Patent ID: 8439715

Claim:
A trolling motor support assembly for a trolling motor comprising a trolling motor propulsion unit and trolling motor shaft, the support assembly comprising: (a) a rack unit attached to the trolling motor shaft, wherein the rack unit comprises a vertically disposed rack; (b) a breakaway unit comprising a gear engaged with the rack of the rack unit, whereby rotation of the gear causes the trolling motor shaft to raise or lower depending upon a direction of rotation of the gear; and (c) a breakaway base beneath the breakaway unit, wherein the breakaway unit and breakaway base are resiliently engaged with each other and further wherein the breakaway unit is configured to pivot with respect to the breakaway base in any direction in response to a torque applied to the trolling motor shaft, such that the trolling motor propulsion unit may deflect if it strikes an underwater obstacle from any direction, wherein one of the breakaway base and the breakaway unit further comprises at least one cam not in contact with the trolling motor shaft, and wherein the other one of the breakaway base and the breakaway unit further comprises at least one notch sized to receive the at least one cam.