Placement of Trolling Motor and Fishing Seat

billleah05

We just purchased a 2013 SS188 OB at the Atlanta Boat Show.   Where is the best location to install the fishing seat and the trolling motor?  Also what thrust trolling motor should I get for this size and weight boat.   Thanks

cjjjdeck

I don't know which trolling motor brand you're looking at (Minn Kota or Motorguide), although I've owned both and both products have served me very well, I'm a big Minn Kota fan based on their higher technology that allows you to fish more and maneuver less .  Minn Kota has a motor selection guide that can help you decide what motor will work with your boat.  I used it when I got one for my boat.  It looks like the cut off point where one battery models aren't recommended is when the length of the boat is 22 feet or longer, so your boat may perform well with a 12V system (I personally would recommend the highest thrust you can get, which I believe is 55lbs,),  Depending on what kind of body of water you navigate on and what performance you are expecting from the motor, those factors will decide if you want the extra power a 24V vs. 12V motor will yield (plus the additional expense and weight of an extra battery).  Also, make sure you get a long enough shaft, the motor needs to reach at least 12" to 18" under the water surface (the deeper, the better to compensate for wave activity).  People don't usually have a problem with too long a shaft (because it's adjustable), it's the "too short" that is the problem.

Here's the link to the site:

http://www.minnkotamotors.com/selectamotor/

Here's a link to the Motorguide selection page as well:

http://www.motorguide.com/motor-selector

Looking at the front deck layout on your boat you have two obstacles, the swim ladder and anchor locker.  That leaves two other locations to fit a pedestal seat, the port side of the deck or the small boarding platform where you step down into the boat.  Hurricane shows either location used for the pedestal seat, they don't show a trolling motor installed with the seat.  As far as the trolling motor locations, you have the bow area ahead of the anchor locker and the port side deck area.  You'll have to decide which locations make sense to you to mount what.  Owners have used both the bow and port side deck to mount their motors.

Here's some links to some other posts that deal with trolling motor mounting, you'll see pics on what I did on my boat as well.:

 http://hurricaneboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/1989/#Comment_1989

http://hurricaneboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/860/#Comment_860

http://hurricaneboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/1070/#Comment_1070

I'm not sure what you're thinking of deciding on pedestals and seats, but Hurricane used Springfield brand bases and pedestals on my boat.  The seats are made by Veada.  I've been happy with these products on my boat.  I did opt for the "deluxe" fishing chair, which I haven't regretted. I attached some pics of the seat. 

Here's the links:

http://www.springfieldgrp.com/

http://veada.com/

nquirk

@billleah05, check out these two threads.  These should provide some great information.

 

I have a 2010 SS188OB with a MinnKota on it so after you're done reading if you have further questions I'd be glad to try to help you.

http://hurricaneboats.vanillaforums.com/discussion/comment/1974/#Comment_1974

 

http://forums.iboats.com/hurricane-deck-boats/need-help-sizing-trolling-motor-543217.html