On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 05:07:09 GMT, "RichG"
wrote:

I'm not a troller, so my answer is without a lot of knowledge...however, it
seems to me that many trollers put "trolling plates" on their motors to SLOW
the boat down. The few times that I have trolled ( Alaska, etc.) we were
running at 2 or 3 mph. Seems to me, that the drag created by ANY tab system
would be beneficial?????

That's an interesting question.

If you are just trolling to scare up a fish, then yes. If you are
looking for a BIG fish, then you need to get close to structure and
here in New England, that means rocks - lots of rocks.

A trolling plate can cause you control problems - in particular in
strong currents or rips - oddly, that's where the big fish lurk. All
my big stripers and bluefish have been caught within 50/60 feet of
shore in and around rocks and rips. I'd rather have the ability to
maneuver than have it restricted with a trolling plate.

It's one problem that I have with the Ranger - I can't slow it down
enough at slack tide for the really big stripers. Normally, I can
work with the tides and rips to keep the speed down, but at other
times, it's impossible.

And, I know it sounds stupid, but 1/1.5 mph can make a difference.

Later,

Tom

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 06:25:56 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 05:07:09 GMT, "RichG"
wrote:


I'm not a troller, so my answer is without a lot of knowledge...however, it
seems to me that many trollers put "trolling plates" on their motors to SLOW
the boat down. The few times that I have trolled ( Alaska, etc.) we were
running at 2 or 3 mph. Seems to me, that the drag created by ANY tab system
would be beneficial?????


That's an interesting question.

If you are just trolling to scare up a fish, then yes. If you are
looking for a BIG fish, then you need to get close to structure and
here in New England, that means rocks - lots of rocks.

A trolling plate can cause you control problems - in particular in
strong currents or rips - oddly, that's where the big fish lurk. All
my big stripers and bluefish have been caught within 50/60 feet of
shore in and around rocks and rips. I'd rather have the ability to
maneuver than have it restricted with a trolling plate.

It's one problem that I have with the Ranger - I can't slow it down
enough at slack tide for the really big stripers. Normally, I can
work with the tides and rips to keep the speed down, but at other
times, it's impossible.

And, I know it sounds stupid, but 1/1.5 mph can make a difference.

Electric Trolling Motor...

Have one - bow mounted 67# thrust 24 Vdc Great White.

It's worse than the regular motor for this type of work.

Later,

Tom

My comment on the "trolling plate" was in response to a prior question that
asked if Smart Tabs would slow a boat down when trolling. I thought
"slowing a boat down " was a good thing when trolling, so that is why I
mentioned the trolling plates. I was not recommending them, just commenting
on how many I've seen advertised.
*****************************
With regard to your query about your difficulty in trolling slower

....I don't know if it will work in your situation, but around here, to cut
down on wind drift, I hang a "drag anchor" or small "sea anchor" out.
Depending on which cleat I position it, I can set up a neat drift that
matches my position along a shoreline. No reason it wouldn't positively
affect a slow troll while under way. I've moved my boat short distances
carefully while it was deployed. Might not work for you, but works here. --

RichG manager, Carolina Skiff Owners Group on MSN
http://groups.msn.com/CarolinaSkiffOwners
..
************************************************** ****************888
"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote in message
...
On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 06:25:56 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 05:07:09 GMT, "RichG"
wrote:


I'm not a troller, so my answer is without a lot of
knowledge...however, it
seems to me that many trollers put "trolling plates" on their motors to
SLOW
the boat down. The few times that I have trolled ( Alaska, etc.) we
were
running at 2 or 3 mph. Seems to me, that the drag created by ANY tab
system
would be beneficial?????


That's an interesting question.

If you are just trolling to scare up a fish, then yes. If you are
looking for a BIG fish, then you need to get close to structure and
here in New England, that means rocks - lots of rocks.

A trolling plate can cause you control problems - in particular in
strong currents or rips - oddly, that's where the big fish lurk. All
my big stripers and bluefish have been caught within 50/60 feet of
shore in and around rocks and rips. I'd rather have the ability to
maneuver than have it restricted with a trolling plate.

It's one problem that I have with the Ranger - I can't slow it down
enough at slack tide for the really big stripers. Normally, I can
work with the tides and rips to keep the speed down, but at other
times, it's impossible.

And, I know it sounds stupid, but 1/1.5 mph can make a difference.

Electric Trolling Motor...

Have one - bow mounted 67# thrust 24 Vdc Great White.

It's worse than the regular motor for this type of work.

Later,

Tom

On Wed, 22 Dec 2004 14:44:39 GMT, "RichG"
wrote:

My comment on the "trolling plate" was in response to a prior question that
asked if Smart Tabs would slow a boat down when trolling. I thought
"slowing a boat down " was a good thing when trolling, so that is why I
mentioned the trolling plates. I was not recommending them, just commenting
on how many I've seen advertised.
*****************************
With regard to your query about your difficulty in trolling slower

...I don't know if it will work in your situation, but around here, to cut
down on wind drift, I hang a "drag anchor" or small "sea anchor" out.
Depending on which cleat I position it, I can set up a neat drift that
matches my position along a shoreline. No reason it wouldn't positively
affect a slow troll while under way. I've moved my boat short distances
carefully while it was deployed. Might not work for you, but works here. --

Trust me Rich - I've tried everything. :)

It's an odd, quirky boat. It's not designed for the kind of use I
need, but I was blinded by the fact that it's (1) a Ranger (2) a
beautiful boat (3) trailerable (4) nice in big fresh water lakes,
rivers.

It's actually the reason I've been looking for a boat in between the
Ranger and the Contender.

Later,

Tom

In article ,
says...
On Tue, 21 Dec 2004 19:15:54 -0500, MikeG
wrote:

Not having seen smart tabs anywhere before I looked them up on the web.
Sounds interesting but from the renditions they have of the units
showing how they work I have to wonder how much drag they would be
causing at trolling speeds since there isn't enough pressure to raise
them.

I had much the same thought.

Later,

Tom


I shot a note off to the Smart Tab's people asking about this. The
pictures on the site, for the sake of clarification, show and
exaggerated setting. Per the Smart Tab's people at full deployment the
tabs extend no more then 2 3/4" down. Not enough, I think, to cause any
problems.

They were very quick with their replies by the way.

--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net

In article ,
says...
If you are just trolling to scare up a fish, then yes. If you are
looking for a BIG fish, then you need to get close to structure and
here in New England, that means rocks - lots of rocks.




Big big rocks!


--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
Rich's post got me to looking - just for my own edification.

This is from the Nauticus web site about Smart Tabs:

****

"SPEED REGULATION
SMART TABS start in a downward angel to maximize lift at slow
speeds. As the boat accelerates, the water pushes up on the trim
plates providing lift to the stern which minimizes bow rise, and
allows the boat to plane quickly.

Once the a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=11&k=water%20pressure"
onmouseover="window.status='water pressure'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;"water pressure/a exceeds
the actuator load rating (maximum
lift) the trim plates move up to a horizontal position eliminating
any
drag."


Hell, awhile back, JoeTechnican and Calif Bill tried to tell me that
trim tabs don't induce drag!!!!!!

"basskisser" wrote in message
oups.com...

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
Rich's post got me to looking - just for my own edification.

This is from the Nauticus web site about Smart Tabs:

****

"SPEED REGULATION
SMART TABS start in a downward angel to maximize lift at slow
speeds. As the boat accelerates, the water pushes up on the trim
plates providing lift to the stern which minimizes bow rise, and
allows the boat to plane quickly.

Once the a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=11&k=water%20pressure"
onmouseover="window.status='water pressure'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;"water pressure/a exceeds
the actuator load rating (maximum
lift) the trim plates move up to a horizontal position eliminating
any
drag."


Hell, awhile back, JoeTechnican and Calif Bill tried to tell me that
trim tabs don't induce drag!!!!!!


Google them up.

Calif Bill wrote:
"basskisser" wrote in message
oups.com...

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
Rich's post got me to looking - just for my own edification.

This is from the Nauticus web site about Smart Tabs:

****

"SPEED REGULATION
SMART TABS start in a downward angel to maximize lift at slow
speeds. As the boat accelerates, the water pushes up on the trim
plates providing lift to the stern which minimizes bow rise, and
allows the boat to plane quickly.

Once the a

href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=11&k=water%20pressure"
onmouseover="window.status='a
href="http://www.serverlogic3.com/lm/rtl3.asp?si=11&k=water%20pressure"
onmouseover="window.status='water pressure'; return true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;"water pressure/a'; return
true;"
onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;"water pressure/a
exceeds
the actuator load rating (maximum
lift) the trim plates move up to a horizontal position
eliminating
any
drag."


Hell, awhile back, JoeTechnican and Calif Bill tried to tell me
that
trim tabs don't induce drag!!!!!!


Google them up.
Them?
what's the matter, too senile to remember what you've said?

"Short Wave Sportfishing" wrote ...

A trolling plate can cause you control problems - in particular in
strong currents or rips - oddly, that's where the big fish lurk. All
my big stripers and bluefish have been caught within 50/60 feet of
shore in and around rocks and rips. I'd rather have the ability to
maneuver than have it restricted with a trolling plate.

It's one problem that I have with the Ranger - I can't slow it down
enough at slack tide for the really big stripers. Normally, I can
work with the tides and rips to keep the speed down, but at other
times, it's impossible.

And, I know it sounds stupid, but 1/1.5 mph can make a difference.

I expected to notice less control after installing a trolling plate on my 15hp
kicker but it didn't happen. I troll for salmon and like the big slow roll of
plug-cut herring at 1 to 1.5 mph. Even with the lowest pitch prop it was still
too fast so I tried a spring loaded trolling plate. It did the trick without
any control issues. The spring allows it to flip up with sufficient thrust from
the prop when faster maneuvering is required. It handles fine manually and on
the auto-pilot.

-rick-