trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

[diamondl]

I am thinking about buying a trolling plate for my 1973 merc 115(inline 6). I was wandering if it has any bad effects or will do damage to the motor to run it for long periods of time at lower RPM. The trolling plate is mutch less expensive than a kickier motor!!

 

[alcan]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

Hi Diamond<br />As I don't know what size\type boat you owen this is going to an opinion. I am going to vote for the kicker motor. If you have to use a happy plate to make your rig go slow enough, The fuel savings alone would pay for the smaller motor not to mention the added maintaince costs.If you have a larger rig and fish heavy currents and don't need to drag buckets, sea anchors or happy plates thats a differnt story.

 

[diamondl]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

I would be using it to slow the boat. I have a 1973 starcraft alluminum boat. Not sure on the weight. I cant troll slow enough with just the big notor.

 

[JB]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

Howdy, Diamond.<br /><br />I'm with Alcan. Long periods at low rpm is worse for some big 2 strokes than others, but it is not good for any of them. They load up, foul plugs and accumulate carbon.<br /><br />For your boat a 2 or 3 hp would be an excellent troller.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[DJ]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

diamondl,<br /><br />I'm with the others. For what you are going to spend on a kick up plate, you can add another $100.00 and find a nice 3 hp. It will troll for hours on a quart of fuel.<br /><br />There are acouple of decent looking ones on e-bay now.

 

[Boatist]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

I also would use a trolling motor but I would get at least a 9.9 with a high thrust prop. I have a 21 foot Crestliner Aluminum and use a 15 HP kicker with a high thrust prop. My boat is 2800 lb without fuel, gear or fisherman. I have a friend that fishes wuth a 19 foot Starcraft day crusier and he uses a 9.9. I guess it really depends on what you troll for and at what speed. My 15 will go from .5 to 9 mph. and the high thrust prop is great for backing. I troll mostly for salmon at 1.6 to 3.3 mph but have done some albacore at 8 plus. Also kicker great safety factor if ever go off shore or any big water. It will get you back in or keep you off the rocks should main motor not start.

 

[diamondl]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

thanks for the infor. I forgot to mention my boat is an 18.5 ft alumminun with walk through wind shield, and a large fuel tank under the floor (usually cary 15 to 20 gallons).

 

[oldboat1]

Re: trolling with big motor, does it hurt it?

I think I would be inclined to go smaller rather than larger for an 18 foot aluminum. My vote would be for a three horsepower Evinrude or Johnson -- anything from the '50s to present. These are quiet, sweet running motors. They are also light and have a self-contained fuel tank. If you have a smaller troller, and find that you run it at slightly higher rpms to keep control, so much the better -- easier to run a motor that way than to overpower and have to throttle down too much.