Telescoping trolling motor

A trolling motor comprising a drive unit that includes a drive head, an electric motor with prop, and a telescoping shaft with an upper, outer shaft and a lower, inner shaft, wherein the inner shaft is nested within the outer shaft, and slidingly rides on a hollow steering tube fixed to and inside the outer shaft, where the telescoping shaft is interposed between the drive head and the electric motor, the inner shaft being attached to the electric motor, further including a first cable attached to one end of a rod extending through the inner shaft, the one end of the rod also extending through the hollow steering tube when the telescoping shaft is fully retracted and where an opposite end of the rod attaches to the electric motor, such that pulling the first cable raises the electric motor and collapses the telescoping shaft, and such that releasing the first cable lowers the electric motor and extends the telescoping shaft, and an electric cable extending through the telescoping shaft and drive head, and adapted to carry electric current to the electric motor, a clamping mechanism mounted adjacent a bottom of the drive head to support the drive head, the clamping mechanism also clamping the upper shaft of the telescoping shaft directly beneath the bottom of the drive head, the clamping mechanism adapted to be mounted to a mounting bracket for securing the trolling motor to a boat.