trolling motor
mm-
You can make one for
a few dollars, using
a car-heater motor
and a few odds and ends
Build a trolling motor
By RICHARD HANSON
• HIGH-POWERED outboard motors are fine for
zooming out to your favorite fishing spot, but
once there, all those "horses" are not needed for
treading slowly (about 2 mph) among lily pads
or over other likely lunker hangouts. What you
really need is an electric trolling motor like the
one pictured in use above. The assembly, de-
tailed on the opposite page, is simplicity itself.
The basic part of the trailer is the motor. The
unit used in this one is a 1952 Oldsmobile 6-volt
heater motor obtained from a wrecking yard. Ex-
cept for cleaning it and installing new brushes,
the motor was used as is. A 12-volt motor may
be used, but keep in mind that it will discharge
the battery more quickly. If the power lead on
the motor you use leaves the housing at the rear
end, it must be relocated to a side position in an
area that will permit a hole to be drilled through
the housing. When doing this, first grind one end
of the pipe coupling to fit the housing contour.
2796
Then, position it on the motor and locate the
hole so as not to drill into vital motor parts.
Next, the coupling is centered over the hole
and welded in place, after which the lead is fished
through and solder-connected to the positive lead
of the two-wire conductor. Be sure to make the
latter long enough to reach from the battery to
the lead on the motor. Since the conductor wire
is led out through a hole drilled in the handle
at the bend, it should be fished through the han-
dle before soldering it to the motor lead. The
slit-pipe sleeve below the cotter-pin stop must be
slipped on the handle and the stop hole drilled
before connecting the leads. If you intend to use
the motor on rental boats, it's a good idea to drill
several additional holes spaced 1 in. apart to
permit raising and lowering the motor to match
variable transom heights. Since the motor is not
sealed, it should not be used in salt water. Fresh
water in the motor will not short it out, but when
storing it for a long period, it is advisable to dis-
assemble the motor, clean the parts and coat
them lightly with oil.
2797