Front mounting for trolling motor

[Fishnngolfn]

I need to cut a piece of wood to mount to the front of the boat to mount the trolling motor on. I am thinking of doing something like the following -

Cut a piece of wood in a rounded triangle to match the curve of the front of the boat. It won't be too deep. Just deep enough to hold the trolling motor. The trolling motor will be foot controlled. There will be a small space (about 6") from the bottom of the piece of wood to the top "deck" of the front of the boat. My question is - What kind of wood works best for this application? I know to use stainless steel screws and bolts. The previous owner had drilled holes on the edge of the boat lip to accomodate the wood they used. It has since become rotten and removed. What wood last the longest? I plan on covering it with some marine carpet to help it last longer. How thick should the wood be?