Trolling motor mount

Abstract

A trolling motor mount assembly for mounting a trolling motor to a small watercraft. The assembly includes a motor mount piece and a boat deck piece. The pieces are shaped to mate their cooperatively tapered sides to securely engage the pieces and thus the mounted motor and boat together. A latch then locks the pieces together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A trolling motor mount assembly comprising:
 a boat mount having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a portion having a shape with tapered sides from said top surface to said bottom surface;   a motor mount having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a portion having a shape with tapered sides from said top surface to said bottom surface; and   wherein said shapes engage to form a taper lock arrangement.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  wherein said boat mount shape is inserted into said motor mount shape. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  further including a latch assembly to lock said mounts in said arrangement. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as defined in  claim 3  wherein said latch assembly includes a clamping portion on said motor mount and a flange portion on said boat mount. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly as defined in  claim 1  further including a handle member for attaching to said motor mount. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly as defined in  claim 4  further including a handle member for attaching to said motor mount. 
     
     
         7 . A method of mounting a trolling motor to a small watercraft, said method consisting of:
 securing a boat mount having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a portion having a shape with tapered sides from said top surface to said bottom surface to said watercraft;   securing a motor mount having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a portion having a shape with tapered sides from said top surface to said bottom surface to said motor; and   engaging said shapes to form a taper lock arrangement.   
     
     
         8 . The method as defined in  claim 7  further consisting of locking said boat mount and said motor mount in said taper lock arrangement. 
     
     
         9 . The method as defined in  claim 7  further consisting of disengaging said shapes and locking a handle member to said motor mount.