Trolling motor control apparatus

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said boat having a trolling motor with a first axis, said trolling motor rotatable about said first axis in a clockwise and a counter-clockwise direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a control assembly for controlling rotation of said trolling motor about said first axis, and
• a speed control assembly for activating at least one speed of said trolling motor, said speed control assembly is placed at least partially around said control assembly;
• and
• means for operationally connecting said speed control assembly to said trolling motor.

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said boat having a trolling motor with a first axis, said trolling motor rotatable about said first axis in a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a trolling motor control assembly including chair support means;
• means in operational connection with said control assembly and said trolling motor for transferring rotational motion of said control assembly to said trolling motor so that when said control assembly rotates about a second axis said trolling motor rotates about said first axis;
• and
• a plurality of trolling motor activation switches, one switch for each desired speed of said trolling motor, said switches in electrical connection with said trolling motor for activating the speeds of said trolling motor, said switches positioned remotely from said control assembly so that said switches are accessible to the foot of an operator.

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said boat having a trolling motor with a first axis, said trolling motor rotatable about said first axis in a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a foot operable trolling motor control assembly, said control assembly having a control plate rotatable on a second axis;
• and
• trolling motor activating means consisting of a separate switch for each speed of said trolling motor, said switches positioned on said control plate, said activating means in operational connection with said trolling motor for activating a plurality of speeds of said trolling motor;
• and
• transferring means in operational connection with said control plate and said trolling motor so that, when said control plate rotates on said second axis;
• said trolling motor rotates on said first axis.

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said boat having a trolling motor with a first axis, said trolling motor rotatable about said first axis in a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction, said apparatus comprising;

• a trolling motor control assembly;
• means in operational connection with said control assembly and said trolling motor for rotating said trolling motor on said first axis;
• and
• trolling motor activation means consisting of a separate switch for each speed of said trolling motor, said switches positioned for use by the foot of an operator, said switches in operational connection with said trolling motor for activating the speeds of said trolling motor.

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said boat having a trolling motor with a first axis, said trolling motor rotatable about said first axis in a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a trolling motor control assembly;
• means in operational connection with said control assembly and said trolling motor for rotating said trolling motor on said first axis;
• and
• a trolling motor activation switch positioned for use by the foot of a user, said switch in electrical connection with said trolling motor for activating a plurality of speeds of said trolling motor, said switch operable to activate and control said trolling motor speeds by the application of downward pressure by the foot of said user, by pressing lightly for a first speed, pressing increasingly harder for obtaining all desired speeds of said trolling motor, while actively steering boat without needing to reposition said foot on, or remove said foot from, said switch, said trolling motor being deactivated upon the release of said downward pressure.

An apparatus for maneuvering a boat on water, said boat having a trolling motor with a first axis, said trolling motor rotatable about said first axis in a clockwise and a counter clockwise direction, said apparatus comprising:

• a trolling motor control assembly having a chair rotatable about a second axis on an approximately horizontal plane;
• and
• trolling motor activation means for activating at least one speed of said trolling motor, said activation means positioned for use by the foot of an operator;
• transferring means consisting of cable means in operational connection with said chair and said trolling motor, said cable means at least partially enclosed in cable guide means, said cable guide means constructed to lead said cable means from said control assembly to said trolling motor so that when said chair rotates about said second axis, said trolling motor rotates about said first axis.

An apparatus for controlling a trolling motor, said trolling motor installed on a boat so that said trolling motor is rotatable about a first axis, said apparatus comprising:

• a control assembly having a second shaft with a second axis, said control assembly rotatable about said second axis;
• means formed in said control assembly for receiving an optional chair support means, said chair support means being removable by a user;
• means in operational connection with said control assembly and said trolling motor, for transferring rotational motion of said second shaft to said trolling motor so that when said second shaft rotates about said second axis, said trolling motor rotates about said first axis;
• and
• means for activating said trolling motor, said activating means in electrical connection with said trolling motor so that, when a user is seated in a chair secured to said chair support means, said activating means is operable by the foot of a user to activate said trolling motor and said boat is steerable by rotating said chair.