Troll'n Tabs

boodalu · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 9:36 am Post subject: Troll'n Tabs

I am looking to add trolling motors to my TomCat; however, I need to ensure there is enough thrust to make them work OK. Anyone use "Troll'n Tabs"? see

http://lencomarine.com/trollntabs.html

Thanks

SGIRhino · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 10:21 am Post subject:

TrollNTabs are a great idea...poor design! We haven't seen one set (either factory installed or installed ourselves) that didn't have problems. Mostly broken actuators, faulty wiring and a nearly impossible task of keeping props on the motors. If anybody has had good luck with theirs I'd like to know the secret!

Charlie, Wefing's Marine
Eastpoint, FL

Captains Cat · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 11:21 am Post subject:

Add to that the fact that there is no place, I know of, on a TC255 to put tabs at all! And no need for them with two widely spaced engines...as long as they can be trimmed separately!

Charlie

Sea Wolf · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:24 pm Post subject:

boodalu-

I've heard all the issues before with Trollin' Tabs, and I think they're valid.

If you want to add electric trolling capability to your Tomcat which doesn't have space for tabs anyway, you might consider two Engine Mounted Trolling Motors instead, which mount on hydrofoils mounted on the engine anti-ventilation plate:

Click on the photo to go to my album and see more photos of the installation.)

There's a discussion of the topic HERE.

The biggest problem with this approach is the electrical demand of the trolling motors. They take about 0.8 amp per pound of thrust developed. My 44 pound thrust Minn-Kota EM-44 uses 36 amps at full thrust. To taake care of this, I added a third and fourth group 27 battery for it as well as a Honda 1000i generator and a 40 amp charger. I can run about 3 hours before the battery voltage drops enough that I think it wise to recharge, although I could run 5 hours.

The different trolling motor manufacturers make engine mounted units of up to 165 pounds of thrust, the larger units being made up of two or three motors mounted in parallel on a bracket.

I don't know how you want to use these, but be sure to get the salt water compatible ones for use in salt water. Will you be able to tilt them up out of the water at rest or have them dry on the trailer? Marine growth could be a problem. Using them in weed infested waters might be a real problem.

Hope This Helps!

Joe. Teeth

Doryman · Posted: Wed Nov 28, 2007 12:33 pm Post subject: Re: Troll'n Tabs

thataway · Posted: Thu Nov 29, 2007 12:15 am Post subject:

I agree with Warren (since I think we are the first to use the swim ladder mount with a 3.5 hp outboard). I don't see how you could mount the tab and accentuators--plus no reason for the tabs, on the Tom Cat. The outboard mounted trolling motors would be fine, but the Tom Cat has a fair amount of drag at low speeds. I have a 44 lb thrust motor on my 12 foot Al skiff--I get about 3 to 4 hours with two 205 amp hour Golf cart batteries. More if I keep the speed down. The 3.5 engine moves the Tom Cat much better than a single 44 lb thrust motor--but will also idle down to it is just moving....The outboard can also be run as a stern thruster, if you would ever have a need for this. The engines and skegs are adequate rudders, but when you are very slow trolling, you may want to steer from the cockpit, with a long extension handle on the 3.5 hp. You can stay in the cockpit, handle the fishing lines and still manage the outboard.