265x with a bow mount trolling motor?

SkunkBoat

SkunkBoat

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Oct 12, 2017
Messages
4,915
Reaction score
1,760
Points
113
Location
Manasquan Inlet NJ
Website
www.youtube.com
Model
Express 265
Is there anyone with a 265 express with a bow mount trolling motor? any brand... Actual 265x experience requested.....
I am kicking the idea around and I am wondering if a 90" will work well. It seems to fall into the parameters of the installation guide (Garmin Kraken)
The difference in price from 90" to 110" is $2000!!!!

I have stared at way too much info, positive and negative, about all brands, and if it happens, it will be a Garmin Kraken 90". So I don't need to go down that rabbit hole.

I will post measurement pictures when I get a chance.
 
Hi there. I am literally researching this as we speak over on the hull truth. Found a guy who sent me this. 90” works perfectly

Hi Brian. Yessir, I had a Kraken on my 265.

I installed the 90" and it worked flawlessly in most fishable conditions. A really tight 3+ft chop and it will begin cavitating a bit but when that sea state occurs we're generally beyond the point we can bottom fish anyway. Any seas with a long duration and she held just fine all day long.

I hated to do so, but I did end up needing to cut a small notch in the bow rail so that the shaft could fit through for deployment/retrieval.

I placed the batteries under the bench seat on the starboard side of the helm. Not sure if your starboard helm hatch is the same as mine, but there's a nice little recess towards the aft of that hatch and the batteries fit there perfectly (IMHO). I removed the trim on the port side of the cuddy and ran the wire from the bow back to mid-ship, then shot across to the starboard side hatch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SkunkBoat
Thanks! Did he have pix?
I will measure five more times and stare at it for a couple weeks.
Figure out how its going to angle in there. I have a Capstan and a samson post up there.
May ditch the capstan and use the wiring for Kraken.
Will have to cut rail. I think that rail is poorly designed for looks and not usefulness.
probably move Nav lights to hardtop.

LiFePO 36v Battery probably in fwd storage under V berth (Extra anchor line and anchor is ther now). Proper charger.
Will have to fix my 30A Shore power feed that I never use

Need to be ready for next WM 3x points deal...
 
He did include a few pics. His user name over there is ERG153 if you want to reach out.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_7297.jpeg
    IMG_7297.jpeg
    115.8 KB · Views: 24
  • IMG_7298.jpeg
    IMG_7298.jpeg
    137.4 KB · Views: 24
  • IMG_7296.jpeg
    IMG_7296.jpeg
    59.2 KB · Views: 24
  • Like
Reactions: SkunkBoat
Love it! I have been trying to come up with a hinge for the actual bow rail. I don’t want to eliminate a section but have a way to move it like a gates.
 
Pieces are coming together

this thing is huge! It is an 8D size. Going to have to make my own tray.
I'm thinking its going under the V berth.

IMG_4560.jpeg
 
Last edited:
Yesterday I stared at it for 3 days and I think I have a plan

I will remove the capstan. Hopefully with the Kraken, I will not need to pull anchor...

Unlike the other threads that are putting a mounting plate under the pulpit, I will go over the pulpit using the 4 existing bolts. The plate will overhang the starboard cleat leaving it still usable. There is space to put a line on it.

The 265 has enough room to lay the Kraken straight back instead of the usual angle towards the gunnel

I will remove the piece of handrail but I wonder if it could be rerouted around the kraken

IMG_4570.jpeg

IMG_4575.jpeg

IMG_4576.jpeg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: vocz
Ok. So I lugged it up there and dry fitted it. It won’t work straight back where I showed it. The pole is too long. Moving it forward causes issues with the vertical rail piece when the new bracket would be on top of the pulpit. It probably works if the bracket goes under the pulpit like the other guys did. But that puts it way out there and more difficult to deploy.

I played around with having it on top of the pulpit and angled backwards I think it would require a bracket to overhang a couple of inches to starboard so I could get some more screws in.
Now I’m contemplating just taking the pulpit off and mounting it like most people mount a trolling motor right to the bow. I’ve already pulled off the capstan and I’m probably gonna pull the Sampson post off too.
Has anyone ever pulled a puppet off? How bad is the 5200?

IMG_4584.jpegIMG_4585.jpeg


The railing was more problematic than I thought. There is a pipe inside of the pipe from the bend all the way around I think it probably goes all the way around to the other side, so the whole front piece has another pipe inside of the pipe. Luckily, I had a big pipe cutter not just one of those little copper cutter things.

IMG_4583.jpeg
 
  • Like
Reactions: vocz
I would not remove the pulpit as you will likely need some fiberglass work. Why remove it when others have found solutions to mount the trolling motors on the Grady's? Just asking as not sure why your mounting solution can't work like some of the one's I have seen on this site which were done with complete success.....
I haven't reached this level yet so watching as a learning experience.....I have this as a want on my list when I can swing it.
 
ROBERTH said:
I would not remove the pulpit as you will likely need some fiberglass work. Why remove it when others have found solutions to mount the trolling motors on the Grady's? Just asking as not sure why your mounting solution can't work like some of the one's I have seen on this site which were done with complete success.....
I haven't reached this level yet so watching as a learning experience.....I have this as a want on my list when I can swing it.
Click to expand...
ya I had the bolts out of the pulpit (not easy to do....) for my first try(should've took pix) that wasn't working. I have to put them back( not easy....) to try to mount my plywood template out farther.
I agree. Need to do like the others with the pulpit. But I really want to go straight back. TRYING is not easy. It weighs 55 pounds and 104" long. Using the paper template they give you does not tell you were the pole will land and at what height. Yoy have to have it bolted to test the launch & retreive. Will try again. Disappointed Wasted a sunny warm day.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.