Can I reduce speed of trolling motor?

[Buckie02]

I have a Motorguide 71lb trolling motor on a 1436. I know it is to big, but that is what came with boat. Is there anything I can do to slow it down by about half?

[crappiemax]

I had that TM on a 17'6" alum boat. I never could get it slowed down. I think it had a 3 blade prop and I put a 2 blade prop on and that didn't help. I didn't do it but I thought about witteling the prop down, remove 1/2" at a time from the out side of each blade and try it out till I got it slow enough. Worst case scenario it didn't work and I had to replace the prop.
Instead of messing with it, I just sold it and put on a 12v 55#MG Tour edition. I still run 2 batteries. his thig goes all day.

[Buckie02]

On #5 it will almost put the boat on plane. It is 24V and I have ran it for 2 days with no problem. I hope I can add something to it electrically to slow it down, just not sure yet.

[lcookie]

Cutting down the prop did not slow my old tm down. I even drilled holes in it. Did not help. If you could build a plate that went behind the prop that would probably dissipate the thrust and slow you down.

[strmwalker]

Cutting down the prop did not slow my old tm down. I even drilled holes in it. Did not help. If you could build a plate that went behind the prop that would probably dissipate the thrust and slow you down.

you should not cut down your prop it canget off balance and damage the internal parts of the motor!!!they make a device that slows the motor down and not sure if its made by motorguide or minn kota it has variable speed settings.i am sure some of the real GURUs will see this and add to what that device is!!!!

[chaunc]

5 gallon bucket with a small hole in it works when i run the big motor. Dont know about the troller as i have the same power motor but the digital version. I can get my speed down to a crawl with it. Never liked those numbered ones for slow trolling. Try the bucket or maybe even 2 of them. One off each side cleat, real close to the boat.

[crappiemax]

On #5 it will almost put the boat on plane. It is 24V and I have ran it for 2 days with no problem. I hope I can add something to it electrically to slow it down, just not sure yet.

I could never put mine on #5, I thought it would rip itself off the deck of the boat. I can honestly say, I hated that TM.
As far as cutting the TM down, I was okay with it killing the TM if it didn't work. I hated it the way it was and I just couldn't see fishing with something that I really didn't like for the next 10 or 15 years. Life is too short.

[Cray]

PM Cane Pole. He is the most knowledgeable about all that stuff. Minkota maximizer is what you are looking for. They don't make them any more but one will show up on eBay once in a while. Cane pole is who you need to talk to though.

[rockmike]

Throw out a drift sock or get a MK with infinite speed control.

[papadave]

MotorGuide Motor Packages - Take a look at these guys, there are similar packages available from other manufacturers. I'm sure you could use one of them to adapt, but you'll have nearly as much in it as buying a appropriately sized motor.
I have heard of using a ceiling fan control, but have never seen it done.