Trolling motor for offshore boat

[eatmydirt85]

I have a 255 Sea Pro 255 with a single Yamaha 300 HPDI, and I want to get a small (yamaha probably) Kicker Engine for trolling for Mackerel. I know my engine can it is just it is costly to just troll around with a 300 HPDI (even tho it idles on 4 cylinders) it takes a lot of gas and a lot of Yamalube. Also, I don't want a problem like a lot of the other 300 HPDI owners with fouling plugs and stuff. So my question is:
1) What size engine (t8, t9.9, or maybe even bigger?)
2) can I have the throttle controlled through the throttle for my main engine?
3) What size shaft for a boat that has a 30 in. main motor (20 or 25?)
I know I really want this, also if my main goes down, once I get towed back, I can troll down to the marina that is in the adjacent canal to mine.

 

[eatmydirt85]

Re: Trolling motor for offshore boat

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: Trolling motor for offshore boat

I have a 255 Sea Pro 255 with a single Yamaha 300 HPDI, and I want to get a small (yamaha probably) Kicker Engine for trolling for Mackerel. I know my engine can it is just it is costly to just troll around with a 300 HPDI (even tho it idles on 4 cylinders) it takes a lot of gas and a lot of Yamalube. Also, I don't want a problem like a lot of the other 300 HPDI owners with fouling plugs and stuff. So my question is:
1) What size engine (t8, t9.9, or maybe even bigger?)
2) can I have the throttle controlled through the throttle for my main engine?
3) What size shaft for a boat that has a 30 in. main motor (20 or 25?)
I know I really want this, also if my main goes down, once I get towed back, I can troll down to the marina that is in the adjacent canal to mine.

1.) I'd say minimum 9.9 but a 15 would be better. (I have a 4hp on my 17ft and it is the bare minimum for my boat)
2.) You would need a dual binnacle control or seperate controls for the kicker. You can get an ez-steer connection that allows you to use the same steering connection.
3.) The longer the better. 25" should suffice since it will not plane your boat anyway. Longer is better to keep the prop under when out in chop or rolling waves.

 

[sdsaw]

Re: Trolling motor for offshore boat

How fast do you need to go?

This might help you on what size to get:
http://www.allcoast.com/discussion/ViewTopic.cfm?page=1&startrow=21&topic_ID=75243&search=true&searchString=kicker&searchNotString=&SearchMode=all&SearchNotMode=all&searchFromDate={ts%20%272010-01-07%2000%3A02%3A08%27}&SearchUpToDate={ts%20%272010-04-07%2000%3A02%3A08%27}

Maybe an HD offshore aux. bracket for mounting

 

[eatmydirt85]

Re: Trolling motor for offshore boat

Thanks for the replies. I don't need to be going more than say 7 knots at MAX. Probably around 5 knots. The Sea Pro is a pretty light boat too. It has a euro transom so it doesn't need a bracket for just the trolling motor.