Many people love fishing on the weekends or whenever they can get away for a day. It’s easy to see why: it’s relaxing, gets you outdoors under the sun for vitamin D, you could end up with a worthy catch that could feed your family for days, and it keeps you fit depending on what kind of boat you are using.
Speaking of fitness, since fishing is a hobby that demands hours of concentration and staying out there on the water, it’s not uncommon for body aches to set in. This is particularly true when it comes to leg cramps and backaches for those using trolling motors.
To counter that, you can use a recessed trolling motor tray, which improves posture and keeps you a bit more relaxed. The trick, however, is in finding the best recessed trolling motor tray for you. This guide and recessed trolling motor review will help you choose the best available on the market today.
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3 Best Recessed Trolling Motor Trays
Here’s a quick look at the best recessed trolling motor tray on the market for anglers who want to stay out on the water longer without getting leg cramps and backaches.
1. LucaSng Marine Center Recessed Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Pan
The LucaSng Marine Center Recessed Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Pan is one of a kind. Not only is it quite simplistic in design, which means that it’s easy to install and to use, but it’s also quite effective. Made out of high-quality materials, this product is designed to offer you effective performance under any fishing conditions.
One of the most outstanding features of this product is its universal application. The LucaSng Marine Center Recessed Trolling Motor Foot Pedal Pan easily works with any brand of trolling motor you might have on your boat. This means that you don’t need to worry about retrofitting your boat to accommodate it. Furthermore, it’s easily controlled with your foot and fits perfectly in the pan.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Easy to install
- Universal application that works well with any trolling motor
- It’s well-built, making it strong and durable
Cons
- There are some rough surfaces on it
Check out the price on Amazon.com
2. Rod Saver Motorguide Model Flat Foot Tray
This Rod Saver Motorguide Model Flat Foot Tray is designed to help improve your posture and save you from inevitable backache when fishing. Like the other best recessed trolling motor tray options on the market, this foot tray is rather easy to use and well put together. In addition, it comes with an easy-to-follow instruction manual, all the necessary stainless steel screws, drain line, cutting template, and clamp.
Another added advantage is that it’s large enough, which means that you can use it to reduce clatter on the boat, making it safer for you to go about your fishing without the risk of clatter. Finally, it features highly sturdy construction with 1/8-inch aluminum and a baked-on powder coat finish.
Pros
- Large enough to reduce clatter in the boat
- Well-built
- Durable
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
Cons
- It does not fit with recess container
Check out the price on Amazon.com
3. R&R Design Recessed Easy Boat Trolling Motor Pan
Very few motor pans can provide as solid a recessed foundation as this R&R Design Recessed Easy Boat Trolling Motor Pan. Designed to protect and organize your boat, this is a wonderful way to reduce clutter as you fish.
One of the best features of this pan is that it’s built using aluminum with a black powder coat finish, making it very durable. It’s also UV protected, meaning it doesn’t fade or rust quite as easily even when exposed to the sun and salty seawater. In addition, it is easy to install and to use, and it features a universal design that works with almost every brand of motor foot control, including MotorGuide and MinnKota.
This is the ideal pan for comfort. It’s designed to keep your foot level with the deck of your boat, which allows for easy application of pressure on your pedals. This design helps minimize the amount of stress on your ankles, calves, knees, and even back. As such, it also helps keep them from unnecessary strain and pain.
Pros
- Universal design
- Durable build
- Easy to install
- Reduces clutter
- Comfortable
Cons
- Corners are a bit sharp
Check out the price on Amazon.com
How to Choose the Best Recessed Trolling Motor Pan
Like most practical things, choosing the best recessed trolling motor pan for your boat highly depends on your specific needs. Some people need their feet level with the pedals for increased comfort, while some prioritize the pan’s ability to minimize clutter on deck. It all comes down to what prioritize when fishing.
However, since the primary function of a recessed trolling motor pan is to reduce your chances of getting back pains and muscle pulls when you are fishing, here are some of the most important factors to consider when choosing the best one for you:
Compatibility
This should probably be the very first thing you look at – is the trolling motor tray compatible with your trolling motor? If it isn’t, you will have to make a lot of modifications to the trolling motor tray itself or the boat. Neither option is advisable and could lead to more problems than you actually solve.
The idea is to buy a trolling motor tray that is built for universal applications. This means that it’s most likely going to be compatible with whatever trolling motor you have on your boat. It also often means that it’s going to be quite easy to install and use. All good qualities of a wonderful tray.
Installation Process
This is another big issue when choosing the right trolling motor pan – how easy or difficult it is to install will either make your life ideal or complicated. For the most part, the best trays are fairly easy to install. This means that they often don’t need you to cut into the boat or anything quite as drastic. The best thing is that most of these trays come with an easy-to-read instructions manual that outlays the entire installation process step by step. If you take your time to study the manual, you should have an easier time installing the tray properly.
Safety Features
While this isn’t exactly up there with the rest of the factors you need to consider, it’s still quite important to take into consideration. How safe is the trolling motor pan in your boat? In this regard, you are most probably looking at how much clutter it can clear off the deck. This kind of clutter creates tripping hazards when you are fishing and can present a risk.
You also need to look at how sharp the edges are, how well hidden the screws are once the tray is installed and what else you need to do to make it fit into your boat without creating a safety hazard in its own regard. Questions such as, “does it get slippery when wet” should be at the top of your mind.
Material and Build
You need to keep in mind that the trolling motor tray you use will be constantly exposed to the elements. At least as much as your boat is going to be exposed. If you enjoy salt-water fishing, that tray is going to take a beating. This means that it needs to be made out of material that is not only durable, but that can also withstand these elements. Trolling motor trays are often made out of relatively light, durable, and quite hardy aluminum.
Specifications
Always keep an eye out for the specific dimensions of the trolling motor tray you buy in relation to your boat. You want to buy something that fits well instead of one that will require modifications because the dimensions are off.
Of course, there are other issues to consider, such as price and maybe even consumer ratings. The price of the trolling motor pan is highly subjective, while something as sensitive as consumer ratings give you an indication of how well-received (or not) the product is by those who have used it before. That should tell you whether or not it’s likely to be a good buy.
The options offered above are all very good and come with reasonable specifications. They are also all very easy to install and are quite affordable. It’s up to you to choose the one that resonates with your specific needs and buy it.
