Eric I think that what has been said from slipnot and w-fat is on the $$.Like I said earlier I use mine all the time even when I'm on the hunt for perch my elec.has the transducer in it and it's great being able to follow the schools around with out starting the big motor.I am also going to mount a dual planner board mast on the front of my boat Just like you I hate to drill holes in my new boat.My old boat looked like swiss cheese after 24 years so I don't want this boat to look the same.I have a front raised platform that has a chair post that I'm thinking of putting the mast on that so I don't have to drill holes.I will just take my bass chair off and mount it on the post and that would put it up above my top plus it should handle the pull and the weight of the boards(IT holds my big butt so it should do fine)If you have the same set up this could be an option.I fish all summer long on Long Pond in Belgrade maine.My folks live up there during the summer.When I fish Moosehead I go out of the moose river.I love fishing by MT.Keno awsome area.Good luck in your Quest.

Erin

Thanks...guess I'll try to mount my planer 5" off center to keep the electric on the boat. On occasion I do bass fish.

Erin - I love fishing Kineo area myself. I've had a lot of luck with salmon at the mouth of the Moose River too. Even in dead of summer they are in water as shallow as 15-ft....I found out by accident when the bottom came up fast, nearly lost lures but got doubles TWICE in roughly the same location off the mouth. Must be the cold water coming down from Brassua...

Maybe some day your up there i will meet you around the mouth of the river area and hammer some fish(LOL)

Erin

I have a bow mount minnkota with autopilot on my lund. It allows me to put it in autopilot and hold my course while setting up my downriggers. Great for trolling. can hold 1.8 for a number of hours. I also have a inboard auto voltage distribution system that allows me to recharge on my inboard alternator. troll for 5 or 6 hours and then go to the gas. The trolling motor also allows me to troll very very slow and hold my course. trolling slowly with smelt works great. I see it as another tool

Thanks Erin, Russ, Flatlander for the feedback. I've been convinced to keep the Minnkota on board. I need to work out how to wire this all up, but I do like the idea of having the ability to troll slow and quiet with the electric even if its only under ideal (no wind, waves). I could use the 9.9 at idle as a glorified generator when the batteries get low (happens quick on my setup)...thats been the real problem using the Minnkota, the servo for the autopilot is not very efficient and drains the batteries quick. With on board charging I could revive this as a tool...just another option.

And man do I love my Alumacraft Magnum. After closer inspection of the bow mount area I've got enough room to tuck the planer mast mounting plate just behind the Minnkota not even an inch off the centerline. These modern boat manufacturers really have laid out these boats with all the rigging possibilities in mind.

April is just around the corner...