Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

[Army1717]

I have a 2000 Starcraft Proelite 1800 SC with 125 HP Mercury. I have not messed with the idle yet. I just bought it a couple months ago when I was home on leave. Right now the slowest it goes is about 3.4 mph. my main focus is walleye. Id like to be able to get down to .8MPH if possible. I havent bought or tried anything yet. id like to range my trolling from .8 to about 2.5/2.8. I may have to do a combo of things. I just dont want to harm the motor. What is a healthy RPM that my motor can run at. I may be able to turn it down a touch to help matters. Besides that I am wondering what I can do to slow it down thats cost effective and healthy for my motor. I dont have enough money to get a kicker with all the other fishing gear and boat maintenance stuff I need to buy. Ive looked at 3 different options: (1) being 2 amish 22" trolling socks to run along side the boat, (2) trolling plate. no idea what one i would get or buy and (3) those pro troller smart tab trim tabs. Like I said I can probably slow the idle down a touch but im worried too much will effect the engine and id like to get away from that. Also if i dangle 2 trolling socks along the sides and hook em to the front and rear cleats can i use those in the same spot like that if I am drifting? normally I anchor up when jigging. Need some guidance and advice on this if someone could help me out. I use to only jig for walleyes but im coming home from Afghanistan in a few weeks and want to get more serious into all around walleye fishing. If someone could help I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

Invest in a quality bow mount trolling motor like a Minn kota Pilot series or Motorguide Wireless, you can operate them from anywhere in the boat. They're quiet, no exhaust fumes and it'll save hours on the big motor, fuel, and maintenance. These trolling motors have variable speeds in about 0.1 mph per click of the controller.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

Your caution about turning down the idle on your motor is correct. If it's running well now, leave it. If you start messing with it, you'll never be satisfied with the end results. If it's a newer motor and has SmartCraft capability then you could go with a SmartCraft gauge with troll control but that won't get you down to .8 mph ever and it will cost you around 500.00.

Based on your fund situation, I would start with the least expensive solution. All three of those will work to some degree but getting down to .8 mph will likely only be possible with a trolling motor. With your size boat, anything less than 55lb thrust would be a waste of money so even on craigslist you're going to be in it for around 500.00 by the time you get it all set up with batteries, etc.

So, go to Home Depot and get yourself a couple of Homer buckets. Drill a bunch of holes in them and then put a rope harness on them and start dragging them and see where you get. If the you get the results you want that may be all you need to do. If that doesn't work out for you then try the socks and then finally a trolling plate even though I don't like them, it may be your solution.

 

[Army1717]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

I do have a 80lb thrust trolling motor on it. but its in the front of the boat and does not have autopilot. its hooked up to 2 batteries but if im trolling i dont think the batteries would last long enough to troll for an extended period of time. is it possible to buy something for it to make it autopilot. Im sure that would probably cost a ton too. better off buying a kicker. its all set up for a kicker. has the fuel line set up, kicker mount and all but i just cant afford it with all the other stuff i need to buy as this is my first boat. Maybe a couple of 22" bags off each side will troll me down to a workable speed to catch fish. What about them protroller smart trim tabs that act as brakes or whatever? Do yo uguys know much about them?

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

What trolling motor do you have. If its a Minn-Kota Power Drive or Terrova you can get the Co-Pilot remote for it which is a big advantage and you may be able to step up and get the Autopilot. The Autopilot gives you the co-pilot and the magnetic compass auto-pilot. A 24v 80 on 2 Group 27 batteries should get you about 6 good hours of trolling. I ran mine last sunday from 6:00am until about 2:00pm and I had all my navaids running and a down rigger. I was just below 50% when I put it on the charger last night. I have an iBoats witness if no one belives it.

If you leave your boat in the water a lot or if you mainly fish rough water then the kicker is the way to go. If you take it out everyday and fish mainly lakes that don't get too riled up and have a place to charge the batteries then the bow mount troller is the winner hands down. You have many times better control over the boat with a puller on the bow plus your can sneak in and out of places without the fish even knowing you're there.

 

[Army1717]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

Alright I will look into this stuff and see what I can or cant do based off my finances. I bought the boat when I was home on leave. I have 2 more weeks over here in Afghanistan until I get home. Im not exactly sure what trolling motor model it is. I know its a Minn Kota 80lb thrust. Also, one last question. Im rather new to trolling motor stuff. I have a 2 bank on board charger where when I have it on shore I can just plug it in and they charge up. I see everywhere about on board chargers. Is there some sort of system or thing out there where my trolling motor batteries can charge themselves. My common sense tells me NO unless they were somehow connected to the alternator but the main motor would have to be running anyway for that. But someone told me you can get something that you connect to your trolling motor batteries that charges as they are in use. I know theres alot of technology out there but this just doesnt sound right. I appreciate all your insight and help though. Im new to trolling and have a lot to learn.

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

Yeah, as others have basically said, forget about using your 125 for trolling unless you're fishing muskies. If you could idle down enough, it would load up and quit anyway. It's not made for slow trolling. Use your bow mount. If you have good deep cycle batteries that are fully charged before you head out, you shouldn't have a problem running out of juice. Just trickle charge(2 amp) them when you come back to shore.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

WiMusky, the 125 Merc is a 2+2 motor. It runs on 2 cylinders below 1700 RPM and then goes to 4. Complex process but it really works well. These are sold as the "Big Motor that can troll all day". However, the caveat is "Don't mess with factory settings". I've had them in the 100, 115 and 125 flavors and they are great motors as long as you don't mess with them. You are abosolutely right about those two cylinders but what happens is if you get the idle too low you start starving 3&4 to the point of inadequate lubrication.

Army 1717, thanks for doing what your're doing. I retired in 1992 after 22. VietNam and Desert Storm are my two.

As for charging while running. No, that technology hasn't been made available to the general public for use in Marine applications. Does it exist? Sort of, GM uses it in the Volt. It's a system where generated energies are converted and cycled back to the battery so while it doesn't fully re-charge your batteries it does result in longer charge life. We'll see it in the near future I'm sure.

Stay away from the Solar Panel charging systems too. I've tried them and the only thing they do well is get in your way.

 

[Army1717]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

If indeed my trolling motor isnt compatible with the ipilot/co pilot. how much could I get out of my trolling motor by selling it to upgrade to the autopilot with ipilot? Im guessing its a maxxum. Its not all that old. I know its newer than the boat. Runs awesome and looks good. If i only had to put a few hundred with it to upgrade that wouldnt be half bad. save hours on my outboard and worrying about messing around with everything. on craigslist all ive seen is crappy old ones for sale. no newer higher lb thrust motors. So its hard to even gauge. I appreciate everyones help on this as im new to the trolling world for walleys. In my free time over here Im just doin all the research so when I get home I can get right at what I want to do. I should find out here soon what model it is. I have it in my buddys garage until i get home and hes been away for work so once i get a hold of him ill find out. Again I appreciate all your input and help.

Thanks for your service as well Jlawson. you vietnam guys are the reason why i joined to do my part

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: Want to slow down 18.5ft starcraft V-hull Aluminum with 125 merc during trolling.

I just checked www.minnkotamotors.com and the iPilot is only available on the Terrova and the Powerdrive. End to end the Powerdrive will run about 1500.00 maybe a little less if your Maxxum is rigged correctly. You can't shop these things as new, Minn-Kota has fixed pricing and its rare to find them in decent condition on Craigslist. They do pop up occasionally but they sell right away. I may upgrade mine to 80lb after battling head winds and waves last weekend. I'm not sure yet.