If I am lucky I can get this setup fixed within 2 weeks so I can do better with the Walleye trolling (darn ice is already starting to creep in)

I have 16 ft ssv and a 40 HP 4 stroke and at idle I troll at 3mph.
Previously I adjusted the throttle cable out of spec and hit 2.5 but the dealer put it back.

Any whooo I want to hit 1.5mph (or 1mph?) trolling speed without throwing out the drift socks, steering is a b**** with them on and less than 1.5 mph is impossible that way.

Will a trolling plate do the trick?
Is tilting the motor up acceptable and how far can I go before I can cause damage to the motor?


Other basics:
-sometimes I fish dense weed so drifts socks are no good there
-I rarely troll so maybe a smaller prop is an option
-a kicker is not an option because my transom is rated for xlbs and I have x lbs on there already
-yes I searched...I think the main thing is whether I can get scrub 2mph

thanks,

nn

If you couldn't steer the boat with bags, a plate probably won't do any better if you are trying for 1.5 or less. Where are your trolling bags running? Ideally they should be about 2/3 of the way back from the bow. that's the approx steering axis of the boat. If your bags weren't at that position, try them there. Other than that, I think you just need to go electric for the low speeds.

nicknight,
What make/model 40 4S are we talking about? I had a 2005 Mercury 60 4S that had an improperly adjusted throttle stop, that required filing-down to get the motor to the proper idle rpm. What is your current in-gear idle rpm, if you have a tach?
HRG

Why is a trolling motor out of the question? My fishing partner has the exact same set up as you (ssv 40 hp merc) and he hangs a 12v transom mount electric off the back. It works very well actually. You could go bow mount as well.

I have an Alumacraft Lunker 165 CS with Merc 50 EFI 4-stroke. For trolling under 2 mph, I use a 55 lb MinnKota bow-mount electric with Co-Pilot remote control. With a 180 RC battery, that's good for at least 5 hours trolling at 1.8 mph, very responsive steering from anywhere in the boat, quiet, keeps down hours on the 50 and much less costly than adding a gas kicker.

What prop are you running?
I use to troll at 1.8 with no problem at all, using a 50hp 2 stroke Merc with an 11 pitch prop.
My boat was a 1650 Lund.

I only lost 3 or 4 mph compared to a 14 pitch at top end.

Wow, it does not sound like anyone is in favour of the trolling plate but I did get a lot of suggestions:happy:

Shellbacks: I probably do have the drift socks mis-aligned/not setup properly (yes, they are not bags). That combined with fishing partners that want to do crazy things with the electric and won't sit still make for chaos.....maybe I need to use my captains hat more.:bangin:

Hot Runner: I will double-check the mechanisms to see if there is one I missed.....slowing it down any amount will help with any solution. ty

Bgunn: I will keep an eye out for another prop....I think I am 17 pitch and I don't need the torque and possibly top end it provides


Electric Trolling: I have an AGM with 120 reserve. I get about 2 hours of trolling at low speed going with the wind! I have a bow and transom mount available but prefer the bow. Maybe something is wrong with that but I don't have the experience on other boats to judge.


wow....no fans of the trolling plate because of steering issues....but that is all...otherwise they are fine?


I will post back on the prop and motor adjustment thing

I have a trolling plate mounted to a 90hp, used to use a 5 gal. pail cut in half before i got the plate, as far as the steering loss, mininmal, you just have to be competant in handling a boat (then again shouldn't we all be) I have no problem loading, unloading, docking my rig, and I troll from 0.7- 2.2 mph on the gps. I did drop from 40 to 38 mph top end with same prop. :howdy:

If you are fishing heavy weeds why not get a electric trolling motor, as a plugged engine water intake screen ie: overheating your engine is never good :smokin:

With my old boat (15 ft smokercraft, 25hp Honda) I wanted to avoid using a bowmount because of the space useage. I tried the driftsock, backtrolling, etc...I finally caved last year before I bought my new boat, and started using a bowmount with autopilot. What an idiot I was for not trying that before! Made a huge difference in my fising experience. I'd highly recommend it.

Need to be careful with lowering the rpm`s on a four stroke, you loose oil pressure if idling to slow rpm`s. Most EFI 2 strokes will idle lower and slower then a four stroke for that reason.

The best set up for bags is to run a rope from front chalk to front chalk under the boat with two bags tied on that rope. boat control comes easy then.

I seem to be one of the few that has a trolling plate and loves it. I had a kicker at one time which was not worth the hassles it created. I don't troll with the plate often, I usually use my bow mount autopilot electric. when I do use the plate though, it works fine and dandy. I run it at 45 degrees and that gives me the speed I want with plenty of steering control.