Modular Kayak Trolling Motor Mount

This is an explainer of how I designed and installed a modular trolling motor mount and power system for my Field and Stream Shadow Caster 123 fishing kayak. This is my first personal posting here on KZbin. I hope you find it helpful. Questions and comments offered in a friendly manner are always welcome.
Link to the video I referenced • Best DIY Kayak Trollin...

[@ghamm777]

This is the best rear mount trolling motor setup for a kayak that I have seen. I have watched hundreds of videos and I really didn't like the setup on them until I saw this one. Great music and you just earned a subscriber awesome job!

[@seva4241]

Would appreciate adding the links to the items you used

[@wolfgang2126]

Simple yet effective. Nice design. Thanks for sharing.

[@pmclellan123]

Great video. Thanks so much for posting.

[@miketurek4130]

This is great. I've been searching and searching and I think your design is the most inspiring for mounting my motor on my shadow caster

[@saltysailor141]

Great work sir! Tight lines!

[@darryljones6678]

Fantastic idea! Great job on the video! Short. Simple. Informative. Top notch! Subscribed in hopes for more videos

[@OogaboogaRaG3]

Awesome set up and great instructional video !

[@thomascurrin]

Excellent design. I'm fabricating it right now and am impressed by its simplicity. Good work!

[@marlenec9870]

Great video thanks for putting everyone's knowledge in one video . My husband is doing my kayak so I can go fishing more . 🙌😀⚓

[@drg3712]

Very nice design - simple and efficient

[@Hawkerdude67]

This is a great video. I am helping a friend who just picked up an Ascend 128T. I absolutely LOVE the foot steer system! Never thought of a kill switch but now that I've seen your vid I must admit, it's required safety equipment! Thanks!

[@luongv427]

Best rear mount design I have seen...thanks

[@joshcohen1676]

Great job! That's set-up is the best I've seen! And I've been watching a lot of YT videos to get ideas for my canoe

[@grootygroot6351]

Nice work man!

[@cormacsmall9442]

Good stuff! I am trying to figure out how to mount a 3.3hp engine to my kayak and got some great ideas here! Thanks. :)

[@natemanger7322]

Cheers Butch, Great video mate.

[@KayakhacksFishing]

That is an awesome design!

[@butchmiller3970]

Thank you! I consider it a huge compliment coming from you.

[@ReelTimeCapt]

Very Nice Job, Sir and Thx!

[@willwiant4939]

Thank you for all the great info, like you I have watched a lot of videos on diy motor mounts. I love you idea, though I'm going to tweek it, do to I do a lot of salt water fishing

[@egorone0408]

Well down . Particularly like the way you can raise and lower motor height/depth. From AUS.

[@JacobTJ1]

that is really cool, thanks for sharing

[@michaelfox2989]

Awesome now I need to try this..

[@frankvillalta6590]

Thank you sir you have inspired me

[@jaimis5377]

cool boat homie!

[@wanab1082]

Ty for the excellent video

[@geraldransom444]

By Farrar. Best design I have found

[@hansterlouw5537]

Nice design, the battery is greath

[@jaeheonwilliamlee3441]

Awesome video You are Awesome!! Thank you so much.

[@robertpapps3618]

Thanks for sharing!

[@Fishing256]

Good idea !

[@Juancarlos-ou3st]

Muchas gracias por compartir la idea bendiciones

[@jasonbroom7147]

That is an excellent design and implementation for a DIY kayak trolling motor mount. Have you seen the new 100AH "mini" batteries that just hit the market? They are about the same size as the 30AH model you're using, but with roughly 3 times the capacity. They aren't crazy expensive, either, as the cost of LFP batteries keeps coming down.

[@kodyarocho4618]

Very cool

[@rexduvall7097]

Nice thank you! God bless!!

[@charlieabrams4205]

Hi Butch, awesome setup! I want to give this a try and was wondering how you secured the 2 cut pieces of 2x4 to the decking board?

[@tdok]

Can you share the raising and lowering system of the motor?

[@GO_OutDoors]

Just found your channel in search of mounting a trolling motor on my Yak. Can you make a video on the build? I am also guessing that your from Pa also. I live in North Western Pa near Meadville.

[@danemmerich6775]

What thrust motor do you have and recommend for Kayak fishing.

[@appalachianbushcraft3959]

Yes please link the materials you used I’d love to make the same setup for my lifetime 116 pro angler!!!!!!

[@757body8]

Wow

[@shawncalhoun6921]

What battery brand name did you use bud

[@dareblack5833]

Smart

[@elguero8558]

How has that PWM been handling the heat and use? Amazon has a few with mixed reviews on durability. And great video!

[@davidhammell5144]

Hi Butch. Great video! I had the same problems with the side mounted trolling motor and was searching for ideas on a stern mount that wouldn't break the bank. I've already ordered the PWM and the Powertech T-Bolts, but can you tell me the specs for the waterproof box you used? Thanks!

[@butchmiller3970]

The box I used is a Outdoor Products Large Watertight Case Dry Box I picked up at Walmart ... colors may vary but they usually have them for $10 or so. Be sure to measure your PWM to make sure it fits properly before you start drilling for the switches, etc.

[@josephsayegh7800]

awesome design that I want to implement on my Boatworks Angler 360 bow mount with a few modifications. please provide me with a link to the hardware that you used, I can't seem to find the beefy bolts (mainly the T-Track bolt (the once I find are so much smaller)) you used, etc. many thanks

[@butchmiller3970]

Here is what I purchase, there are probably other options on eBay, etc. Any 5/16 T-bolt should work. tinyurl.com/48k255fr

[@josephsayegh7800]

@@butchmiller3970 thanks again ... I'll let you know how it turns out ...

[@patrickdeserres2609]

Wow Great idea 😍 did you ever try it with an extension stick ? if i don't have the foot control to turn left and right , thank's

[@jrgarcia4653]

Video and explain the battery???

[@jbehzad]

Great explanation video ! You said the battery is 35 amp/h it can push the kayak almost all day .I know you are using speed controller .May I ask most of the day you your speed controller sets up for how many percentage ? ( That little digital monitor must shows the numbers ) Many thanks .

[@butchmiller3970]

Yes, I use a PWM speed controller that helps with battery life, although I don't run the motor constantly ... just for long hauls between spots especially if it is a windy day ... once I start working a spot, I use my paddle for maneuvering and placement. I rarely run the motor for more than 5-10 minutes at a time, usually between 50%-75% power. My PWM does not have a digital monitor. I have yet to run the battery too low. (ideally you don't want to run a LiFePo battery down to zero. I am considering a move getting a second battery ... charging one while I am on the water with the other one.

[@jbehzad]

@@butchmiller3970 Many thanks for response and great detail information .

[@jpegv4741]

How did you screw in the gear tracks without being able to hold grasp the threaded nut? Thank you.

[@butchmiller3970]

They are self-tapping screws (not bolts) included with the tracks. They hold very solid as long as you drill the proper size pilot hole using the directions printed on the materials from Yakattack that come with the tracks.

[@jpegv4741]

@@butchmiller3970 Thank you!

[@maryann2089]

Where in PA are you? Would love to hire you to modify our tandem. Hubby not so handy. ❤

[@playinghookywithdavidchapa387]

My wife said the same about me at first… i lacked the tools and experience… once i got both shes been happy with my work

[@Alan-cf8do]

Can u give me a list of all the material ineed fort this project please ty

[@harryhorse7310]

Me too, especially what parts you used for your pwm, thanks

[@felixtroche5924]

Awesome idea! Please add a list of all equipment needed.

[@stevenc414]

What trolling motor did you use?

[@butchmiller3970]

Minn Kota Endura C2 30 lb Thrust 30" Shaft ... the least expensive and lightest model that Minn Kota makes. I get top speed of 3 MPH on calm water with no wind ... 2.8 - 2.9 MPH in a light head wind ... 3.4-3.5 MPH with a light tail wind. Works very well. I went with the lowest price model mainly to see if I liked using a trolling motor and to keep the weight and size to a minimum. I have been considering if there would be any benefit to going up to something more powerful but that would also entail beefing up the PWM as well to match a more powerful motor. Will research that out over next winter.

[@laruehvac7502]

I would like to know the link to your Killswitch , I have ordered 2 and both so the opposite of what I want to happen lol

[@butchmiller3970]

This is the one I use ... It has four connections but you only use two. You want to use the two that that are normally closed when the lanyard is attached. Then when the lanyard is removed, it opens the circuit and shuts off the motor. www.amzn.com//B00DH3QHBI

[@laruehvac7502]

@@butchmiller3970 thank you

[@wesgyure]

@@butchmiller3970 how do you hook up the kill switch?

[@butchmiller3970]

@@wesgyure ... On my setup, I wired it in series with the center wire for the forward/off/reverse switch ... though the kill switch itself is rated for full current 12 volt circuit ... I thought using the low voltage side on the PWM would be better for the long haul rather than splicing it into the main power for the motor itself. Works great.

[@kalcorn8]

How do you remove weeds and lily pads if it gets hung up?

[@butchmiller3970]

I've never had that issue ... the trolling motor has the Minn Kota "weedless Wedge" prop so it doesn't foul easily ... but if there is an issue, simply paddle to the shore or shallow water and take care of it ... which you would have to do with most any stern mounted trolling motor on a yak.

[@claytonvernon8793]

kill switch is bad-ass

[@mabelpup8502]

Great setup, too complicated for most

[@edwarddinardo1248]

Can u explain slower how u lift motor up and down?

[@butchmiller3970]

This is the video that I used for inspiration on my setup ... though I used a Yakattack Stealth pulley ...kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXW5aXtrhdpgq6s

[@doctorkayak]

Why do they call it "Angling" or "Angler"?

[@charlesmullins4501]

This video was very helpful should have watched it before mounting my trolling motor on the side of my kayak ....SIDE MOUNT IS HORRIBLE!!!!!!!! WASTE OF TIME

[@butchmiller3970]

The side mount is inexpensive and easily configured, unfortunately it isn't very efficient ... I would have never come up with this modification/improvement had I not experienced the side mount first ... for me, it wasn't a complete waste. ;-)