Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

[BinLurkin]

Disregarding the expense of the prop, if I wanted to switch over for a day of trolling which way would I go? I have a # 21 prop on now. Is it as easy as just moving up or down a prop number or two? The unit is a 305 V-8 Mercruiser stern drive. Or is this even a good idea to begin with?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

hello<br /> leave it be.<br /> if you need to slow the hull speed it wont work and the idle speed is not controled by the prop. <br /> what are you trying to do ?<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

I've been thru this before with folks. Given the motor is running properly now and the idle rpm is where it should be then reducing your pitch, a lot, will indeed slow the boat down some at idle speed. <br /><br />The downside is that your top rpms go up a ton. Everybody says "I'll be careful -- I'm not gonna try to get on plane". They always do. Something always comes up. And without switching back to the correct prop. Thats the last thing you want to do with that motor. <br /><br />The same thing goes for spare props. People always end seem to end up with a spare thats way out of range. They figure if anything happens to the good one, they'll be careful and switch back right away. It very seldom works that way.<br /><br />I'm not saying it wont work for you but I'm just telling you what I've seen happen.

 

[Walt T]

Re: Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

WHy dont you install one of those trolling flaps?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

As stated above,<br />Ya, It can be done.... Maybe a 15" prop Might slow you down abit, <br />But your WOT speed would be around 15mph......<br />Not very practical......<br />You'd have to run out to the fishing grounds, <br />Then change the prop in deepwater.....<br /><br />Several other choices come to mind......<br />1) Here on Lake Ontario, Most of the Trollers use Large Drift Socks, tied off the forward cleats, to slow the boat(5gal. plastic pails also work, although a little crude)......<br />2) A Trolling Plate, that drops down behind the prop will slow the boat,<br />But at the expence of some boat control...<br />Then, There's the Bondo Way.......... ....<br />My Starcraft 221 Islander Used to troll at 2+mph with a 19"prop, without socks or whatever......<br />I went to the Land & Sea Torque-Shift Prop..... I've set it up to start(idle/trolling) at 11"s of pitch... It'll Up-shift to 20"s at WOT....<br />I then added Very Over-Sized Bennett Trim-Tabs...... <br />Now, at Idle I'm trolling at about 1.5mph/2.0mph...<br />Drop the trim tabs to Full Extention,+ My speed drops to .5 to .75mph... Walleye Speeds...<br />Bring the tabs up a little,+ I'll get 1.0 to 1.5mph... Trout Speeds.....<br />Retract the tabs,+ I can get up to 2.0 to 2.5mph... Salmon + Steelhead speeds......<br /><br />This May, or May Not work for you.....<br />Bottom line is,<br />It's Much Easier to "Dirty-up" the Hull,<br />Than to Change a Prop, in 100 feet of Water.........

 

[jmattor]

Re: Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

Try the ProPulse adjustable composite propeller. Check out their website and see what you think. I tried one once. With the pitch tuned all the way down you basically have a trolling prop. Just watch the revs! Want to go slower? You can remove two of the blades (opposite each other of course) and there you go. It has it's pluses and minuses and can be a little tricky to adjust at first, but it really does work. I believe that they now have one for an engine your size. Nice thing too, is that you can buy individual blades when and if you need them.

 

[BinLurkin]

Re: Which prop will make the boat idle slower, for trolling.

Okay, okay. Thanks guys. Lots of good stuff here already. I think I would be one who wouldn't change the prop when I was done like I think I will, so I will pick up a trolling plate tomorrow. My post wasn't to clear in retrospect but you all figured it out anyway. The boat trolls about 5 mph & I want to get down to 2 or 3 sometimes so I think I will be happy with the trolling plate until I forget to raise it up when I get under way. I'll get the one that has the shear pins on it for when that happens. Ain't going to do me any good out on the ocean as someone suggested with the props but at least I won't bend up the plate. I'm not a lurker anymore.