I've got an older 14ft starcraft boat with a 6hp merc and a small electric motor on the transom. This is not a very large boat and mostly I fish pretty small lakes. I was thinking maybe I would like to fish out of the bow sometimes. I see MotorGuide has now a varimax transom mount 45 lbs. thrust with a 36inch or 42 inch shaft for about $200.00.
I can't really afford or justify the cost of a bow mount as with my age and medical problems I'm afraid next year might be my last of fishing out of the boat.
The listing says the head can be easily turned to mount the motor on the bow or even the side of the boat. My question is has anyone ever mounted a transom motor up front and what are the disadvantages? I temporary stuck my small electric motor up front on the bow out of the water, and looks like it would maybe work if I made a small wooden block to shim out the gunnel. Seems to me maybe the worst case would be if I hit something in the water it would have no way to break away, probably bending the shaft.
Thanks for any ideas or help.
Luck

I have turned the head around and mounted a 2x4 block and ran one on the front like your talking about for years. Never had a problem......your sitting up front going slow so you can see the stumps etc. and can dodge them.

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I've spent most of my life fishing.....the rest I've wasted. Lifes too short to only fish on weekends.

+1

I did this on my dad's old 14' Jon.... worked just fine.

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The C.c-er formerly known as
"PaddleFishing"

I've seen it done and it works fine. As already stated you will have more control over what you are floating over that way. The only thing is it won't sit flat when pulled up and may need to me removed when traveling down the road but that will not be a problem.

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Doc Holiday; "I'm your Huckleberry" "You ain't no Daisy"

Lots of folks run a 'transom mount' trolling motor up front. Bill Dance for one. Its not that uncommon at all. As others have said, it has it advantages, in as much as you're up front running the boat where you want and you can see problems as they come and easily avoid them.

I run one on my 14' Collin's Craft. I take it off to load and launch the boat and before I mounted a transducer on it, I would store it in the garage between trips.

It'll work fine. Just make sure your mount is solid (using the block of wood). I'd hate to see ya loose a trolling motor over a stump knocking it off your bow. AND WHADDA MEAN...NEXT YEAR IS PROBABLY GONNA BE YOUR LAST YEAR USING A BOAT!! Just buy a larger boat so you'll be more safe on the water. Man, you didnt work all your life to retire and NOT get to go fishing!!

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A Proud Supporter!

Putting the trolling motor on the bow will work fine. Had one on a 14' years age. To keep from loosing the motor if it should come loose, rig a safety rope from the between the head and the mount and secure the other end to the winch eye on the bow.

If the motor doesn't sit quite straight up and down you can cut the blocks on a band saw to get it right. I've had a transom mount TM mounted up front for lots of years before I could afford a bow mount. Most all motors have a bolt that hold the head on. remove the bolt, rotate counter clockwise and re insert the bolt. don't over tighten and crack the plastic, and rotate clockwise should you ever turn it back the other way to avoid twisting the wires too bad. Motor is more efficient pulling the boat than pushing.

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Prisoner of the White Lines on the Freeway
Fishin my life away.