Trolling Motor Tray Options

[Bigwrench]

RedTop's winter projects thread got me to thinking about my own winter projects and I have been looking at trolling motor trays.
  The problem is I don't see what I want !  I have seen recessed trolling motor trays that aren't square on boats in the past. I have also seen them with square fronts and rounded backs   What I am wanting to install is a little different and has a rounded cutout in the front right in the middle of the tray for the cables to lay in as they come out . It doesn't have any square corners .
This is the only thing holding me up on this tray install , which is also holding up my re carpet and deck padding install lol   
  If anyone knows the style I'm thinking of or has ideas or has one similar already please post up pictures of yours . It may even be a factory add on for a newer year Ranger or even another boat brand but that's what I am set on finding. Thanks

[RedTop]

EZ-Troll Recess Tray

THis is the only one I saw even close to what you mentioned...I looked around...couldn't find anything like you stated.

I have a recessed tray....absolutley love it....

[Bigwrench]

  I definitely want one but I don't think I want the Square box type here is an example of one that is pretty close to the one I have pictured in my head
the corners are a little more squared than I remember but this is the general shape of what I need and it is a custom made tray. I just remember seeing it on a Ranger and thinking , Now that is what I wanna do to mine cause it looked so great ! I also wanna color match it to the boat or the carpet or some sort of custom paint scheme lol

[attachment outdated - deleted by admin]

[oldjim]

Does it come with the bottle in the pic . Just kidding. My son in law build his own ss tray, but he has access to welding equipment and bending equipment. He might build you what you want, not sure what he would charge, prob not to cheap? I can check if you have a drawing of how you want it. Many bass boats have reinforcing across that area that would have to be cut to fit it into deck,  have you looked under deck to see  what is there?
Oldjim

[Bigwrench]

Does it come with the bottle in the pic . Just kidding. My son in law build his own ss tray, but he has access to welding equipment and bending equipment. He might build you what you want, not sure what he would charge, prob not to cheap? I can check if you have a drawing of how you want it. Many bass boats have reinforcing across that area that would have to be cut to fit it into deck,  have you looked under deck to see  what is there?
Oldjim

I have talked  the guy that builds that design (probably 3-4 years ago , heck he could be a member on here lol ) and Im trying to find out if he can deviate from his current design in any way. Hopefully he can get back to me soon and we can come up with some options    below that area is the front storage area that I usually keep life vests and such in.

[Bigwrench]

Here are 2 I saw on a 520 and 521 I think this is exactly what I want

[Donald Garner]

So have you call Ranger Boats and ordered the tray yet?  All you need is a CC 

[Bigwrench]

Last time I asked them about ordering one they told me " we don't recommend putting one on your 518 because of structural issues"  .... I got the impression they wouldn't sell me one if I didn't own a rig that it was recommended for. I need a newer 520/521 HIN lol

[Donald Garner]

Well I guess you had better get the better half a Ranger Catalog.  She needs to pick out colors etc
Do you know anyone else with the same model etc?

[Bigwrench]

Well I guess you had better get the better half a Ranger Catalog.  She needs to pick out colors etc
Do you know anyone else with the same model etc?

I could probably talk someone into letting me use their HIN lol

[Donald Garner]

How close do you live to a Ranger Dealership?  I'd get another person's view on that support issue. I had people tell me the same thing it couldn't be done on my Stratos.   I waited almost a year before I had my Recess Tray installed on my Stratos I was concern about the issue of support also.  I've not had any issue whats so ever as of yet.     

I've even had a couple different marine techs tell me they couldn't install gas shocks on my rod boxes because of the design of them.  I went and checked out some boats at a local marine dealership (took pictures)  came home called the Stratos Factory in Flippin ordered the shocks according to my HVIN# and had them shipped to my house.  It took me a little over an hour for me to install them myself.   

I'm glad I had the tray installed finally because it sure makes a big difference in the operation of the boat and my back and legs don't bother me anymore either.

Keep us updated on this issue.  I find it hard to beleive that your Ranger can't have a Recess Tray installed in it.

[Bigwrench]

I'm pretty close to 1 and a couple more within a couple hours . I'll try and stop by one soon and talk to their parts dept. and see what they say.

[RedTop]

Once you've used this tray with a trolling motor...no matter the style....you'll not go back to one sitting on the deck....It's night and day.

[slimshad]

Post some pics up when you get it done.  I want to do my 518 as well.  I think we will need a drain hose.  I think we will be cutting into the middle compartment.

[bass1cpr]

   Bigwrench the pic's you have from the 520 and 521 are one's that are molded in models. IF Ranger perceived that is what you wanted to do to your boat that might have been what led them to tell you that.
You'll need an aluminum type insert model tray. There are some insert models that have the off set for the steering cable similar to the one that is molded in. But the rectangular tray with the ramp front is adequate and cheaper. 

[Brocksdad1]

I don't understand why they say you have to have that model.