Trolling motor shaft length for Flatback 22

[chriselk]

I will be putting a 36 v minn kota on my Flatback.
I will use it inside and nearshore on some wrecks and hardbottom.
I will use it bottom fishing to hold over the fish.

So there will be some seas outside, but I wont go out in small craft conditions.

What shaft length should I get?

Thanks in advance.

Please email me the comments as this site does not seem to notify me.
tarheelboatworks@gmail.com

[Enginerd]

I don't have much of a reccomendation, I'd think at least 60inch, but I'm in your neck of the woods, Ipswich.

[chriselk]

Gloucester, NC
Many states have towns, cities named Gloucester

[GoneFission]

I have a 60" on my 22-2CCP and it works well.  It will come out of the water when it gets choppy, but a trolling motor is not of much use in a chop anyway.  Some have gone with 72" - that's long and can be a little tricky to deploy and stow.  I would think 60 would work well on a 22 foot Osprey or flatback.

[chriselk]

Well thanks everyone for the replies.  I went with a 72 inch shaft because I want to fish the nearshore wrecks without an anchor.

I found a snafu in the mounting.  The flatback bow curves up and I put in a little camber and mounting the motor results in the shaft no where vertical.  I could not find that my motor has any tilt to it, but the  three manuals are dense.  It is possible I missed it. 

I may have to fabricate a "pad".  Anyone with trolling motors on a flatback, I am open to suggestions.

The bracket is:
MKA-53/RTA-54 Electric Steer
Composite Release Bracket
1854053 & 1854054

[RickK]

Minn Kota Riptide? Do you mount it on a removable mount like the RTA series? Here is a link to one of our members that also used a 72" shaft on his FB. Notice how he mounted it.

https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=9842.msg134580#msg134580

If you see a "photobucket" message on his images you might need to install this extension fix, which will clear up the images (this is a google search result) - I know it works for Chrome and Firefox browsers:
https://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1GGGE___US600US603&ei=NmBLWvbRFYORmQHN-onYAw&q=photobucket+embed+fix&oq=photobucket+embed+fix&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0l9.107738.107738.0.110244.1.1.0.0.0.0.201.201.2-1.1.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..0.1.201....0.ozLhrd16MMc

[GoneFission]

The standard MinnKota release bracket is low-profile and designed for flush decks.  You may need to put a spacer under it to get the motor high enough.  BUT - there are many different type of mounts and brackets out there that will fit - you may have to drill some new holes.  I used a MotorGuide removable Gator bracket on my CCP because of the way I wanted the TM to sit on the forward deck.  The original MotorGuide holes did not align with the MinnKota, but that's why they sell DeWalt drills at most hardware stores.     Look around eBay and you will find a variety of mounts.  The removable brackets are a nice feature and are available in several styles too.  As usual, bigger is usually better, especially when you consider the torque at the end of a 60-70" shaft.