Rick Howard Posted September 26, 2017 Posted September 26, 2017 Will it damage the trolling motor? I'm running a minkota edge 70. I'm talking 5-6mph. My gut says it's fine so long as I don't hit anything lol. Quote
Super User WRB Posted September 26, 2017 Super User Posted September 26, 2017 Not a good idea, just lift it half out in lieu of fully stored. Reason it's too east to forget it's down and that is never good. Tom Quote
bassguytom Posted September 26, 2017 Posted September 26, 2017 I keep it down sometimes when fishing rock piles deep. Haven't had any issues doing it. Quote
Super User slonezp Posted September 26, 2017 Super User Posted September 26, 2017 Walleye fishermen do it quite often Use the kicker or big motor for propulsion and the trolling motor to steer. You better be positive you are in deep enough water or you risk ripping the motor off the bow. Quote
Rick Howard Posted September 27, 2017 Author Posted September 27, 2017 Puropose is to keep the transducer in the water while I idle. I can see the screen on the bow of my tiny boat just fine from thedrivers seat lol. Quote
Super User Jig Man Posted September 27, 2017 Super User Posted September 27, 2017 I do it when crossing a cove so I don't have to put the sonar in standby. 1 Quote
Super User Further North Posted September 27, 2017 Super User Posted September 27, 2017 I do it frequently, when: I want to move a little further and a little faster than trolling motor will move me. I am less likely to do this since I installed an Ulterra. If I want to be extra cautious moving (slowly, at idle or just above) into water that has the potential to quickly come up from safe depth to lower unit damaging depths. Think Canadian Shield lakes and upstream in rivers. 18 ft. is plenty to knock the big motor out of gear to avoid prop damage. Quote
DINK WHISPERER Posted September 27, 2017 Posted September 27, 2017 I do it to my motor guide when I'm just idling to a near by spot. Heck I've even forgot it down and got on plane. Lost a prop and got wet but no damage elsewhere. 1 Quote
Quarry Man Posted September 27, 2017 Posted September 27, 2017 i think you can do it CAREFULLY. but don't \do it all the time i guess. I plan on doing it to mark fish or cover water really fast. Quote
Rick Howard Posted September 27, 2017 Author Posted September 27, 2017 Thank you fellas. I think this will work for me for now Quote
OperationEagle Posted September 27, 2017 Posted September 27, 2017 This is the way I record my autochart live data. Leave the TM down w transducer connected to Helix 10 on front. Use big motor to idle around as I watch the screen and the image be created. No problems whatsoever. Quote
Super User tcbass Posted September 27, 2017 Super User Posted September 27, 2017 34 minutes ago, OperationEagle said: This is the way I record my autochart live data. Leave the TM down w transducer connected to Helix 10 on front. Use big motor to idle around as I watch the screen and the image be created. No problems whatsoever. Why wouldn't you just drive around with the TM doing that? Because it's easier to use the big motor and steering wheel? Quote
OperationEagle Posted September 27, 2017 Posted September 27, 2017 Actually its about speed, comfort, and safety. When I am up at the TM doing AC Live, I find myself leaning against my seat, staring at my screen oblivious to what is around me. When at my steering console, I am able to cruise at 5-6mph easily from the comfort of my seat and watch for obstacles around me. When I am done I have to go to the front to turn off the AC Live so its easy to remember to store the TM. Quote
Super User WRB Posted September 27, 2017 Super User Posted September 27, 2017 It's hard to believe when a bass angler is up front fishing that he is too lazy to lift the TM up, go to driver seat, start the big engine and idle a short distance, turn off the engine and lower the TM to start fishing. If your front TM transducer is the only TD you have I can see idling with the TM down in open water without obstructions the TM could hit and breaking it. You can sit up higher to see shallow water coming by the water color change, it's safer then using the TD. I have watched several times boaters motor with the TM down and forgetting it, then taking off ripping the TM off the bow or bending the bracket, you can hear them across water swearing. Bad habit to start. Tom Quote
Super User Further North Posted September 28, 2017 Super User Posted September 28, 2017 3 hours ago, WRB said: It's hard to believe when a bass angler is up front fishing that he is too lazy to lift the TM up, go to driver seat, start the big engine and idle a short distance, turn off the engine and lower the TM to start fishing. It's not about being lazy...not even a little bit. 3 hours ago, BaitFinesse said: You don't have an electric steer do you? You could always steer by ipilot remote while seated. ...but you can't go 6 - 7 MPH...if you're lucky, you can go maybe a little over half that. My 36 volt TM pulls my boat about 3.5 MPH maxed out...and who wants to run at max output for an extended period? Leave the motor up, run about 6 - 7 MPH and get 2X the scanning done... ...or like I do, get 18 ft. warning when a rock the size of small building comes up out of 30 ft. of water on a a Canadian lake... 1 Quote
Rick Howard Posted September 28, 2017 Author Posted September 28, 2017 Simply going to be a work around for me. One depth finder and transducer. Someday i will upgrade the boat and it will Be worth putting multiple units on the boat. I'm not using the depth finder in shallow enough water to worry about obstructions or bottom contact. After giving this a little more thought, I think I can rig up a mount with some pvc pipe. Quote
Super User Further North Posted September 28, 2017 Super User Posted September 28, 2017 Just now, Rick Howard said: Simply going to be a work around for me. One depth finder and transducer. Someday i will upgrade the boat and it will Be worth putting multiple units on the boat. I'm not using the depth finder in shallow enough water to worry about obstructions or bottom contact. After giving this a little more thought, I think I can rig up a mount with some pvc pipe. Rick, you'll be fine as is. Don't sweat the folks who worry too much, and just remember to get the TM out of the water before you try to get up on plane. If you keep your head in the game you'll be fine. I've run hours like this....never had a problem. Quote
OperationEagle Posted September 28, 2017 Posted September 28, 2017 59 minutes ago, Further North said: It's not about being lazy...not even a little bit. ...but you can't go 6 - 7 MPH...if you're lucky, you can go maybe a little over half that. My 36 volt TM pulls my boat about 3.5 MPH maxed out...and who wants to run at max output for an extended period? Leave the motor up, run about 6 - 7 MPH and get 2X the scanning done... ...or like I do, get 18 ft. warning when a rock the size of small building comes up out of 30 ft. of water on a a Canadian lake... Bingo. You are spot on. Quote
Super User TOXIC Posted September 28, 2017 Super User Posted September 28, 2017 I do it but only at idle. I also have a Troll Perfect that keeps the head from swinging around. Quote
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