View Full Version : Smart Gauge troll down
Does anyone have any thoughts about the ability of a 200hp optimax on a 19 foot fiberglass boat to troll down slow enough with the Smart Gauges feature to perform well pulling spinners/crankbaits at very slow speeds (front-trolling).
The reason I ask is that if this worked well enough, I would forgoe purchasing a kicker and put a Minnkota Vantage on the back for backtrolling in calm or light conditions and use the main engine to backtroll or front-troll in heavier waves. My current experience with a 15hp kicker is that there is not enough power to backtroll/forward troll effectively in tough conditions anyway. Thanks.
Gumbo
02-26-2002, 12:32 PM
The question I'd ask is what motor would you rather accumulate the long hours on? The high doller big motor or a $2K kicker? I guess it depends on how long you plan on keeping the rig. I'd bet that most of the time the kicker will do find powering your boat. And for the times it's not then use the big motor. My Yamy 9.9 high-thrust powers my Tyee 1950 just fine
CJHughes
02-26-2002, 02:05 PM
I have the smart gauges 225 opti on my Triton s\f 21 . I also did not want to use a kicker . Let me tell you the good points first . Yes it will troll at 1.8 mph even into the wind . Into the wind is the best part as you know it is very hard to troll into the wind with a kicker . It never misses a beat it is unreal that it will run at 480 rpms. The gas and oil consumption is great also . Now for my only complaint with the gauges everything gas , oil , rpm , speed they are all on the gauges so if they mess up you don't know how much gas you have or oil . Mine have had problems .
infishman
02-26-2002, 06:44 PM
OK - I know nothing about the Smart guages. Are you saying they replace the normal guages already on your dash (sorry, don't mean to be ignorant - I just don't know anything about these and I'm thinking about an Optimax). Thanks for any input
CJHughes
02-27-2002, 09:04 AM
Yes they replace all the gauges you would have . They have the time, water temp ,air temp, baro pressure ,gas, oil, speed ,rpms, mpg ,hour meter, the troll feature ,digital speed and rpms, voltage. I might of forgot some of it but you get the picture . Instead of having 8 gauges on your dash you just have two that do it all . Neat stuff when it works right .