Best Trolling Motor Mounts: 6 Picks for Bow Motors and Kayaks

A trolling motor mount usually means one of two things: a quick release bracket that sits between a bow-mount motor and the deck, or a transom mount that gives a kayak a flat plate for a clamp-on motor. For most anglers running a Minn Kota electric-steer bow motor such as a Terrova, Ulterra, or PowerDrive, our pick is the Minn Kota MKA-16-03, an anodized aluminum quick release bracket whose Amazon listing names six motor models and variants. MotorGuide Xi owners should look at MotorGuide’s own kit, and kayak anglers with a small transom motor should start with the Newport mount.

We compared six mounts on the motors their listings name, mount style, material, lock, and any stated thrust, shaft, or horsepower limit.

Our Top Picks at a Glance

• Best Overall: Minn Kota MKA-16-03. An aluminum bow bracket whose listing names the Terrova, Ulterra, PowerDrive, and three more motors, the longest motor list among the six.
• For Riptide Electric-Steer Motors Under 112 lb: Minn Kota RTA-17. A composite bracket for five named Riptide motors, with thrust and shaft limits stated on the listing.
• For Standard Cable-Steer Motors: Minn Kota MKA-23. Ultrex, Fortrex, Maxxum, and Edge motors up to 80 lb thrust and a 60 in shaft, per the listing.
• Riptide Electric-Steer Composite Option: Minn Kota RTA-54. An electric-steer composite bracket for Riptide Ulterra, Terrova, and PowerDrive motors, per Minn Kota, which now lists it as discontinued.
• For MotorGuide Xi Series Motors: MotorGuide Xi Series Quick-Release Kit. The only bracket here built for a MotorGuide bow motor.
• For Kayak Transom Motors: Newport Transom Motor Mount. The only transom mount here, with a 3 horsepower maximum according to Newport.

Trolling Motor Mounts Compared

Details come from each product’s Amazon listing, except the Newport row, which also matches Newport’s product page, and cells marked “per Minn Kota,” which come from Minn Kota’s help center. “Not confirmed” means the listing contradicts itself or gives no answer. Scroll sideways on a phone to see every column.

How We Chose

We looked at mounts sold new on Amazon in the United States whose brand is the motor company itself (Minn Kota, MotorGuide, or Newport) and whose listed manufacturer matches it; one Minn Kota listing leaves the manufacturer field blank. Brackets sold as “compatible with” a motor brand by other companies are not included, and neither are deck pads, anchor bases, or stabilizers that turned up in the same searches, because none of them hold a motor. A duplicate listing of the MKA-16-03 was left out.

We read each full Amazon listing. Newport’s product page loaded, and its specifications agree with the Amazon listing except for color. For the Minn Kota brackets, we checked compatibility, materials, limits, and production status against Minn Kota’s quick release bracket compatibility guide and bracket dimensions and instructions page. MotorGuide’s site blocked our requests, so the MotorGuide details are as the listing states them. Two of the six listings had owner reviews we could read (the RTA-17 and the MotorGuide kit). The order follows how many owner ratings each listing has, not the AnglerTechLab Score, so the two do not always line up. We do not run our own product trials. Owner ratings form the base of each AnglerTechLab Score, with a limited editorial adjustment described on our How We Review page. More rigging gear is in our Mounts and Transducers section, and the motors themselves are in Trolling Motors.

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Trolling Motor Mount Reviews

1. Minn Kota MKA-16-03 (Best Overall)

Who it’s for: Bass boat and aluminum boat owners with a standard (non-Riptide) Minn Kota electric-steer bow motor who want to lift it off for trailering, storage, or an unattended slip.

Standout features: According to the Amazon listing, the MKA-16-03 is solid anodized aluminum. The top bracket attaches to the motor with side screws and slides into a bottom bracket bolted to the deck, and the listing says the metal construction locks without rattles. It takes a padlock and is described as a direct replacement for the MKA-16-02, so owners of that older bracket can swap like for like. It has no stated thrust or shaft limit, so a 112 lb or extra-long-shaft motor is worth confirming before you drill.

• Pro: Six motor names on its list, including the Terrova, Ulterra, and PowerDrive.
• Pro: Padlock provision for a boat left at a marina.
• Con: No Riptide or cable-steer motor on its list.
• Con: No thrust or shaft limit stated.

Skip it if: your motor is a Riptide (RTA-17), a cable-steer model (MKA-23), a QUEST model such as the Terrova QUEST or Ulterra QUEST (which Minn Kota lists as not compatible), a MotorGuide, or a transom motor on a kayak. Owners who want a deck cover or a slide-back bracket have other Minn Kota options covered in our dedicated Minn Kota quick release bracket roundup.

2. Minn Kota RTA-17 (For Riptide Electric-Steer Motors Under 112 lb)

Who it’s for: Saltwater anglers with a Riptide electric-steer bow motor below 112 lb thrust and with a shaft shorter than 72 in.

Standout features: The Amazon listing describes high-yield composite that is “completely impervious to saltwater corrosion,” a low-profile base that leaves the deck clear for casting once the motor is off, and a locking handle with stainless steel pins. A padlock fits but is sold separately. The listing names the Riptide Ulterra, Riptide Terrova, Riptide ST, Riptide PowerDrive, and Riptide SP, and it excludes 112 lb thrust motors and shafts of 72 in or longer, which Minn Kota points to its RTA-62 bracket (not in this roundup).

• Pro: Clear motor list and size limits on the listing.
• Pro: Low-profile base when the motor is removed.
• Con: Not for 112 lb thrust motors or long shafts; padlock not included.

What owners say: Four owners on this listing call removal quick or simple, and one who runs a Riptide 55 SP puts it at about 5 seconds. Two describe installation as straightforward or easy. The same Riptide 55 SP owner found the deck plate slow to fit because the nuts under the deck were hard to reach, advises planning that access before drilling, and suggests buying separate stainless lock nuts.

Skip it if: you run a standard (non-Riptide) Terrova or Ulterra, which takes the MKA-16-03, or a 112 lb or long-shaft Riptide, which Minn Kota points to its RTA-62.

3. Minn Kota MKA-23 (For Standard Cable-Steer Motors)

Who it’s for: Owners of a standard cable-steer bow motor up to 80 lb thrust with a shaft no longer than 60 in, often on a small bass boat or a jon boat with a front deck.

Standout features: Per the Amazon listing, the MKA-23 uses the same high-yield composite build and stainless-pin locking handle as the RTA-17, with a padlock sold separately. The listing pitches it for storage, security, or moving one motor between boats, and states the 80 lb and 60 in limit in both the description and the feature lines. Minn Kota’s compatibility guide names the same four motor lines, though not the Ultrex QUEST.

• Pro: The only bracket here for standard cable-steer motors.
• Con: The 80 lb and 60 in cap rules out larger cable-steer motors.
• Con: Its recommended-use field says salt water, but Minn Kota designs the MKA-23 for fresh water; the RTA-19 is the Riptide version.

Skip it if: your cable-steer motor is a Riptide model, or it is above 80 lb thrust or a 60 in shaft; none of the brackets here covers that motor, so confirm the part with Minn Kota or a dealer.

4. Minn Kota RTA-54 (Riptide Electric-Steer Composite Option)

Who it’s for: Riptide electric-steer owners who want a composite quick release bracket and can still find this one sold new.

Standout features: Minn Kota lists this model as discontinued; availability may change. Minn Kota’s instruction sheet calls the RTA-54 an electric-steer composite release bracket and recommends it for the Riptide Ulterra, Riptide Terrova, Riptide PowerDrive, and Riptide PowerDrive V2; it gives no thrust or shaft limit. The Amazon listing says very little on its own: the title names a Riptide electric-steer bracket, part number 1854054, and the feature lines give only package dimensions. Its specification table says aluminum, which conflicts with its title and with Minn Kota, and the AnglerTechLab Score carries a small editorial deduction for that listing error.

• Pro: Composite build for Riptide electric-steer motors, per Minn Kota.
• Con: Discontinued by Minn Kota, and its own listing gives no motor list, lock details, or limits.

Skip it if: your Riptide motor is under 112 lb with a shaft under 72 in; the RTA-17, which Minn Kota still lists, covers it with a far more complete listing. For a 112 lb motor or a shaft of 72 in or longer, Minn Kota points to the RTA-62, not this bracket.

5. MotorGuide Xi Series Quick-Release Kit (For MotorGuide Xi Series Motors)

Who it’s for: Owners of a MotorGuide Xi Series bow-mount motor who want to pull it for storage, maintenance, or security.

Standout features: According to the Amazon listing, this low-profile composite bracket lets you attach or remove a bow-mounted MotorGuide Xi Series motor, and the kit includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and stainless steel hardware. It has a positive locking mechanism and a security clasp for a padlock, and it comes in white. Part number 8M0092063. The listing names no thrust or shaft limit and no motor line other than the Xi Series. MotorGuide’s website blocked our requests, so these details are as the listing states them.

• Pro: The only bracket in this guide made for a MotorGuide motor.
• Pro: Stainless steel hardware included, per the listing.
• Con: Names only the Xi Series and gives no size limits.
• Con: One pontoon owner found the supplied deck bolts too short.

What owners say: Of the eight reviews we could read, four describe removal as quick or easy, including one owner who leaves the boat in the water and takes the motor along by pulling the pin. One owner who installed it on a jon boat says all hardware was included and it took little room on the bow; another says it fits tightly with no wobble and advises measuring before drilling. On a pontoon deck, one owner found the bolts too short to fit both washers the instructions call for. An older review notes the plate mounted only one way on that owner’s motor, which put the bracket near the edge of the bow, and says a metal bracket might suit tournament use in rough water better. One reviewer had not yet used it.

Skip it if: you run any brand other than MotorGuide, or a MotorGuide line the listing does not name. One owner reports adapting it to a Minn Kota by drilling extra holes, which the listing does not cover; Minn Kota owners should look at the Minn Kota brackets above, which name their motors.

6. Newport Transom Motor Mount (For Kayak Transom Motors)

Who it’s for: Kayak anglers who want to run a small clamp-on transom motor centered on the stern instead of hanging it off the side.

Standout features: Newport’s product page lists heavy gauge aluminum with a gloss black powder-coated finish, removable and replaceable polymer transom plates, an aluminum locking lip, use in fresh and salt water, a 3 horsepower maximum, and a 3.75 x 4.75 in bolt pattern. According to the Amazon listing, that bolt pattern is the one commonly called the micro Power-Pole pattern, and the mount gives a transom for Newport’s Kayak, NV, X, and L Series trolling motors and its NT300 electric outboard. Newport says it fits any brand of kayak with a flat mounting surface. The listing title and color field say gray, while Newport’s page and the listing description say gloss black.

• Pro: The only mount here for a kayak, with a stated horsepower limit and bolt pattern.
• Pro: Replaceable polymer plates where the motor clamps on.
• Con: Needs a flat surface with that bolt pattern; kayaks without one may need drilling or an adapter plate.
• Con: Not a quick release bracket and not for bow-mount motors.

Skip it if: you fish from a boat with a bow deck, or your kayak’s stern has no flat area for the 3.75 x 4.75 in pattern. Check your kayak maker’s rigging options before you buy.

How to Choose a Trolling Motor Mount

Fit decides everything here. A mount that does not match your motor and hull is the wrong mount however well it is built, so work through these questions in order.

Bow or Transom First

Where the motor sits sets the mount type. Mounting a trolling motor on the bow means a bow-mount motor, which already has its own mount; a quick release bracket goes between that mount and the deck so the whole motor lifts off. A transom motor clamps to a flat stern, so a mount only matters when the boat has no usable transom, as on most kayaks. If you are still deciding between a bow mount or a transom mount, settle that before buying any bracket.

Brand, Line, and Steering

Every bow bracket here names motors from its own brand only. Within Minn Kota, the listings split by line and steering: RTA brackets name only Riptide (saltwater) motors and MKA brackets only standard ones, and electric-steer and cable-steer motors take different brackets. According to the listings and Minn Kota’s compatibility guide, a Riptide Terrova and a standard Terrova take different brackets. Find the exact model name on your motor, then match it to the “Motors named” column. If it is missing from every row, ask the motor maker or a dealer which bracket fits.

Thrust, Shaft, and Horsepower Limits

Three listings state hard limits: the RTA-17 stops below 112 lb thrust and 72 in shafts, the MKA-23 at 80 lb and 60 in, and Newport rates its kayak mount at 3 horsepower. The MKA-16-03 and the MotorGuide kit give no limit, which does not mean they fit every size. Read thrust and shaft length off your motor’s label and compare.

Kayaks, Canoes, and Jon Boats

Small boats change the question. On a kayak, the trolling motor mounting plate has to match the hull and keep the motor clear of the rudder and paddle stroke, and the way you fit it depends on the model. Mounting a trolling motor on a canoe usually means either the flat stern of a square-back canoe or a side bracket on a double-ended hull. Mounting a trolling motor on a jon boat is the simplest case: most clamp-on motors grip the transom directly, and a bow bracket like the MKA-23 only comes into play with a front deck and a bow-mount motor.

Security and Installation

A bracket that lets you pull the motor in seconds lets a thief do the same, so use the padlock provision when the boat sits unattended. Bow brackets bolt through the deck: check that you can reach the underside, and check that the supplied bolts are long enough for your deck thickness plus the washers the instructions call for, as one pontoon owner learned. Follow the mount’s installation instructions and your motor’s owner’s manual for any step involving power or wiring; this guide does not cover electrical work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you mount a trolling motor?

A transom motor clamps to the stern; a bow-mount motor bolts to the front deck, either directly or through a quick release bracket. Our step-by-step guide on how to install a trolling motor covers the full process. Follow the motor’s manual for the wiring.

What is the best bow mount trolling motor mount?

The right one is the bracket that names your exact motor. For a standard Minn Kota electric-steer motor, that is the MKA-16-03; Riptide, cable-steer, and MotorGuide Xi owners should use the matching row in the table above.

How do you mount a trolling motor on a kayak?

Most kayaks need a transom mount like the Newport, bolted to a flat area at the stern, then a small transom motor clamped to it. Hulls differ, so our guide to putting a trolling motor on a kayak walks through placement and rigging.

Do you need a quick release bracket when mounting a bow mount trolling motor?

No. A bow-mount motor can bolt straight to the deck. A bracket earns its place if you remove the motor for trailering, storage, security, or a boat cover, as several owners above describe.

Will a Minn Kota bracket fit a MotorGuide motor?

Not according to the listings: each trolling motor mounting bracket here names only its own brand’s motors. Buy the bracket made for your motor’s brand and line.

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