Transom plate for trolling motor

[Jl1]

A buddy of mine just bought a boat that has aluminum plates screwed onto the transom that the trolling motor screws onto. It is black, about 8 inches wide and about 2 inches high and the top and bottom have a ridge that is about 1/4 inch thicker to keep the trolling motor from moving up or down. No matter how hard I tighten my vantage down on the transom, I still end up scratching the transom now and than when it slightly shifts. I have been looking for these plates at every dealer, including the one that sold my buddy the boat and they all say they don't carry something like that? His boat was a demo boat for a Minnkota rep so I checked Minnkota and they don't seem to have them either. Many of the delears have a polished aluminum plate but they are bigger with about 5 " from top to bottom and 12" wide. Anyone know where I can find one of these smaller black ones?

Thanks!

[Bob Alberta]

I used some rubber from an inner tube between my fiberglass transom and my Vantage. Has worked fine for me.

[Huskie]

Here's how I made mine. Look for one of the track manufacturers, (tite-loc, Big Jon, Custom Tackle, etc) and find a lenth of track that will be long enough to serve as the reinforcement you need. This will simply screw into the transom on the inside edge so the transom motor mount screws will press against the aluminum plate. Another advantage to using a track plate is the lip on the edge will prevent a transom motor from sliding up and off the plate.

Have done this on the last three boats--works well.

[jl1]

Great ideas guys...thanks.....