1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to improving the steering mechanism for electric trolling motors used on boats.
2. Discussion of Prior Art
Electric trolling motors are used to position a fishing boat when a small quiet motor is desired over a boat's primary propulsion system. These trolling motors are usually operated while a game fisher is casting with a rod and reel. Power is applied utilizing either the controller on the trolling motor handle, which is provided by the factory, or by pre-setting this controller and using a foot button switch to start and stop the motor as desired by the operator, enabling both hands to be free to cast and net the fish once caught. When the trolling motor is switched on, the propeller provides considerable thrust, which causes side loading of the single bushing on which the motor shaft allows the steering angle to rotate. Because the motor and propeller are located under the waterline, a long shaft is incorporated to provide a watertight conduit for power and allow for steering. Because of the high bushing load, it is difficult to make steering changes using prior art while the motor is running. This forces the operator to shut off the motor, adjust the steering angle, and turn the motor on with a foot switch, repeatedly. This is an awkward and inefficient process. Use of the trolling motor steering positioner is novel over prior art in that its main purpose is to provide greater leverage so that the operator can change the direction of the trolling motor while the motor is running and the propeller is turning, and that any angle of the tiller is adjustable at any thrust level from any of 360 degrees in position. This type of product has never been observed in the marketplace.
Objects and Advantages
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to introduce several objects and advantages.
Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings. No other devices that attempt to alleviate the inconveniences described in Prior Art accomplish the objective to keep a trolling motor running while making small incremental adjustments from multiple locations in the boat.
The drawings show various aspects of the trolling motor steering positioner including the tiller positioner assembly and the mounting bracket assembly.
Operation
The manner of using the trolling motor steering positioner to steer a boat while under power of the trolling motor is much simpler and effective than current methods where the operator may need to turn off the trolling motor, adjust direction and then restart the motor. The operator turns on the trolling motor and uses the tiller to steer the boat in the desired direction. When the operator needs to move to another position in the boat, he or she simply lifts the tiller and moves it to the desired location, dropping the alignment pin in a new hole. From that position, the operator can then begin steering in any direction.
Accordingly, the reader will see that the trolling motor steering positioner of this invention can be used to steer a boat with great ease while the trolling motor is running. Although the description above contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the design, colors or shapes of the invention but as merely providing illustrations of some of the presently preferred embodiments of this invention. For example, the bracket may have other shapes such as oval or square, etc. Thus the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given above.