Adding a drift boat motor mount for your setup is honestly one of those updates that changes the entire way you look at the river. We all love the purist approach of rowing—there's something incredibly rhythmic and peaceful regarding it—but let's end up being real for any 2nd. When you've invested eight hours pulling against a hard headwind on the big piece of water, or you realize you've still obtained five miles of flat water in order to cover prior to the boat ramp, your shoulders begin wishing you needed a little extra assist.
I've invested considerable time in different boats, from old-school aluminum high-siders to the sleekest new fiberglass skiffs, as well as the one thing I've learned is that a motor mount isn't only a luxury. It's a safety feature, a time-saver, and a method to get back up to that certain hole where you actually saw fish rising.
Why You Should Think about a Motor Mount
If you're on the fence about whether a drift boat motor mount is worth the investment, think about your normal day on the particular water. If you're exclusively hitting little, fast-moving creeks where you're just falling in and flying down to the nearby exit, you probably don't need it. But for those of us who fish bigger systems, the particular "row back up" is a misconception that dies rapidly once you try this.
A motor mount enables you to run a small outboard—usually something in the 2hp to 6hp range—which gives a person the ability in order to ferry across large flats or also run back upstream to repeat a productive stretch of water. It becomes your drift boat into a much more versatile tool. Plus, in the event that you ever find yourself in a situation where the climate turns nasty or even someone gets wounded, having the ability to move quicker than the current can be a literal lifesaver.
Choosing the Right Style for Your Boat
Not every drift vessels are made the exact same, so your drift boat motor mount shouldn't be a "one size fits all" purchase. A person generally have two main styles: demanding mounts and aspect mounts.
The particular Standard Stern Mount
Most contemporary fiber-glass boats, like these from Hyde or even RO, managed with a stern that may easily accommodate a bolt-on mount. These generally sit right more than the back plus are centered, which usually is ideal for stability. If your boat has a toned transom area, this is usually the cleanest-looking option. It keeps the motor out of the way of your own oars and keeps the weight centered upon the keel range.
Side Supports for Specialized Frames
You'll often see side supports on older light weight aluminum boats or motorboats that have an extremely pointed stern (double-enders). These mounts typically clamp or bolt onto the part from the hull near the rear. While they might appear a bit lopsided, they work remarkably well. The primary thing to watch out for having a side-mounted motor is definitely how it impacts your rowing heart stroke. You don't desire to be banging your oar handle against the particular motor cowling every single time you get a backstroke.
What to Look for in Build Quality
When you're shopping for a drift boat motor mount, don't simply grab the least expensive item of aluminum you discover online. You possess to keep in mind that this particular mount is holding a heavy, costly, vibrating machine more than a deep river.
Look with regard to heavy-duty construction, preferably powder-coated aluminum or stainless steel. You want something which won't corrode after one season of usage. Also, check the mounting plate. A good mount can have a thick, textured plate (often made of marine-grade plywood or solid plastic) that provides the motor's clamps something to "bite" into. If the surface is too slick, that motor can vibrate itself right off the back of the boat, and nobody desires to watch their own outboard sink towards the bottom of the Madison.
The particular Installation Process
Installing a drift boat motor mount is usually a Saturday early morning project that doesn't require an engineering degree. Most associated with them are designed to be "no-drill" or "minimal-drill. "
If you have a fiberglass boat, you might possess to drill a few holes with the transom. If you do, please, intended for the love of things holy, make use of marine-grade sealant like 3M 5200. You want that will connection to be solid and completely watertight. If you're using a clamp-on style for an light weight aluminum boat, make sure you use a few backing plates on the inside associated with the hull in order to distribute the pressure. Aluminum is challenging, but a vibrating motor can eventually cause "oil canning" or stress cracks if everything that pressure is concentrated on a tiny area.
Balancing Your Boat Under Power
One thing individuals often forget whenever they install a drift boat motor mount is that drift boats are inherently "tail-heavy" once a person add a motor and a mount. These types of boats are created to pivot on their center, and adding thirty to 60 pounds of metal plus fuel to the very back shifts the physics associated with the hull.
If you're solitary, you might find the bow adhering way up in the air, which makes the boat capture the wind like a sail. You'll possibly need to proceed some gear—like your own cooler, anchor, or spare tackle boxes—towards the bow to level things out there. A well-balanced boat handles better, goes faster, and is usually much safer in choppy water.
Choosing the Right Motor
Now, simply because you have a sturdy drift boat motor mount doesn't mean a person should go band a 15hp Mercury to it. Drift boats have a displacement hull, meaning they aren't created to "plane" from top of the water just like a striper boat. Increasing the horsepower past a specific point doesn't make you go faster; it simply makes the back again of the boat dig deeper directly into the water.
Small outboards (2hp to 6hp) are the sweet place. They are light enough to have from the truck to the boat and provide more than enough thrust to move you against a moderate current.
Lately, I've seen a great deal of guys switching to electric outboards. They are dead quiet, which is definitely amazing because of not spooking fish, and you also don't have to deal with the odor or mess of gasoline. Drawback is the battery weight. If you go electrical, you'll need the solid place to store great deep-cycle battery, which again brings us to the importance of weight distribution.
Maintenance and Long lasting Care
Once you've got your own drift boat motor mount dialed within, don't just neglect about it. Check the bolts periodically. The constant vibration of a gas motor may loosen things up over time. I give mine a quick "wrench check" each few trips in order to be sure.
If you're angling in brackish or even salt water (like some of the coastal rivers), you have to be extra persistent about rinsing typically the mount off with freshwater. Even "corrosion-resistant" materials will eventually cave in to sodium in case you don't take care of all of them. A quick squirt having a hose and a little wipe-down with a waterproofing protectant spray will maintain that mount looking new for years.
The results
At the end of the time, a drift boat motor mount is all about freedom. It's concerning the freedom in order to explore that extra three miles associated with river you'd generally skip. It's about the peace associated with mind knowing a person can get back to the vehicle if a thunderstorm rolls in.
Sure, some people might call a "cheater" for having a motor upon a drift boat, but those are usually the individuals you'll be passing because they struggle to row against a headwind at the end of the day. If it helps you remain on the water longer and can make your trip more fun, it's a win in my book. Just make sure you get a mount that's built to last, install it correctly, plus keep your boat balanced. Shoulders may thank you, and you'll probably find yourself catching even more fish because you're spending a fraction of the time rowing and more period with your soar in the water.