Kota mounting

[Stu_000]

I've read every thread on leccy's but I'm still undecided where to mount my 55. I see some people try to keep it as close to the bow point as possible and other people just put it where it fits. It's going on a 3.5m punt so will positioning affect how it steers? Also left or right whats the caper there? Any pics of your setup would be appreciated as well.

Cheers

[eddystone]

Doesn't seem to matter...

On my old boat i had it straight over the bow.....

I now have it at 45 degrees on another boat and still goes ok (right side)...

Not sure it really matters..

eddy

[durko]

stu,
most people put it on the port side for two reasons,
1)balance(too even up boat when fishing alone.
2)line of sight(if on starboard side it obstruts vision.
this is for tiller steer i don't know if this changes for side console.
i don't think your going side console are you

[Gaffer]

I have mine mounted port side and as close to the centre as possible, obviously without restricting the anchor etc.

Biggest mistake I made was mounting it to follow the centre line of the boat, whereas I should've mounted it following the gunnels... or at 45 deg as Eddy has done.

It's fine as it is when up to 3 are in the boat, but once you get to four it gets in the way and pokes in the back of the passenger.

I'm looking at repositioning mine when I get a chance.

Gaff

[Doc_Hollywood]

Stu,
I thingk Gaffer is on track, it doesnt really matter that much where it sits in the water, as opposed to where it is when out of the water, like say when you are drifting or just fishing with your leccy out of the water. In a smaller boat if it sticks into your fishing area it is going to p you off pretty quick, so i would suggest port side along the gunnalls somehow, and a quick release bracket is a good investment as well.

[Stu_000]

Yeah I have a quick release for it. It is a long shaft to so it does take some room on the punt. Just means I can't open one locker when its stowed. I was thinking more of probs on a small boat; ie pulling away from the centre line if mounted off to the left etc

Cheers for your replies

[Craig]

I would say that in terms of efficiency in operation then you need it as close to the centreline as possible - this is when it is deployed (in the water).

When stored, having it down the middle of the boat is a pain. I had this in my edgetracker and soon realigned it so that it ran as close as possible to the side of the boat. However when deployed the shaft was close to the centre (pointy bow bit!!).

So it is possible to have the section that is bolted to your boat at an angle to the centreline but when the Kota is dropped into the water the shaft is close to the centreline.

Hope that makes sense.

[Karl]

Hey Stu,

As you know I had that long shaft Kota mounted on my 5.20m hull. I mounted it completely in line with the centre of the boat and when it was stowed/pulled up into the boat it took up a huge amount of space.

I would highly recommend that you mount it at an angle so that it is as in line with the side of the hull as possible when stowed. I don't think having it at an angle will affect the balance of your boat at all, because all of the weight is in the part of the Kota that fits into the quick release bracket. The shaft and the housing on top of the shaft weigh hardly anything, so when stowed I really don't think it would make much difference at what angle they lay across the deck.

When deployed I would have the shaft as central as possible.

So, put your quick release bracket right at the pointy end and on an angle so that when stowed the very long shaft is as out of the way as possible along the side of the hull ....... you have to make sure there's plently of room for a non-boater

I agree with the posts above, use the port side for the stowed Kota, so that you can sit on the starboard side with unobstructed view while steering.

I hope this makes sense

Good luck, I can't wait to see the finished result!!!

Talk to you soon

Cheers

Karl

[Stu_000]

Thanks for all your replies people

The trouble is when the quick release bracket is placed as Karl suggested one of the bolts is lined up with the edge of the hull so I can't go there. I'll have to compromise on the centre line I think.

Karl - almost there - just gotta sort the livewell and that will be it

Footnote - Do not attempt to build and install you own livewell. Take my word for it - it is not worth the pain (nearly cut the top of my thumb off with a stanley trimmer) and the time. Get someone else to build it for you - hang the expense

[gez]

G,day. When mounting my electric, I first had to have part of the bowrail removed (and hack off some of the material on the spray dodgers that I'd just had made ) I got a peice of alum welded/bolted to the bow with a section jutting forward as a bracket so that I could bolt at least one of the front mounts to the boat. I think theres 6 mounting holes, and you'll need to have at least 4 bolts holding the thing down. The extended bracket looks a bit rough, but did the job, considering I lobbed at the welders un-announced at 3pm on Christmas eve (with slab of Draught in hand).

[gez]

The electric's mounted as far forward as possible, and just the head of the unit is sticking out from the bow foredeck, doesn't get in the way, but wouldnt want it to have placed it any any further back.

(PS; use and recomend Daiwa, but Shimano sure know how to make a velcro rod wrap , matches me decor and all )

[gez]

I prefer not having it outta the water, anyways.

Cheers.

Gerard

[Craig]

Stu

At the risk of stating the obvious don’t forget to look under the foredeck to check where the bolts come through. On my previous boat I had to dodge some brackets and then try and reach the bolts to attach the nuts; just one or two in awkward spots.

Maybe you don’t need to have all six bolts utilised; being on a punt the stress levels will be lower. Perhaps four or five will suffice and you can have the bracket overhanging the hull a tad.

[Stu_000]

Spot on Craig. As I said on an earlier post one bolt is under the rail so a no go there. The QRB only has 4 mounting holes too -should be enough for a 3.5m boat

and gez ta for the pics - trying to avoid any welding if possible - the budget is blown and I have no sounder yet

[Karl]

Hey Stu,

I think Gez and Craig have hit the nail on the head.

Just have a little bit of overhang on one corner of your bracket. You really don't want the stowed Kota anywhere near the centreline, it really gets in the way and is an absolute "trip over, break your rods" type of obstacle.

You could get around this problem by attaching the quick release bracket (4 bolts) onto a piece of ply wood cut to exactly the same size as the quick release bracket. Simply buy longer bolts that will go through the bracket, the ply, and the hull. Three of the bolts will be secured directly through the ply into the hull and the fourth one that overhangs will be secured to the ply only, which in turn is secured to the hull by the other three bolts .... it's a beautiful thing

A touch of white gloss paint on the ply wood support and there you go - Kota out of the way and secured by all 4 bolts

I hope this is helpful

Cheers

Karl