Trolling brake or new prop

[Okeye]

I have a 00 Merc 50 on my Fisher165 and it trolls too fast (2.3 gps).

I am currently looking at either a new prop (17",the old on is a 22")or getting a Happy troller. Can some of give me some pros and cons of the two.

I have learned alot from you guys and am very appreciative.

Thanks alot.

Okeyes

[Shellback]

Changing the prop pitch, you have to be careful not over revving the engine when at WOT. The Happy Trollers you gotta worry about forgeting to raise them. When I needed to slow my speed down for trolling, I went with trolling bags. They are similar to drift bags but smaller and are made of heavy canvas. Lots of guys just drag 5 gallon buckets behind them, serves the same purpose but kinda Rube Goldberg. My bags fold up nice and take up very little space so they are always onboard when I need them. I tie one off each bowcleat and give it enough rope to run just aft of the middle of the boat. They're out of the way there for landing fish and don't have to worry about lines in the prop.

[Okeye]

Who makes the trolling bags?

Thanks
Okeye

[Gilligan]

I have ran both the Happy Troller and the bags and liked the happy troller much better. Alot less hassle than geting bags out, making sure they open, drying, storing. The new trollers have spring loaded hinges that will aleviate the 'dorf' problem of nailing the throttle with the troller down.

[MarkG]

A lower pitch prop will definitly slow your trolling a bit,and maybe enough,but the pitch change you described is quite a large one, not typically in the range of most changes,and as mentioned will really increase your RPMs tremendously if you change that much. Could risk overrev. If you are getting near full rated RPM with that 22",you will not be able to go down much from it. However,I am guessing from the boat/motor/prop combination you described that you probably are far from it.

[Johnnie Candle]

Go with the bags, they are much more multi purpose. You can use them trolling or drifting. They take seconds to get out and in. And require not instalation. Check ou the JNB products. I have had a bag for five years now and it still looks like new. Great stuff.

PS Every charter boat on Lake Erie uses trolling bags.

[FreeByrd]

Try a search on "trolling bags" - it has been covered in great detail many times on the Boats & Motors, General Discussion, and probally on the Strictly fishing forums too.

The best trollng bags I know of are available online from www.amishoutfitters.com

Look for the "Buggy Bag"

Make sure you buy a trolling bag and not a driftsock.

Good Luck,
Steve

[larrym]

I'm not an expert on props but there are guys on this board that are. Perhaps they will chime in. If the #'s you gave are "pitch" then the 22 sounds like to much for your motor anyway. What rpm's do you run at WOT? I have a 90 hp 2000 merc and it came from dealer with a 17 and runs correct rpm's a wot. I would think with your 50 you might need a 17 or even smaller. They key is rpm's at WOT....don't go over manual's suggested but get as close as you can. I'll bet once you get that right, trolling speeds will drop if motor is adjusted properly.

[larrym]

Look on the swap board. There is a 13 ptch prop for a 50-60 hp merc that I'll bet would fix your problem.

[Okeye]

The prop is labelled 12x22 and the dealer told me that was correct. It doesn't have much of a hole shot, but will run 34 gps empty. However it does cavitate easily on tight turns and has to be trimmed way down.


The prop now turns 5000 rpm @ WOT.

Thanks
Okeye

[glb]

Check your motors specs for max RPM range and select a prop that will get near the upper limit. Chances are that you are pretty close now. Going to a 17 inch pitch prop will probably cause the motor to rev too fast at top end. This may help a little on trolling, but probably not enough. By comparing the ratio of pitch change to speed my guess is that you will be just under 2.0 mph, but not much. If you choose the 17 inch prop your engine will over rev, your cruise and top speed and fuel economy will suffer. Its just like driving the car in second gear on the highway.