Am beginning the steps to add a motor to our (new-to-us) 2017 TI for our annual winter fishing trip to the gulf next month. We are used to fishing out of our Pro Anglers, which have most fishing needs built in or easy to add. I am initially looking to add some rod holders. Putting the motor mount and rod holder into one unit pushed me toward using PVC rather than aluminum.
I used some of our 20 below zero weather to read the very helpful posts and begin assembling a motor mount/rod holder. This first try is a close copy of BobAgain’s PVC motor mount. I also looked closely at fusioneng’s mount/numerous posts. I relied on Stringy’s advice for motor placement: just in front of rear hatch, about 8.75 inches above the gunnel and as close to the hull as the prop allows. I could not decide on port (stringy) or starboard (BobAgain), so I punted and used a 3 ft section of double-sided composite decking for affixing the motor—which allows me to place the motor on either side.
With no on-the-water testing (our favorite Lake Superior launch sites have 12 inches of ice at the moment), first impressions are all I can offer.
The mount is held in place with 4 bungees: 2 each from front/rear eye-bolts to existing bungee hooks. The bungee provide a solid mount, but I have misgivings about the strength/fatigue of the existing TI mounted bungee clips.
The eye-bolts go through the mounting board and hold the 2 forward and 2 rearward vertical pipes together-adding stiffness. To add a bit more stiffness/strength, all the PVC pipe is stiffened by inserting a wood dowel siliconed inside (like fusioneng recommends for his PVC kayak racks). The resulting rigidity is great, but the added weight is noticeable. I added a short SS safety cable to the port (motor side) eyebolt which attaches to the motor's transom plate.
The upper half rod holders (4) are slotted to be rotatable (like MedicineMan’s post). I placed a Navisafe Navilight 360 white light on the top horizontal pipe to go with a red/green bow mounted one.
Am not sure how high to place the main sheet—it is now routed across the first cross pipe, 15 inches above the gunnel. The top pipe is 31 inches above the gunnel. So hoping somewhere between will work.
The mount is very easy to remove (unhook 4 bungees and lift out).
The mount’s rear-ward placement provides enough of the rear deck for my cooler/waterproof dog food container/emergency box will still fit.
Am a bit leary of PVC’s strength—esp when really cold; as I have broken enough of it over the years during our cold winters. It’s availability, low cost, ease of forming (and fitting into) rod holders, and esp other’s success with it got me to this point. I do see some very fancy aluminum rod holders/rocket launchers on larger Lake Superior fishing boats—so aluminum could be used in a lighter/cleaner design.
Thanks much to all those taking time to post the very useful tips. You really help us newcomers to the TI.