I have been wanting to add a trolling motor bracket to my boat for some time now. SeaArk makes them but won’t sell to me, only dealers. I’ve been trying all week to get a hold of a dealer that will work with me and they won’t. They blame SeaArk being shutdown for COVID. What they don’t know is that I called SeaArk and asked them about the bracket and they gave me the rundown. They sell to dealers, dealers mark it up. It’s a screwed up situation for a damn add on accessory. Yea they are backed up but they would most definitely make one for my boat if I ordered it through a dealer is what I was told. I’ve called every dealer in AL and one in FL without much luck. The guy at the FL dealership told me to get one fabricated locally. Great help bud.

Well today one of the dealers calls me back and says that it’ll be $250 shipped to me house. Holy smokes! I told them I only wanted a tan one, not camo like my boat, because the SeaArk rep told me it was cheaper. This lady at the dealership said there was no price difference. Now I don’t even want to do business with them, even though they are the only ones entertaining my offer right now.

Long story short...is that a good price ($250) for something like that or am I over reacting? Also would an aluminum fabricator be willing to do it for less or even take on a job like this?

I’m really close to making one out of treated 2x6’s wrapped in carpet for $20

Rant over..

Can you post a picture of one? I’ve got a boat parts boneyard like regular guys have a car/truck boneyard. Anything I find if it’s what you need, you can have, heck, I’ll even ship it on my dime if I have it.

Sending you a PM

Post a pic of what you need or pm me your number.

Yeah, I don’t have anything like he needs.

PM returned, Four-Five.

I made one from an old road sign. I cut two pieces to the width I needed and two inches over double the length of the motor mount. I then bent each piece leaving a flat (no bending tools so near flat) 2 inch section in the middle. This formed sort of a C channel. I put the open end of the C towards each other and overlapped them. I used a good metal to metal self tapping screws to mount to the boat, then used the same type screws to join the top section. It formed a strong mount and has held a 70 lb electric steer minkota for a couple of years with no issues so far.

This one may work and is just $60 just noticed that it is temporarily out of stock.
TM mount

If you know someone that does HVAC or siding work, they will have a metal brake that you can bend to shape and use rivets vs. welding. It should be pretty easy to make:

Aluminum sheet
Straight edge
Framing square
Metal brake
Aluminum rivets.

Make sure you don’t use dissimilar metals.

I had a similar idea, that I’m still contemplating. I had some scrap aluminum 4” channel I tried to make work, but it wasn’t quite tall enough and I didn’t have enough to cut up and tinker with. I’m gonna end up using some redneck ingenuity before it’s all over with.

How are those self tappers holding up? Are they wallowing any and what size did you use? I’m gonna be going through hydroturf before I hit the deck.

Woody i sent you a pm

I built one for a my cousins seaark many years ago. Get me a decent drawing with measurements and I’ll handle it. Powder coat will probably be bout $50. I ain’t worried bout that little bit of material. You can email me a shipping label. I don’t get on here every day but I’ll check back in tomorrow at some point.

That’s a strong offer. Sending you a PM.

Thanks to EHH maybe you will not have to continue this route. They are holding up fine. I think I used some 3m spray on several of them. I have no clue on the type, a buddy that roofs for a living gave them to me when he saw what I was doing. You could use bolts and lock nuts.

If you dont get it worked out with EHH, shoot me a PM, I can get you fixed up