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[Lsmith500]

Any of you guys have any experience in fixing this problem?  The Isolator bolts under my trolling motor want stay in place.  The work fine until you hit the smallest limb or get into some weeds, when you turn it up to clean off the weeds, the bolts come out.  I have tightened and re-tightened with no avail.  Is there a quick fix for this?  Am I going to have to relay some fiberglass in the hole and re-drill?  Help!  it's driving me nuts 

Thanks,

Lee

[Mike Cork]

What kind of boat do you have? Can you reach the underside so you can put nuts on the bolts?

I have seen them just wear out too, have you tried replacing them?

[Ron Fogelson]

Like Mike said but add some washers and locking nuts maybe a dab of lock tight as well.

[Lsmith500]

What kind of boat do you have? Can you reach the underside so you can put nuts on the bolts?

I have seen them just wear out too, have you tried replacing them?

Mike, I have replaced them, twice in the last 3 weeks.  I will have to cut out alot of spray in foam one handed, upside down, hanging from my feet to put nuts on!    I had thought about getting the insulation out and putting a peice of wood under the cap, drilling it and putting long bolts through the isolator, but am alittle worried about what happens when you hit the "big" stump    I know the isolators are made to release if you hit something hard to save the boat cap, but mine are coming out to easy.  The Gator Bracket doesn't have any play to absorb anything!  It's solid as a rock, so the Isolators take all the bang.  I would hate to hit a big stump and see the fiberglass peel off the front of the boat   

This problem is on the Javelin, it gets used and abused during practice so I have to say it's my fault!

Lee

[Mike Cork]

Boy you are in a delima? If you added a wood or even an aluminum plate it would protect your glass for sure.

I think you would bend the shaft before you damaged the boat anyway, however in saying that I don't know how thick the glass is on a jav's deck

the only other thing I can think off us to get ahold of someone at trollingmotorparts.com? This is not that uncommon and there may be an oversized set out there some where. If there is they would know about it

[fishinfranklin]

On all of my boats that i have had ,all of my trolling motors have been bolted thru thru deck with large washers on the bottom side, Iam like Mike i think you will bend the shaft before you rip off the cap of your boat,,only way i could see that happening is if you run the outboard motor with the trolling motor down, btw most places i fish are FULL of stumps and trees right under water, i end up replacing the trolling prop atleast twice a year, bent shafts often until i changed to mini kota

[OutdoorFrontiers]

As Mike and others have basically said, you need to get rid of those isolators and mount the trolling motor down tight.  I rarely see isolators on anyone's boat that's serious about fishing.  They're a great idea that just doesn't work well.

Take the time and endure the hassle of carving out the foam to get to the underside of the tm bracket.  If you're REALLY worried about damaging the cap, do as Mike suggested and place a thick aluminum plate on the underside, then put stainless screws through the cap and the plate.  Then attach using large fender washers and stainless/nylon locknuts. 

But I've fished a lot of stumpfields and rocky areas with my boat and the TM bracket is mounted just with fender washers and locknuts.  I haven't ripped a trolling motor off, or damaged the top cap yet.

Steve

[Lsmith500]

Thanks guys, I'll bolt her down this pm!