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| i have a 115 optimax on my lowe 175 FM...it is my only option right now for trolling....no money for a kicker right now.....i troll no more then 15 times a year......am i doing harm to the engine by trolling with it? what do you guys use to slow down your speed? i use a trolling bag on each side, but i'd like to troll a little slower, i can't get under 1.7 mph.....the prop is a mercury trophy plus 17 pitch...the trolling bags are the 22" from amish outfitters...tied to the front and rear cleat.... |
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Member
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| What do you have for a bow mount? I assume you want to pull spinner rigs, and troll less than 1.5 mph? I use my AP bowmount for that.
Tilting the motor can slow you down some. Also, bigger bags will slow you more.
Edited by Shep 2/23/2009 9:02 AM
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Member
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| i have a terrova 80 auto pilot up front...but i troll for salmon more then anything |
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Member
Posts: 150
Location: mille lacs, mn. | Trolling time on the Opti wil NOT harm the engine. I put 200-300 hrs. per year at idle on my Opti's and have for years. ZERO issues......
Hanging one more bag or bucket over the bow will slow you down another 3 tenths. You might want to try a trolling plate which will do the trick for forward trolliing at very slow speeds. You loose precise steering control with the plate on and a couple miles per hour at top end but the slower trolling speed should out weigh the lost top end speed. Once the holes are drilled for the plate...you can take it on and off easily-- depending on if you know you won't need it or if you do plan on slow forward trolling. The cost to slow down with the plate is cheap... |
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Location: Fremont, Wisconsin | How slow do you want to go? |
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| Steve Fellegy - 2/26/2009 6:35 AM
Trolling time on the Opti wil NOT harm the engine. I put 200-300 hrs. per year at idle on my Opti's and have for years. ZERO issues......
Hanging one more bag or bucket over the bow will slow you down another 3 tenths. You might want to try a trolling plate which will do the trick for forward trolliing at very slow speeds. You loose precise steering control with the plate on and a couple miles per hour at top end but the slower trolling speed should out weigh the lost top end speed. Once the holes are drilled for the plate...you can take it on and off easily-- depending on if you know you won't need it or if you do plan on slow forward trolling. The cost to slow down with the plate is cheap...
what size optimax do you have? |
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Posts: 150
Location: mille lacs, mn. | I've got 100's of hours on Opti's from the 90hp. to the 225hp. I think the 90 and the 115 are very similar. I've been running the 175hp. tiller for the past three years. I've had several 90's and several 225's. |
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trolling with a 115 optimax