Hey guys -
I've been doing some upgrading on the old Gheenoe lately.
First off I found a trolling motor on the bottom of the river a few months ago. Posted on our local board about it and didn't have any takers so after six months or so I claimed it under the old legal principle of finders-keepers, losers-weepers.
The other day I built a wooden mount which clamps down to my nose-cone, but which is removable with a couple hidden wingnuts in case I want to go back to a clean boat. (Actually just removing the motor itself is quite clean because I recessed all the bolts).
![Image]()
Here's the setup currently:
![Image]()
The problem is that I am frequently in the boat alone. The boat rides and poles very well provided someone is on the bow, preferably someone about 50 lbs. heavier than me (to offset the motor). But when I am alone I get quite a bit of nose rise, even with a cooler up front.
![Image]()
So I decided to build some trim tabs like these:
![Image]()
![Image]()
I wasn't able to get the exact same product he used, so I started with 5" X 5" aluminum angle in an overly burly 3/8ths inch. (1/4th would have been ideal but it wasn't available).
![Image]()
I cut it using a Sawzall with a metal blade and axle grease as a lube.
![Image]()
![Image]()
My buddy is going to paint these for me in his shop (black) so I made him a set too.
![Image]()
![Image]()
I am no machinist by any means but these will work fine and won't be inspected too closely. I need to find some block rubber so I can make those rubber wedges. My tabs are longer though, so I may not need them; the transom of the boat has an outward angle, so when you flip that by 180 degrees it means these trim tabs are already going to be angled down somewhat. The idea is for that angle to catch water, lifting the rear of the boat like an airfoil while pushing the nose down.
This is next on the agenda:
![Image]()
That should be easy; I can make it out of 1.5" aluminum angle from the local metal supply in like thirty minutes. I'll just need to epoxy and clamp up a transom plate out of marine ply and then paint it.
Zach
I've been doing some upgrading on the old Gheenoe lately.
First off I found a trolling motor on the bottom of the river a few months ago. Posted on our local board about it and didn't have any takers so after six months or so I claimed it under the old legal principle of finders-keepers, losers-weepers.
The other day I built a wooden mount which clamps down to my nose-cone, but which is removable with a couple hidden wingnuts in case I want to go back to a clean boat. (Actually just removing the motor itself is quite clean because I recessed all the bolts).
Here's the setup currently:
The problem is that I am frequently in the boat alone. The boat rides and poles very well provided someone is on the bow, preferably someone about 50 lbs. heavier than me (to offset the motor). But when I am alone I get quite a bit of nose rise, even with a cooler up front.
So I decided to build some trim tabs like these:
I wasn't able to get the exact same product he used, so I started with 5" X 5" aluminum angle in an overly burly 3/8ths inch. (1/4th would have been ideal but it wasn't available).
I cut it using a Sawzall with a metal blade and axle grease as a lube.
My buddy is going to paint these for me in his shop (black) so I made him a set too.
I am no machinist by any means but these will work fine and won't be inspected too closely. I need to find some block rubber so I can make those rubber wedges. My tabs are longer though, so I may not need them; the transom of the boat has an outward angle, so when you flip that by 180 degrees it means these trim tabs are already going to be angled down somewhat. The idea is for that angle to catch water, lifting the rear of the boat like an airfoil while pushing the nose down.
This is next on the agenda:
That should be easy; I can make it out of 1.5" aluminum angle from the local metal supply in like thirty minutes. I'll just need to epoxy and clamp up a transom plate out of marine ply and then paint it.
Zach
