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Has any one ever tried to mount a minn kota trolling motor on the bow step of a 17' Montauk? Can it be mounted with out going completely through the outer hull for stability?
Thanks.
ED

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I made an aluminum plate that was similar to the wood insert in the step. It is screwed down using 4200 to help hold it in place. The screws only go slightly through the wood insert. I screwed the Minn Kota removable bracket to the aluminum plate. The motor is parallel to the center line of the boat but is not located on the centerline. I have not notice it causing any problem.
At one time I had a trolling motor screwed to the step at an angle so it would clear the bow rail. I gave up on that because it hung over the side so I couldn't dock with the right side of the boat.

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Walt, Thanks for the info and suggestions.
ED

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Take a look at my personal page, I use an aluminum plate.

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looks like you screwed the plate through the deck and hull and bolted it with a backing bar of some sort?

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Is that the same boat as the aqua one, just repainted? What a great restoration project that must have been. Looks super.

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Green boat is a 1980 15' that I customized' . At the end of personal pages is a 1983 17' Montauk. The trolling plate is through bolted and a wooden dowel rod was used to fit the concave area under the rubrail. I have used this method on 5 or 6 whalers at this point . I added a close up from a 1987 montauk that I added trolling motor plate too. I now plane the dowel rod to near half the diameter to make for cleaner look. If you have railings there are some members that have come up with good ways to deploy a trolling motor on there boats also.

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Thank you so much for your help. I can see where that would make abetter and stronger system.
ED