Bow mount AND a transom mount TM?

[keek]

I've got a 16' tin side console boat with a 40hp merc and a 34lb bow mount. I'm consiering adding a 50lb transom mount. I feel the foot pedal thing is a PITA sometimes when battling the wind and current as I river fish 95% of the time. I prefer standing over sitting while fishing and gravitate to the stern of the boat even when solo fishing which is most of the time.

Am I way off base in thinking a transom mount would be a good addition? I can envision myself not even bringing the bow mount out on some trips.

For those of you who have walked this road what are your thoughts?

Thanks

Steve
(Keek)

[stinkycat]

I've got a 16' tin side console boat with a 40hp merc and a 34lb bow mount. I'm consiering adding a 50lb transom mount. I feel the foot pedal thing is a PITA sometimes when battling the wind and current as I river fish 95% of the time. I prefer standing over sitting while fishing and gravitate to the stern of the boat even when solo fishing which is most of the time.

Am I way off base in thinking a transom mount would be a good addition? I can envision myself not even bringing the bow mount out on some trips.

For those of you who have walked this road what are your thoughts?

Thanks

Steve
(Keek)

I do not river fish much but I have had a 16' with both TM's and my 18' has both TM's. When pulling into current or into a stiff wind the BM works much better. It takes less power with the BM considering your not trying to push the square back end of a boat through the water. If I did mainly fish rivers I would think that the BM would get use 95% of the time.

[keek]

Thanks Stinkycat-

That was another of my questions: to move the same boat at any given speed would there need to be a difference in the thrust power between at bow and transom?

Am I reading your post right, that a Bow mount will pull a boat thru the water easier than a transom will push it?

Thanks

[T Mac]

For your boat and application... I'd want a big transom mount.
I never even used to use a bow mount (I had one) when I ran a boat like that.
Just did it all with the transom mount... and if it got too windy, backtrolled the engine.

[stinkycat]

T-mac is right on. Get the biggest thrust you can weather its on the bow or transom. It still think on the river I would like the Bow better than the transom but on lakes its just the opposite. I was able to put a Vantage on the back of my 18' this summer and ever since then I hardly used the bow mount but all my fishing was on lakes not rivers. When the wind came up to high and the Vantage would not handle it I cranked up the big motor and continued to back troll with the waves pounding over the back. You are correct that a bow mount will pull through the water easier because of the V shape front of the boat compared to the square back of the boat. If you are looking to troll forward most of the time I would think the bow mount would be the best choice by far. If you like to back troll or just reposition your boat as you drift than the transom mount works fine. IMHO.

[eyecatcher01]

i hear ya...i prefer controlling the boat from the stern. only time i like the bow mount is for pitching jigs. however fishing river systems with current the bow mount would save on the bats. have you considered a hand controled bow mount like a riptide...what the salt flat fisherman use. you could stand up and steer it while benefiting from pulling the boat from the bow. if ya do go with a transom mount you gotta go with the vantage...it rocks!

[keek]

Good stuff guys. I haven't check out the Vantage yet.

[Tim_Kelly]

The advantage of a TM for rivers is that you can vary the speed constantly while reversing up, or slipping down the river. I find that easier than turning a bow mount on and off. Make sure you get an infinitely adjustable one, not a 5 forward 3 reverse version. The vector 3x steering model is very good, and what I use, but the maxxum is good too, especially if you turn the head round, so it's always in backtroll mode. I believe the newer version of the maxxum, traxxis?, is easier to stow and deploy too.

[MarkG]

I use my 40hp now for backtrolling because it's a tiller,but on previous boats that were side console, I had transom electrics as well as bow. In my experience the Transom needed more thrust to pull the stern through the water in wind and waves.

True,, the bow mount may require less but in a high sided, deep bow boat,control can be more of a challenge as the wind tries to blow the bow around. Transom control is MUCH easier,as long as you have enough thrust. I always installed on /off foot switches on all my hand controlled motors. Almost makes it hands free.

[keek]

Thinking that I'll put a traxxis 55 variable speed 12volt on the transom. I like the addition of a foot control switch to kill the power too. The Vantage looks really nice but can't swing the $$ for it.

My jigging results were not the greatest this past year as I tried to break out of my pattern of trolling and casting cranks all the time.

I think it's coming down to needing better boat control, a more sensitive rod and a heap load of patience.

This transom mount will help address one of them.

[Hot Runr Guy]

Keek,
You'll like that Traxxis. I picked-up an 80# this sspring, and am very impressed with the battery life as compared to my previous speed coil units. The new tilt-in bracket sure works slick too.
HRG

[keek]

Speed Coil = SC after the pounds of thrust in the model number correct? I was wondering what that was.

The idea of the digital maximizer seems well worth the extra cost as well as having the variable speed ability. Glad to hear you like yours Hot Runr.