Encountering stuck bolts when you’re trying to remove or adjust your trolling motor can be a frustrating experience for any boat owner. This guide provides practical steps to tackle those stubborn bolts and offers advice on upgrading your trolling motor mount for a more secure and hassle-free setup.
If you find the nuts turning along with the bolts, the first trick is to apply upward pressure to the motor mount. This action creates tension at the bolt, increasing friction on the nut and washer. Often, this added friction is enough to prevent the nut from spinning freely.
A helpful tool in this situation is a screwdriver. While maintaining upward pressure on the mount, wedge a screwdriver underneath the nut or washer. This will further impede the nut’s rotation, ideally allowing you to loosen the bolt. The fact that you were able to loosen them initially suggests that the original pressure was sufficient to hold the nut in place.
Work methodically, loosening each bolt just a few turns before moving to the next. With luck, this technique will provide enough resistance to allow you to fully unscrew the bolts. If all else fails and the bolts remain stuck, you might have to resort to cutting them with a hacksaw to remove the trolling motor assembly.
For your new trolling motor installation, consider using T-nuts for a more robust and user-friendly mounting solution. Begin by identifying the bolt locations for your new setup. Drill holes of the appropriate size to ensure a snug fit for the T-nut sleeves.
Stainless steel T-nuts are highly recommended for marine environments due to their corrosion resistance. You can typically find these at most well-stocked hardware stores in the fastener section. If stainless steel T-nuts are unavailable, you can use standard T-nuts with a preventative measure. Apply a small bead of silicone sealant around the corner of the cylinder and head of the T-nut before installation. This will prevent water from becoming trapped and causing corrosion within the assembly.
To further prevent future issues, apply an anti-seize lubricant like Never-Seez to the bolt threads before installation. Use this sparingly, as a small amount is highly effective and can be difficult to clean up. This lubricant is particularly useful in saltwater environments, preventing thread corrosion even with frequent exposure to saltwater.
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You might encounter resistance when trying to insert T-nuts, especially hammering them into place. A simple solution is to use a C-clamp to press them securely into position, ensuring a tight and even installation.
If your boat deck is constructed from fiberglass or aluminum, consider using nutserts as an alternative mounting option. These are also available in stainless steel and provide a very strong and clean mounting point. Nutserts require a specialized installation tool to press them into place correctly. Metal fabrication shops are likely to have the necessary tool and expertise if you are not equipped to install them yourself.
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By following these steps, you can effectively remove stuck trolling motor bolts and ensure a secure and corrosion-resistant mount for your trolling motor, enhancing your boating experience.
