Canoe Motor Mount

Canoes in simple are light and small boats with long narrow bodies which have pointed ends. Canoes are generally propelled with human power using single bladed paddles that can either be one or more paddles according to the capacity of the canoe. There are some canoes which are also designed for sailing that are propelled using special sailing rigs. These canoes are most often used in small bodies of water like rivers and lakes where you can enjoy a canoe the most.

The Basic Design of a Canoe

Although a canoe may seem similar on both ends, in fact they are actually constructed differently as to serve different purposes. The front end of the canoe is called the bow which includes the entry line that helps the boat slice through the water and move forward. The rear end is called the stern which is a bit smaller and generally includes a deck to house the flotation compartment or foam blocks. The seats in the canoe are located beside the stern and the bow so that it becomes easy for the paddlers to steer the boat from both ends. Moving across the stern and bow is the hull which basically makes up the main body of the canoe which prevents water from entering the boat. The uppermost edge of the hull is known as the gunnel or gunwale where the hull itself is brought together through a horizontal crossbeam which is known as the thwart.

Apart from this there are also different types of canoes which are used according to their purposes. Some of these include: -

• Touring Canoes – These canoes are designed mainly for lakes and other flat water areas. They are designed with a more traditional design and are basically built to provide stability and comfort. These touring canoes are also called tripping or recreational canoes. These canoes also come in two different types, an arched body canoe and prospector canoe.

•  Whitewater Canoes – These whitewater canoes or river canoes are mainly used when paddling in whitewater rapids which are a water body that is characterized by a rapid and highly aerated flow of water. These canoes are made using tough synthetic material like fiberglass, carbon fiber or polyethylene so that they can withstand forceful paddling and rough crashes against rocks.

• Racing Canoes – Also known as sprint canoes, racing canoes are mainly used for fast paddling over flat waters. These canoes are long with narrow beams which shrink drag and increase the speed of the canoe. However this also makes them less stable.

• Square Stern Canoes – These canoes are uneven with squared or flat off sterns mainly designed to house the motor. These canoes with a motor mount feature are mainly used for fishing in lakes.

• Inflatable Canoes – This type of canoe has two bows and sides which are made from inflatable tubes and flexible and flat floors. These canoes are very light and perfect for rough whitewater rides but they might not work perfect on flat waters.

Therefore, once you understand these different types of canoes and the purpose they are used for it will make it easier for you to choose your canoe according to your needs. Additionally, knowing the different types and their uses will also help you choose a canoe motor mount if you plan to.

Understanding Different Types of Canoe Motor Mounts

When it comes to a canoe motor mount there are two main types used in canoes. These are wooden and aluminum canoe mounts. The aluminum canoe motor mount is basically made of heavy duty aluminum. These canoe motor mounts are installed on either the port or starboard side of the canoe and are often used to secure the motors. These motors can have nearly four horsepower ratings after utilizing the clamping mechanism. You should know that these aluminum canoe motor mounts can be ideal for electric and gas motors while also fitting perfectly in most canoe brands.

Wooden canoe motor mounts are best used for electric motors that have up to four horsepower rating. Most of the parts in a wooden motor mount are made of wooden material, however they also include stainless steel parts along with some phenolic knobs which are used to clamp when mounting it to the gunwales of the canoe.

When it comes to choosing between gas and electric canoe motor mounts it can also be a difficult decision to make as there are equal benefits and drawbacks in using these electric and gas motor mounts for your canoe. Therefore, when you consider the type of motor for your canoe you should know that any type of light motor can work well. Choosing between electric and gas canoe motors also depends on the purpose you will be using it for. You may prefer an electric motor if you plan to use it for day trips but the gas motor would be necessary if you plan on using it for an extended remote trip. The reason is clear, as you will run out of battery life when using it for long trips. An electric trolling motor would be perfectly fine on short runs to be used in lakes and flat waters but for everything else you may prefer an outboard gas motor. The electric motors are also very simple to use when compared to gas motors which need to be pulled to start.

What are the uses of a Canoe Motor Mount?

However if you are planning to take a canoe trip with your friends then make sure that you plan well and prepare for the trip. This planning should include a lot of things, but when it comes to paddling make sure that you prepare the same. If you plan to make a trip with two or three friends throughout the day in the lake or river then paddling constantly throughout the day can be very tiring. In this case you can opt to add a motor mount to your canoe. The canoe motor mount is a simple device which is used in securing a motor to your canoe. These canoe motors are generally installed at the starboard or port side of the canoe and is generally made of durable metal or wood that can fit a wide range of motor sizes.

Some other benefits of mounting a motor on your canoe apart from the ease of paddling is that they can also provide you with a much fast ride. Although there are a few gas motors used in canoes that make noise there are also electric motors that you can use to virtually eliminate the noise factor. If you have been fishing all day long in the lake then a motor mount canoe would prove to be more beneficial in allowing you to quickly get back home rather than having to paddle back all the way. Although adding a motor to your canoe can be very expensive. However there are also some simple methods through which you can create your own canoe motor mount with minimum costs.

How to Build a Motor Mount for your Canoe

Getting out on the river or lake with your canoe can be a refreshing and exciting activity. However one problem when canoeing that most people have is getting back home. This is because most of the times it is easy to just get going without even thinking of how long it will take to get back home. Therefore mounting a small motor at the back of your canoe can be a great way to save your muscle power and get back home faster without worry.

Process of Making a Canoe Motor Mount

Firstly you will need to measure two pieces of 2x4, preferably of oak or some other hardwood. One piece must sit inside the back of the canoe in the form of a side to side mount while the other piece must be eight inches wider than the outside width of the canoe. You can even give them a good coat of polyurethane or sanding if you prefer.

Place the boards flat on top of each other where the longer piece should be below with six inches overlapping on a side and two inches overlapping on the other side. Then, from the ends of the small piece, drill a half inch hole between both five inches and then place a six inch by half inch bolt between both the holes carefully secured by a wingnut washer.

Now lean the longer piece on a side wherein it sits with its two holes facing towards you and then drill 2 half inch holes between it. You should drill three inches from the six inch overlap end and one inch from the other end.

Then take a piece of one and a half inch solid wood plank and drill 2 half inch holes in it. The holes should be centered so that they remain 2 inches apart and also line up with the previously drilled holes on the long board. Then drill a little more than half inch holes on the backside of the plank as it will let the nuts be flush with the surface of wood. Then fix 2 bolts in from the long 2x4 and the 4x8 section of wood and tighten securely with locking nuts and washers. Then fix the short board below the inside of the canoe with the long board above it on the outside of the canoe and tighten them together. You can also use a pair of pliers to ensure they don’t slip. This will get the base ready to house a canoe electric motor and you can use a large marine battery to equalize the weight as you position it from the bottom of your canoe. This will get your base ready to mount the canoe motor mount through which you can avoid the expensive costs in purchasing ready made canoe motor mounts.

If designing and building your own canoe motor mount you need to remember that the job should be done perfectly. This is because if you are using a motor on your canoe it can be very dangerous if it is not mounted properly. It can also be very risky when the canoe is grossly out of the trim. This means that the bow would be out of the water while the stern would be deep in the water. This can make the canoe highly unstable and greatly increase the danger of capsizing your canoe. Apart from this, the type of canoe you choose to mount a motor in can also be a factor in the risk involved when using your canoe. After you have clearly understood about the different types of canoes and their chief purposes you will also understand the best possible motor to be mounted for the canoe. There are some types of canoes that are very difficult to be managed on flat waters and others that are used for racing. Mounting canoe motors in these boats will not normally prove beneficial, however it may if you can figure out a plan to properly balance the racing canoe.

If you need to purchase a canoe motor mount then you should first know about the motor size of your canoe and also the gunwale of your canoe including port or starboard before you can walk into the retail store to ensure the motor will fit. You will require these details about your canoe for when you need to order your motor mount. After you have purchased your motor mount it is important that you secure the motor properly. You should check if all the clamps are tight to prevent any accidents. Both types of motor mounts can work perfectly in most conditions. The best place to search for the best canoe motor mount can be online or possibly from your local stores as there is a wide range of canoe motors available and you have the opportunity to choose according to your canoe details and choice.