Trolling a Tom Cat at 1 mph

D

Doryman

New member
The slowest speed my Tom Cat will run, with one of the 150 Yamahas running at idle, is about 2.6 mph. I want to have the ability to slow the boat down to about 1 mph for certain salmon trolling situations. So far I have identified four solutions, none completely satisfactory.

1. Install a 8 hp Yamaha high torque motor with power tilt and remote controls. This is the most serious solution, but it would make it difficult, if not impossible, to continue to use the boarding ladder (which I use often on land.) Plus, there is the problem of getting the expense ($3500+) past the Minister of Finance. On the other hand, to paraphrase a great American, "Extremisim in the pursuit of fish is no vice."

2. HappiTroll(s). (Need 2 to equalize running times for both engines.) I have Permatrims installed and doubt if the HappiTroll would fit. Plus, I suspect it would negatively affect the water flow around the engines.

3. Drift sock. I have one and need to try it out. Am worried about fouling the fishing lines and/or props.

4. (This is my latest idea). Re-prop the engines for fishing. That is, install high-torque props that would not provide as much top-end speed but would slow the boat down at idle. I've not changed a prop before (never needed to, knock on wood) but it doesn't look too hard to do.

Any ideas about these approaches, or ideas for other solutions?

Thanks!
Warren
 
Hi Warren...

These may not be the best answers, but here is what I've been doing:

Using one engine and tilt it up a bit

Backtroll, by simply going backwards using one or both engines.

or,most frequently, trolling in very large "S" patterns which allow the bait/lure to drop except when crossing over.

We have used drift socks on other boats for Walleye fishing and they work well. You have to locate and adjust them for a sideways drift.


Goodluck,

John
 
The engine mounted trolling motors certainly make a lot of sense--there are also trim tab mounted trolling motors. (either could be mounted on the top of the Permatrims.

We have the 3.5 hp dinghy motor and the bracket which holds it on the railing, modified to fit in the dive ladder bracket. Max speed with this is about 3 mph and it will easily drop to half a knot. For us that is the best slow solution--it is a motor we have already and the bracket we made takes a 2 minute modification to use as a trolling motor bracket. I don't think I would use more than a 3 to 4 hp motor this way, however.
See photo # 75 thru #77 to see the bracket.
 
What does it do to those little motors (any of 'em) when you run WOT on the main? Would think it'd do some damage to them in the long run.. :cry

Charlie
 
Charlie, all of these trim tab motors and the motors which mount on the back of the cavitation plate will be out of the water when the main engines are running at a speed where the boat is on a plane. Thus no damage to the small trolling motors. When running at high displacement speeds, these motors are in an area of turbulance, so they don't spin real fast. I don't think it would damage them. They are designed for this use.

I use a trolling motor as the primary propulsion on a 12 foot skiff, and it turns pretty fast. I suspose that since these are PM motors that they would basically be a generator when free wheeling. The prop blades are nylon re-enforced or plastic and seem pretty tough. I towed in some kids last week who had one blade out of three left on their trolling motor--the boat was still moving--and after I charged up their battery one of the kids left for home with the single blade--I was amazed that the parent didn't at least buy them a new prop. I would have purchased one for them, if I had thought that they were going to try and run home (at least 3 miles) with only one blade working! So these motors's bearings seem pretty tough!.
 
Bob, don't understand how the motors that are connected to the cav plates on the main engines will be out of the water at high speeds. Are they out of the water? I can understand that the ones above the trim tabs might be.

Charlie
 
On my TC I use one engine........hook two 5 gallon buckets with a few holes in the bottom with rope one on each side...low tech but adjustable..one or two.. no cost...

Dick
Orinda.Ca
 
Captains Choice":37n95oqb said:
Bob, don't understand how the motors that are connected to the cav plates on the main engines will be out of the water at high speeds. Are they out of the water? I can understand that the ones above the trim tabs might be.

Charlie
Click to expand...

Charlie- The motor rests quite a bit higher than the cavitation plate on which it is mounted:

Joe.

IM001237.sized.jpg
 
squidslayer":d54yttc3 said:
On my TC I use one engine........hook two 5 gallon buckets with a few holes in the bottom with rope one on each side...low tech but adjustable..one or two.. no cost...
Click to expand...

Dick, do you mean one on each side of the boat or one on each side of the engine being used? Also, how do you keep the ropes from fouling the prop?

Thanks,
Warren
 
thataway":2kn26il3 said:
We have the 3.5 hp dinghy motor and the bracket which holds it on the railing, modified to fit in the dive ladder bracket. Max speed with this is about 3 mph and it will easily drop to half a knot. For us that is the best slow solution--it is a motor we have already and the bracket we made takes a 2 minute modification to use as a trolling motor bracket. I don't think I would use more than a 3 to 4 hp motor this way, however.
Click to expand...

As it happens, based on a conversation with Les about a motor for my dinghy, I have decided against going with the Torqueedo and with a 3.5hp Tohatsu instead.

How do you steer your 3.5? Is there a mechanism to lock it in a given direction (i.e., straight ahead, etc.)?

Thanks,
Warren
 
Thanks to all for the very helpful suggestions.

I find it interesting that no one has endorsed nor argued against my idea for re-propping the engines. To me, it makes a lot of sense but I am not sure how to implement it, or whether it can be implemented at all.

Warren
 
You could always go to like a Pro Pulse prop that's adjustable, WM has them. I carry one as a spare, haven't used it yet for performance comparisons, but others have I believe.
 
Lori Ann":3kbwfpk5 said:
Thanks to all for the very helpful suggestions.

I find it interesting that no one has endorsed nor argued against my idea for re-propping the engines. To me, it makes a lot of sense but I am not sure how to implement it, or whether it can be implemented at all.

Warren
Click to expand...

Warren-

To the best of my understanding the following is true:

At very low speeds, the standard mechanics of pitch vs. speed through the water don't hold very well, at least with big outboards at low rpm.

There's so much slippage with an ordinary prop and a big heavy boat, that going down in pitch just makes it easier for the prop to waste less energy in slippage, and, since the same energy is being applied by the engine, the speed stays largely the same.

Thus at these speeds, cutting the prop pitch in half won't have much effect, and then you'll be grossly underpropped (and over-reving) at cruise speeds.

Maybe "Professor Prop Poop" (DogonDan) can add to this or correct me if I'm wrong!

Joe.:teeth
 
Wefings":1ii8q257 said:
A word of warning . Do NOT buy Lenco Trollin Tabs !!!! EVERY set we have ever dealt with failed early and often . FYI
Marc
Click to expand...

And they're disproportionately expensive compared to other brands!

Joe.
 
Sea Wolf":26q208hm said:
At very low speeds, the standard mechanics of pitch vs. speed through the water don't hold very well, at least with big outboards at low rpm.

There's so much slippage with an ordinary prop and a big heavy boat, that going down in pitch just makes it easier for the prop to waste less energy in slippage, and, since the same energy is being applied by the engine, the speed stays largely the same.

Thus at these speeds, cutting the prop pitch in half won't have much effect, and then you'll be grossly underpropped (and over-reving) at cruise speeds.
Click to expand...

OK -- makes sense, good to know. Well, so much for that idea!

Thanks!
Warren
 
Sea Wolf":2gbf23pr said:
[The motor rests quite a bit higher than the cavitation plate on which it is mounted
Click to expand...

Joe, is this a Minnkota freshwater engine-mount trolling motor? Looks like it comparing your photo with the Minnkota web site.

Very interesting alternative.

Warren
 
Lori Ann":2hz7uclf said:
Sea Wolf":2hz7uclf said:
[The motor rests quite a bit higher than the cavitation plate on which it is mounted
Click to expand...

Joe, is this a Minnkota freshwater engine-mount trolling motor? Looks like it comparing your photo with the Minnkota web site.

Very interesting alternative.

Warren
Click to expand...

Yes, it's a MinnKota 44 lb thrust Fresh water motor.

Many companies make them in salt water versions, too.

Some have a single "bullet", some a double, some a tripple.

One version comes in a 55 lb single, a 110 lb double, and a 165 lb triple.

The 44 lb thrust fills in the 0-2 mph range in no-current/light wind situations on my 22.

If I need more thrust, I start the Yamaha 90 EFI.

I went to four group 27 batteries for heavy duty use with it, and can charge them with a Honda EU 1000i generator, or the Yamaha 90. The generator charges through a 40 amp charger.

See the thread above on Engine Mounted Electric Trolling Motor.

Joe.
 
Back
Top