to big

[canadian boy]

is a 40hp motor to big to troll with

[MAGNA19]

ive trolled with my 90 evinrude for 2 yrs before getting the kicker.just throw outdriftsocks,or 5 gallon buckets to get you speed down.ive got it down to 1.8mph.the only thing with that is the carbon buildup.

[REW]

If you are going to be trolling a great deal - and can live with a slower top end - and are willing to keep from overrevving your engine - you can put a lower pitch prop on your motor.

By going down from say a 15 - to an 11 would slow your trolling speed nearly by 1 mph.

You will also slow your top speed by about 8 or 9 mph, and if you don't watch it - could over rev your engine.

Note:
I am using the numbers 15 and 11 as simply a number - those numbers - with respect to prop pitches might or might not apply to your particular motor and boat.

Bottom line - what ever gets you the best top end as far as pitch is concerned -- if you want a super hole shot and want to slow your trolling speed - drop down several pitches in your prop. It will work fine. This means that you can idle and troll at about 1500 rpm, which will minimize carbon build up in the engine.

Also, if you run all synthetic oil in your engine - that is either mixed with the gas, or injected - depending on the engine - will really help minimize carbon build up.

Take care
REW

[Bob Z]

I succesfully troll crank baits with a 35HP Merc on a 16 ft. Sea Nymph.

[Eyez]

I have no problems trolling with my 60 merc 2 stroke. trolls down to about 1.0 on my paddle wheel with an 11 pitch prop on my glass tiller boat.

Eyez

[TBO/MN]

I run a 60 hp Merc. on a 1660 Pro V Lund, and troll all the time with it. I back troll into the wind, and she works fine. I forward troll cranks on boards, 3 ways, snap weights, bottom bouncers, and straight line....no problems. I have had the carbs tuned down to idle at 550 rpms and she will troll down to about 1.6 mph, and upriver it gets down to 1.2 mph, depending on current. I was using regular Quicksilver 2 stroke oil and it would load up once in a while, then changed to Amsoil, and eliminated that problem, now she will purrrrr all day long at an idle.

Good Fishin'
TBO/MN

[MOeyez]

I have a 40hp tiller Merc on a 16-ft. Sylvan rig. Forward trolling cranks or bouncers with no modifications, fishing solo, I can get down to 0.7 mph according to my water wheel (sorry, don't have GPS, but have no reason to think the speed reading is too far off). And I can cruise in the low 30's--plenty quick for me! Hope this helps.

Mike

[eyecatcher_1]

I agree with MoEyez, I have a 40hp merc on a 16ft crestliner and it trolls down perfectly for cranks, a little fast for spinners somedays, but i use an electric or drift if that is the case. It will work just fine with no other adjustments. It tried adjusting props, and I would advise against it. Reason: I didn't end up with the power, top speed, to get the boat to plane out in windy weather and it made for slow, wet rides. On the flip side, my boat is really heavy and I almost always have 2-3 people in it.

[mac]

My Yamaha 40 4-stroke actually trolls too slowly for cranks and I had to turn up the idle a bit. It's on a Alumacraft 16.5 Magnum.