HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

Tom Staples

Cadet
Joined
Jun 20, 2005
Messages
9
Has anyone tried this? If so what did think about it? Has it worked like they claim as far as slowing your boat down for trolling or smoothing out the ride? If you tried the other brands on the market like the Happy Troller or Trol-A-Matic? I'd like to hear about those as well.<br /><br />I've got a 16 ft Deep-V Grumman boat with a Johnson 60 on it and am thinking of getting it. I'd like to use it on the lakes for salmon or lakers here in NH. I'm also hoping it will also help smooth out the ride on my boat. Sometimes while cruising the lake my bow will start bouncing or proposing on me and I've got to slow down and start again.<br /><br />Any help on this product(s) will be greatly appreciated!<br /><br /> Thanks NHfisherman
 

PuddleJumper

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
314
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I used Happy Troller one season. Worked as advertised BUT gummed up plugs trolling with the plate increasing exhaust pressure. Went to using a kicker instead.<br />Nauticus advertises a trolling plate function for Smart Tabs that looks pretty good
 

Jdeagro

iboats.com Partner
Joined
Jul 30, 2003
Messages
1,682
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

Steering at slow speeds is always an issue with a single engine. Interupting the thrust of the prop will slow the boat but would also exagerate steering problems.<br /><br />Look at our PR500 kit (new) which allows the trim tabs to be dropped down to vertical creating trolling brackes, or our (new) ProTroller trim tab kit which incorporates the PR500 hardware. You would use the PT980-40 ProTroller Smart Tabs or the ST980-40 plus the PR500 accessory kit. <br /><br />With the plates in a vertical position on both sides of the boat, it will track streight as well as slow down. You should not gum up the plugs either since you are not restricting the exhaust through the prop.
 

Surffx

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Messages
133
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I have the happy troller, it works great, simple and cheap. I just can't seem to remember to put it up when we're done (bent it a couple of times) :eek: I really wouldn't expect it to help out of the performance of you boat though.
 

MRS

Commander
Joined
Jul 10, 2005
Messages
2,569
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I have broke two Cabelas Hydro troll plates they are not made very well. I did put a happy troller on and it works great on my boat it does help hold the bow down on take offs also. :)
 

4poco

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 14, 2005
Messages
134
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I also have tryed the hydro plate from cabelas.<br />My experience is as follows:<br />Bought the hydro with the fins, hated it, made my boat handle terrible,didnt feel very stable to me at any speed. Broke that one<br />Am currently useing the hydro plate without the fins, so far so good, all tho am very careful with this one. I shut off engine and raise and lower plate manaully instead of useing the rope to unlatch. Boat handles much better. Dont see any reason to take it off when kids are tubing.<br />135hp inboard 3.0L 18ft runabout. Not sure this will help in your decision to buy or not, but works for me,besides cabelas has a great return policy ;)
 

montanaman

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 27, 2004
Messages
49
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I purchased my hydra-troll shortly after I got my boat. I had just move the motor up on hole and placed the hydra-troll at the same time, so I'm not sure if any performance gain was due to one adjustment or the other. After I made the change I didn'nt porpoise at all. I normally use my bow mount for normal trolling and use the hydra-troll in high wind situations. If it is too windy then I release the plate from the down position and let it "float". This way i us less engine rpm and I don't take a chance on breaking the shear pin. Would a kicker motor do a better job? Yes, but it will cost you alot more as well.
 

8x56mn

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
124
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I have a 19 ft Sting Ray 140 hp Merc 4.0.I/O It has a Happy Troller and I can slow down to .5 for trolling if needed and idle around 9-1000 rpm, this keeps the motor smooth with no fouling.<br />I do use my boat hook to raise the plate as the line trip is not reliable and often the plate stays down. I put the motor in neutral and raise the prop to where I can see the plate it and grab and latch with the hook and then lower it back down before taking off.
 

Surffx

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Apr 10, 2005
Messages
133
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

Ya, I took the string off too, worthless in my opinion. I just stop the boat, raise the outdrive and sit on the swimstep to put it up or down.
 

McPhee

Cadet
Joined
May 3, 2006
Messages
9
Re: HYDRO TROLL by Cabela's

I broke two Hydrotrolls from Cabelas. The release never worked right and it was hard to steer. I called them and talked to tech support after the second one. Tech support admitted many problems with them. Refunded my money.<br /><br />I just got a '78 6-Hp Johnson to use as a troller/kicker motor. I can't see burning extra gas in the big motor just to troll when a smaller engine will do it. Cost me $300 for the motor and $150 for the bracket.<br /><br />McPhee :D
 
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