Prop Question

[gaddy]

I find that I need to reduce my trolling speed some. 14' aluminum with a merc 25 and I believe the pitch on this one is 13. my other prop that I used for fishing was destroyed beyond repair a couple years ago and I cant remember what pitch it was. anyone have any recommendations ? I need to slow down enough to pull plugs or flashers.

[h20hunter]

Would it not be easier to drag socks/buckets?

[gaddy]

a prop change takes like 2 minutes and I always like a spare. also don't want anything dragging behind the boat it I catch anything and have to chase it. sent the last one in to get fixed and never got it back so I cant remember what it was. also I run the Columbia so I like the options.

[h20hunter]

Got it. Just throwing it out there. Tight lines.

[gaddy]

thanks for the input and I've considered those options. I have always changed for fishing and duck hunting or goofing around, same motor but different performance for different situations.

[lokidog]

Get something other than a Merc, then you'll be able to troll down just fine....        I don't know anyone that likes their Merc, including myself with a 9.9 that is hard to get to troll slower than my Honda 90 can.

Honestly, I don't think you can down pitch your prop to make a difference in your trolling speed.  Maybe having the engine looked at to slow your idle speed down would be more productive.  A smaller diameter prop could work but you'd have to be careful not to redline the engine since the rpms would be able to get much higher.

As H20 said, a bucket can be pretty effective and it only has to be a few feet behind the boat, easy to pull up if needed.

[Buckmark]

You could drop pitch to like an 11 if avail, that would slow down your speed, but for every action there is a reaction, you will loose top end speed and gain rpms, plus it may be harder loaded to get up on plane

[gaddy]

there is no problem getting on plane and it would not hurt one bit to slow her down a little. this little boat is fast. just want to make it troll able again. wouldn't it be better to decrease the bite in the water a bunch to slow her down at idle ?

[Buckmark]

Buy going to a lower pitch you are decreasing the bite, more revolutions to travel the same distance at the same rpm, if you can not lower the idle rpms any more then you need to go down in prop.
13 prop in theory with a perfect bite moves the boat 13 inches per revolution
11 prop would only move you 11 inches...speed over land, do you troll using a gps to monitor speed?
Think of your prop as a wood screw, take a fine thread screw and a course thread screw of the same length, use a drill spinning a set rpm and time which takes longer to screw into a piece of wood..

Or i am way off base in my thinking, which has been known to happen....

[WSU]

Buy an electric?

[Hilltop123]

Trolling plate..........

[Rick]

Trolling plate..........

+1

[Alchase]

Trolling plate..........

+1

 

I would not change the prop pitch unless it was the last resort. It effects every aspect of your boats performance, troll, power, time to plane.
I would look into have the idle turned down first.
My 13 ft Smokercraft Alaskan with a 15 hp, 4 stroke Yamaha, will troll at 0.25 mph at idle.

[Buckmark]

Trolling plate..........

+2   

[gaddy]

thanks for the advise all. as I said earlier my other prop was a different pitch and had less surface area on the blades and I had no problems with it. the prop on it now pushes the boat a bit fast anyways, never have gone full throttle with it. I also have stabilizer wings on so I don't think a trolling plate is an option. might give the bucket deal a go and see what happens.

[Alchase]

I replaced the "Dolphin" plane, with "Smart tabs" this was the best modification for the buck I have ever made. Awesome improvement over the Dolphin, and the Dolphin was allot better then straight out of the factory.

http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabs.htm

This won't help your trolling issue though.

[Rick]

The easiest and least expensive way to slow your troll is to trim the engine up. I'm sure your engine has a shallow water trim position. Trimmed up,some of the thrust will be directed towards the surface.

Might be enough to keep from having to drag a bucket.

[gaddy]

Thank you for that link Alchase !! they have a trolling brake and trim tab combination that will work and under 50 bucks. I think you just solved my problem! I will just have to move my transducer, easy fix. Thanks again !
and the only trim I have for the motor are a couple different diameter dowels used for shallow water duck hunting.
The unit I was looking at is called the pro-troller if anyone else suffers the same problem.

[Alchase]

I can sit in the back of my boat and go through the range of throttle to WOT (Wide Open Throttle) and be on a plane instantly with no nose climb or porpoising, by myself as well as with my wife and two sons.

Sure beats having to put all the weight in the bow to keep it down, LOL

They are also easy to install.

[gaddy]

I've got a rt side steering console and have to sit in the middle of the boat. these can be adjusted to counter that. and with the flip of a lever, BOOM, trolling brake. Thanks again, got to get these ordered.

[Alchase]

Did you console come with the boat?
Or did you ad it later?

I have been thinking about adding a console to my 13 footer.

[gaddy]

came on the boat when I got it used. the boat is an 83 sea nymph. the one thing I wish it had would be electric start.
The console is basically an aluminum box that holds the steering unit and is riveted to the side. cant see it being to difficult to install.