[Ghost]

Anyone have any experience with trolling plates?

 

[Strut10]

Yep.

I have an Easy Troller and it works just like they say.

I have a 17 foot 4 Winns bowrider with a 115 HP Johnson. I run a 17 pitch 4-blade Solas prop and can troll down to .75 mph GPS verified.

 

[Strut10]

P.S. I got the plate from Cabela's and they still carry them.

 

[Ghost]

Looks like its built to deflect the thrust if you leave it down and hit the throttle, have you done this? if so, any damage to the unit?

 

[bigben]

I thought most were designed to kick up once a certain amount of pressure was applied.

 

[Ghost]

The trollomatic is supposed to but the darn thing looks like its made out of plastic, other ones have a sacrificial pin that snaps in the event of hitting the throttle, Id have to carry a ton of those pins lol

 

[Woods walker]

Dolfins are made of plastic but they take the full force of prop wash so if made correctly plastic will hold up ans it will not corrode.

 

[Strut10]

Looks like its built to deflect the thrust if you leave it down and hit the throttle, have you done this? if so, any damage to the unit?

You are correct.

The plate portion is hinged in the middle on a fairly heavy spring. If you throttle up and forget to pull the release, the bottom half of the plate pivots back to keep the whole thing from bending/breaking. You'll figure it out pretty quick that you forgot to pull the release. It kinda kills your holeshot.

 

[Run2Catch]

I've used both and prefer bags over a plate, and a kicker over both.

 

[Strut10]

I've used both and prefer bags over a plate, and a kicker over both.

I would probably prefer a kicker over the plate, but............

To buy a kicker mount and a second set of controls, I was going to have about $1000 in the setup BEFORE the cost of the kicker motor. So I opted for the plate. It has worked out very well.