Trolling Question

Mike_Lenz · Post by **Mike_Lenz** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 6:32 am

Good morning everyone, When I troll I shut one engine down, no problem trolling with my port engine but when I troll with the starboard engine I can't keep a heading even with the autopilot engaged. Do you think my rudders are to small for trolling slow because of the way the starboard prop turns? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks, Mike....

h2ojst · Post by **h2ojst** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 7:28 am

It shouldn't make any difference which engine you shut down. The port side prop should turn left handed & the starboard prop should be a right hand rotation. When you're trolling are you on the same heading when you shut one engine down? Perhaps it's just that when you're heading into a a port quartering sea that your port engine will be favored. The same should be true if your heading into a starboard quartering sea, the starboard engine would be favored. The standard size rudders are indeed too small on my boat & I'll be changing them out when the need for new ones arise. Joe Tomaini 1988 Sportfish Attitude Adjustment II Fort Lauderdale, FL

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 10:57 am

Joe... My boat has what appear to be homemade rudders, which are simply more or less rectangular of 1/4" stainless steel plate... Probably about 20" high and 15" wide, with the 1 1/4" rudder shaft set back about 2" from the leading edge. We wrapped up a chicken wire crab pot around the port prop while moving the boat in a narrow channel and then ran for 8 miles on the stbd engine. It naturally had a tendancy to run off to port but not as much as I expected, and we had no problems controlling the boat. I suspect I have 2 to 3 times the area of the standard rudders I have seen.

h2ojst · Post by **h2ojst** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:09 am

Thanks Frank, I'll keep that in mind when the time comes. My steering wheel itself is also very hard to turn when I'm running hard. I've got a brand new helm unit that's slightly oversized, pressure is just fine on the Hynautic tank & rudder bearing blocks are all new delrin. I've got to dig into it a little deeper this winter & figure out what's happening. Something must be binding? Joe Tomaini 1988 Sportfish Attitude Adjustment II Fort Lauderdale, FL

little doc · Post by **little doc** » Fri Sep 04, 2009 11:20 am

May or may not be pertinent, but the yard manager here in Portland says most boats will turn one direction more readily than the other. Something to do with the toe in that the rudders have. I notice that I can turn to starboard much easier than I can to port. It isn't an issue with boat engines running, but is noticeable when using only one engine and the other shut off. Scott.

CB35 · Post by **CB35** » Sat Sep 05, 2009 6:37 am

I have a 1984 35B and have trouble trolling on one motor. Never really looked at 35 rudders. Maybe the later models have larger rudders? I would first check to see if you get the same travel both port and starboard. Bet you don't.

lwrenn · Post by **lwrenn** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 3:26 am

As I fish a little, why would you troll on one engine? The boat would be at the mercy of currant and winds with steering almost impossible. When you sight a fish or debris floating I would like to be able to steer it easily. I will not even go into the sonic hum the engines produce that are beneficial in raising bill fish. What are you trying to catch? I troll a bit and always on 2 engines at low rpms around 5 to 7 knots depending what the baits are doing. Even if I am slow trolling I will use both engines to bump the boat as not to kill the live baits. Correct me if I am wrong but the Bertram hull was designed to troll for marlin and others at 7 to 10 knots. Ber trams are not the best bottom fishing boat around as the hull was meant to be moving verses sitting.

CB35 · Post by **CB35** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 7:35 am

I meant to say I have NO trouble trolling on one motor. Either engine works just fine. In fact I even have rudder left over to steer around anything. Now my 28B was tougher to get going in a straight line; but possible. Forget about 31B with the little rudders. The 35B should be just fine. I can measure a rudder if that would be helpful as I have a spare. Now Larry you may fish a lot, but not in the Northeast. Trolling for stripers using bunker spoons requires no more then 3-4 kts for best wobble; with 2-3 being even better. Plus trolling live bait offshore requires 2-5 kts at most. I run on one motor almost the whole striped bass season.

lwrenn · Post by **lwrenn** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:32 pm

Your right I know nothing about strippers! I did order trolling valves on my new engines as this solves the speed issues. If I troll a live bait faster than one knot for any amount of time I will have a dead bait. We also have a two to five knot current and winds to deal with. I will be very happy to hit the button for trolling valves and the boat will not jump forward or kite baits flying into the air!

Mike_Lenz · Post by **Mike_Lenz** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 12:33 pm

Guy's Thanks for all your replies, Charlie if you could measure your rudders that would be helpful, I will be hauling her in October. I fish on Lake Ontario for Salmon, my troll speed is 1.5 to 2.8 MPH using both engines I have to put a trolling bag in the water to slow me down. One engine works great in calm seas and low wind conditions. I will check the travel of both my rudders thanks for the help. Mike

Post by **dougl33** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 2:40 pm

quote:Originally posted by lwrenn Your right I know nothing about strippers! Um, I think tou mean "stripers".

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 4:49 pm

Rt 1 in Peabody Doug?

CB35 · Post by **CB35** » Mon Sep 07, 2009 5:13 pm

I know how to catch strippers. First you takes a one dollar bill and puts it in your teeth. Then you finds a pole dancer and shows her the money. If you want to catch a whole bunch of strippers you replace the one dollar bill with a twenty and head for the champagne room. So I have been told.

Post by **dougl33** » Tue Sep 08, 2009 5:35 am

There is no sex in the champagne room!

Miss B · Post by **Miss B** » Wed Sep 09, 2009 2:08 pm

Larry, that is a great looking boat, an heirloom! Take good care of her.