I have a 17ft alum. basstracker and I just installed a minnkota auto pilot on the front of it. The sloped foot plate that runs across the front of the boat has stainless screws in it. Remove them and you can pull it loose (leave the trolling motor and trim controls alone, they will move some)and move it away far enough to get your hands all the way to the front of the boat. I had to get my helper to do the last bolts, I am a large (older) person LOL and could not reach them. I have taken it loose before mounting my depthfinder on my boat.
But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.