For y'all running mud motors on non mud boat hulls, how did you a fix your grab bar to the boat? The way I tried isn't cutting it. Gonna have to change it up during the split.

I don't run a mud boat but I do have a grab bar. Don't like running a boat sitting down trying to look over people and gear. The bottom of my boat is lined with cedar pickets and I screwed it down to that. It pulled off once when I used it to pull myself into the boat loading a generator. I screwed it down again using more screws and in different spots and its held up since. I bounce off a lot of stumps, still grab it to get in the boat, etc.

Jerry rigged? Yes. Does it work? Yes.

I'd have to post pics. A little welding, bending, and its not too bad.

I'm going to put a mud motor on my jon boat right after duck season and what I was leaning toward was using some all thread and bolting it all the way through one of the bench seats.......I think that would be about as sturdy as you could get......for installing a grab bar........

I am not trying to slam anyone so please take no offense troutkiller. A grab bar should be put it sturdy enough to catch you when your falling. It is one thing to use to steady your stance, it is the first thing you are going to grab when you are falling. If you can pull it out by using it to pull yourself into the boat then it is not doing you any good at all so far as safety.

If anyone is running a boat standing up and using a grab bar then they should have it installled to withstand anything a human can do to it. Mine has the recievef welded to the side of the boat and the bar slides into it. It is difficult to remove the bar. I am a big man and I cant tear it out even if I were to fall on it.

None taken Wal. It does stop me from falling. The reason it pulled out the first time was because the screws I used rusted out. I had thought I grabbed stainless from the shop but, I guess not. The ones I have in it now are. It routinely catches me from falling and usually whoever is running with me too.

I don't have a welder so that wasn't an option for me. I do however work with wood everyday and know how much weight screws can hold. The only way its coming up now is if you tear the floor up with it. Which, might happen. But if that does then I'm going to have a lot bigger problems than me just falling over.

Again. Not getting mad. Just an explanation.

Im in the same boat as Waterfowlhnter. I build a mud motor and mounted it on my 14x48 jon boat and have struggled with how to mount a grab bar. If any of you guys could post some pics of how you mounted yours I would really greatly appreciated it.

Anyone got any pics of what they have done?

Is this too old to revive? I need some ideas myself.

Why not have some one fab one with a wide base and weld it straight to the boat? I done tons of fab work building roll cages in race cars . Problem would be bending aluminum round tube.

Or flat plate aluminum bottom with a 6 in tube straight out and pinned grab bar out of steel and sleeve it and hold tight with pin. Wish I had a boat if play with the idea.

Here's what I did when I had this boat. I took it to a welding shop in Lewisville and they fabricated this. You can see by the picture that they welded a receiver to the flotation pod, then the grab bar drops down into it. Once the grab bar was in place, a bolt was used to secure it so that it wouldn't move. They also made the grab bar for me. All aluminum and very sturdy. Well worth the money to have it done. When that longtail would hit a stump and kick, I was happy to have that thing to hang on to.

It does not cost that much money to take the boat to a welder and have them weld the base in place. I moved this one to the right side of the boat, right next to where I stand. I can stand up straight instead of having to reach way forward to grab the bar. I can lean on it and it is not coming out of there. I can't stress enough about the safety of these bars. If you think you can wiggle the bar out of there, I promise you it will come out when the dookie hits the fan.

What was the name of that shop duckbill?