a transom mount or bow mount? There's probably pro's and con's of each, such as: "A bow mount would give better boat control where as a transom mount might not have as good of boat control." The main waters I'll be using this boat on is the Cumberland River and maybe Green River Lake every now and then. There's not much room on these little boats so I'm keeping that in mind too.

Thanks!

[Grumpy]

For several years before I retired and bought an Aluminum Bass Boat, I had a 14' V Hull. I tried using a stern/transum mount trolling motor, which was fine for getting to and from places on the lake. I would usually anchor and then fish in one spot, so boat control was not an issue. As I got more into Bass fishing, the transum mount trolling motor was not very easy to use while fishing a bank--it just didn't work well to sit/stand in the back of the boat and be able to cast to the bank in front of the boat. It was just difficult to use, all the way around, while bass fishing, but was fine for stationary fishing.

Eventually, I got a 10 HP gas engine for the stern and rigged a platform on the bow for a bow mount trolling motor. I made a place up front and under the platform for the battery and I also made a "casting deck" up front which covered the front two seats. This put me up higher for casting and foot pedel control of the trolling motor.

The trolling motor I used had a very small/short mount and the shaft would slide up and down through the housing so it took very little room to mount and the shaft and head sat right over the gunnel so it didn't take up any room inside the boat.

BTW, I also rigged up a cooler with an ariator to use as a livewell and still had room in the back to operate the stern/gas motor. All in all, it was a little cramped for space but since I was the only one there, it worked out fine.

I would say that the big thing is to figure out what you want to use the boat for MOST OF THE TIME, and go from there in rigging it.

Grumpy

[Chubminnow]

Thanks Grumpy. I already have a gas motor for it (20hp Johnson)...BTW, that sounds like some pretty cool things you did with your little boat, thanks for the idea's. Mainly all I want to use this boat for is the Cumberland River, and most likely all I'm going to want the trolling motor to do is keep me off the bank.

Anyone else?

[Bumblebee_1]

I think you will find a bow mount will provide you with much better boat control. By the way if you are interested I have a used Motorguide bow mount 12V 43 pound thrust that you could have pretty cheap. I have had it on a 16' bassboat. I bought the boat with this motor as a combination when new. Recently I replaced it with a larger unit.

[bull_bluegill]

Grumpy's setup sounds a lot like mine is. I have an old 14' V with a 25hp Evinrude, and I recently replace an old MinnKota bow-mount with a new Powerdrive. The previous owner had made a platform across the bow using heavy aluminum sheet, and it has the light, trolling motor, etc. mounted there.
The bow-mount works well from there, but my project that I'm working on is installing some decking to make the floor level.