I wanted to share the build process for my bow-mounted trolling motor setup on my Lifetime Manta. The mount I made is for the quick-release plate, so I can easily take the trolling motor on and off the kayak while transporting.
I’d been eyeing this kayak for a couple months going into winter. It was on sale for a really low price, and it stayed that way, but little by little there were fewer and fewer left at the store. I ended up driving an hour and a half to a town away to pick it up and bring it all the way back… on top of my car. One of the big things I wanted was a kayak that was super wide and stable, and light enough without the trolling motor so I could toss it on the roof of my car and carry the motor separately in the trunk or backseat, hooking it all up once I got to the lake.
I finally pulled the trigger in late December, but it’s been too cold to work on much… no heated garage. This past week, I finally got it started.
The kayak came with a side mount, but I wanted a remote controlled trolling motor or at the very least the tiler handle to be in front of me, so a bow mount felt like the best way to go. I could’ve gone with the rear since it’s flatter and has handle holes to use. Instead, I built a platform from 3/4-inch plywood, sealed with four coats of black marine-grade paint. The front part is a 2×4 secured to the plywood with five lag bolts and it has U-bolts secured horizontally to the front handle (one of the most secure parts of the kayak), which takes all the horizontal load from the trolling motor. I also added two steel flat bars from the T-track to the platform for extra stability for vertical and side to side load/movement. It’s rock solid.
All in, the kayak was $430, the trolling motor $620, the battery $150, and maybe $50 in the wood, paint, and hardware. For a fully powered new kayak with a custom mount, I’m really happy with that price.
Posted by Pudnite