I JUST BOUGHT A 17 FT. BAYLINER WITH A 120 HP FORCE OUTBOARD--AND WAS WONDERING IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS EVER USED A HYDRA-TROLL OR SIMILIAR TYPE TROLLING PLATE TO GET DOWN TO 2-2.5 MPH? IT WOULD GREAT IF I DIDN'T HAVE TO BUY AND MAINTAIN AN EXTRA KICKER MOTOR FOR SLOW TROLLING--BUT WAS HOPING TO GET SOME FEEDBACK FROM SOMEONE OUT THERE WHO KNOWS IF THESE ACTUALLY HELP CATCH FISH OR JUST FISHERMAN.

THANKS IN ADVANCE--TIGHT LINES

Yes, trolling plates work great. I wish I could say the same for Force outboards, however!!

Scowak, I have a Happy troller for mind. Works as good if not better than a gas kicker. Down fall, you eat faster fuel and you have to be careful when you want to troll fast to get away from a barg ect due to the plate will crack from the edges from the pressure. I have went through two plates and ended up having one of them welded with supports for reinforcement. Plus you will need to change your spark plugs yearly. Used it for the first time last year for Sockeyes and we nailed them. To note I have a 19.5 Bayliner IBO. If you want to wait to buy a kicker, I recommend a plate highly. I have had great success catching fish since putting on a plate.
Good luck on what ever you decide on.

Erndog

I no nothing of the plates but a bit about force motors.I will not go out in a force powered boat that does not have a kicker.two friends,two diferant force motors,nothing but problems.Keep a close eye on it they are bottom of the line mercs and live up to it.It is hard to find people to even work on them.At least over here.

Forgive me for being forward, but the best day of my life was when my force died and I installed a 150 Merc on my Trophy. No more bad fishing trips due to the force. I had a 20 horse kicker that has gotten stolen since. It brought me in more times than I care to tell. YOu are not as bad off if you have the Force that actually listed as a Mercury Force. The bad news is that the trolling plate is a bad idea for the Force. Idling on a Force 120 and 150 is what kills them. the piston rings stick in the pistons. You then lose compression. Listen to these other guys. I didn't at first and they were right. Life is now good. But then again it only took more money.

There is someone in the Des Moines area who works on Force motors and makes them run. I heard that the motors were assembled in Mexico and the factory workers left out alot of parts causing a nightmare of break downs. This local guys goes through them and installs all the missing parts. Have you ever seen construction work in Mexico? "mawn yawn naaa (tomorrow)....we'll do it tomorrrrooooow..now we take uno siesta....OH sheeet no mas no mas.....heck with installing the parts...toss em in the garbage....go home.