Trolling Plates

[DoubleG]

Does anyone use them?  What do you think about them, pros and cons?  I also just noticed the Nauticus Smart Tabs - ProTroller Series, anyone use these? 

 

I have a 17' aluminum boat with a 90 hp motor.  I can't troll under 3 mph without the trolling bags but they are a pain in the butt when out trolling alone.

 

Thanks in advance!!

 

GG

 

Pro Troller

http://www.nauticusinc.com/nauticus_pro_troller.html

 

Happy Troller

http://www.davisnet.com/marine/products/list_marine.asp?grp=mo2

 

EasyTroller

http://www.ironwoodpacific.com/store/p/478-EasyTroller-Hinged-Metal-Trolling-Plate.aspx

 

Trol-A-Matic

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Boating/Boating-Outboards-Accessories/Trolling-Plates-Stabilizers|/pc/104794380/c/104752980/sc/104655780/Trol-A-Matic-Trolling-Plate/699629.uts?destination=%2Fcatalog%2Fbrowse%2Fboating-boating-outboards-accessories-trolling-plates-stabilizers%2F_%2FN-1100537%2FNs-CATEGORY_SEQ_104655780%3FWTz_l%3DSBC%253BMMcat104794380%253Bcat104752980&WTz_l=SBC%3BMMcat104794380%3Bcat104752980%3Bcat104655780

[Has Been]

Had a Happy troller & I hated it. Was more trouble than it was worth. Get a bag or buckets . Or in your case ,maybe a kicker.

[Frisco]

I had one on a 17' crestliner with a 50 HP it worked fine for trolling however it kept the bow down at higher speeds. So if you can adjust the trim it will work on mine I didn't have that function. 

[BAZOOKAJOE]

I have a 17 ft aluminum LOWE with a 90 hp 2-stroke Mercury. I added the troll-a-Matic and can troll down to 1.3 sog. I lost about 3-4 mph on my top end. It's been trouble-free for going on 3 years. Nothing to worry about breaking or have to remember to pull up.

[spoonfed-1]

I had a 17 1/2 ft Starcraft with a 90 merc.

Tried a couple different ones and ended up with the Happy troller with the hinged plate.

Took care of all my trolling speed issues especially trolling with a stiff wind.

Bad news is more fuel consumption because you have to keep your rpms up but worth it.

The hinged plate allows you to avoid damge when you take off and forget to put the plate up.

You will realize it's down before you break anything.

 

Good luck

Glen

[carpedium]

Check out the pro-trollers. Double as trim tabs

[rolmops]

I had a happy troller on my 18 foot sylvan with 75 horse merc and hated it.It shortened my trolling time because of increased fuel usage (I had a 20 gallon fuel tank). I started using a 9.5 kicker instead and fuel expenses went way down per trip and on top of that, the extra engine gives increased safety.

[DoubleG]

The Pro Troller looks really cool and I like the idea of getting on plane faster and it stops porpoising but I'm not sure if I would be able to reach them to use them.

I can't use a kicker on my transom so that won't work.

I use 2 large bags now, how much worse would the gas consumption be with a plate?

[spoonfed-1]

The Pro Troller looks really cool and I like the idea of getting on plane faster and it stops porpoising but I'm not sure if I would be able to reach them to use them.

I can't use a kicker on my transom so that won't work.

I use 2 large bags now, how much worse would the gas consumption be with a plate?

 

I don't think you will use much more fuel with a plate than you use with two bags.

[Chinook1981]

I couldnt go slow enough before i started pulling big boards. I use to hang a 5 gallon bucket over each side 3/4 of the way up the boat off of the cleats. I drilled a lot of 5/8" holes in the bottoms and up the sides half way. Works great for cheap. I've seen a lot of charters do it. I've heard a lot of complaints about bags plus they are pricey. My big boards actually slow my boat down at least half a MPH...

[fish-on]

Had a trolling plate on my boat, It created alot of exhaust fumes enough to make you sick, Worked excellent but could'nt take it anymore, Went with two 5 gallon pales, Drilled just one small hole in the center of each bucket, Works very well.

[DoubleG]

I ended up going with the Pro Troller Smart Tabs.  Even if I don't like them for trolling and have to go back to the bags at least I can still use them as trim tabs.  Once I get a chance to run the boat with them I will post a review.  Thanks for everyone's input!!

 

Pro Troller

http://www.nauticusi...ro_troller.html

Edited March 1, 2013 by DoubleG

[Sk8man]

I had the hinged Happy Troller and lost a lot at the top end and I thought it was much slower to get up on plane and eventually took it off.