Thread: Any Experience with a Trolling Plate?

I used one for years on my G3. Worked like a charm. I think it was a troll-a-matic. I had a 90 yamaha 4 stroke and it purred like a kitten all day at 1.5-1.7 mph. Two strokes are a different story. They will load up after idling a while. They need to be opened up every so often.

You might consider pulling a 5 gallon bucket off each side in the front. That will slow you down considerably as well.

I've read where the trolling plates make it harder/slower to back up, with not as much control over the boat. Fished with one guy who had a plate on a 40hp 4s, and it was sluggish when in reverse, both in terms of speed and control of the boat. I've got a trolling plate in the shed for my 60 hp 4s, but haven't installed it yet (still under warranty). I doubt if I will install the trolling plate as it's pretty easy for me to deploy and retrieve the sock, easier that dealing with the plate and the pull cord (my limited experience with plates). JME

I use a drift sock tied off to the front left cleat on my Alumacraft Classic 165 cs, rope used is just long enough to get the drift sock to open up and function but it is not in the way for me when pulling cranks. My Classic w/ 60 4s does about the same as yours w/o the drift sock idling in gear, and with the drift sock deployed, I'm at 1.5mph. I can bump the throttle up to increase my speed.

I tried the sock straight behind the boat, and lost all control over the boat, but with it on the side, I just have to turn the 60 over a bit for the boat to cruise straight to offset the drag from the sock, I then control direction and fine tune speed with the TM

I have a 17.5 war eagle stick steer. 50 hp 4 stroke. I have a aluminum plate that works like the troll o magic. Yes it affects it when backing but I have gotten used to it so I don't even think about it any more. Mine will idle at 1.5 to 2.0 depending on wind speed and direction. I bunny cord the steering stick centered and use my terrova to steer with. You can vary your speed a little by trimming the motor up or down. Pulling socks you run the risk of getting them tangled in the prop. Buckets work good but are a pain to store along with everything else in the boat.

They are great! I bought mine from Speck, it slowed my 75 down to about 1.4 compared to 2 to 2.5 depending on the wind.

Been kinda of thinking of one of these for my boat, mine idles at 3.1 and my troller will do it but it's only 12v and a little rough on the battery. Going to upgrade to a 24v troller this winter ( preferably Terrova ). I'll try dragging a bucket or sock till then. My only concern with the troller plates is when I'm jigging trees and bumpin off stumps it might get jacked up. Thanks for the info guys.

Hello: I had a troll-a-matic plate on my 97 Merc. 60 hp. 2-stroke on an Alumicraft Magnum 165 t. It worked great for me and I could troll under 1-mph if I wanted to. No cable on the trol-a-matic. I did lose about 1.5 mph.on top speed. As already stated reverse is sluggish but easy to get used to. Good Luck. O - R

I've had dead weight in the back of my boat a time or two and you didn't slow me down one bit Joe!