Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

saumon

Lieutenant
Joined
Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Hi,

been a long-time member here, I havent't seen nothing but good reviews about the regular Smart Tabs but I'm looking for real-world, first-hand experiences with their ProTroller series, specifically their function as trolling brakes.

Although my boat, a 1991 Boston Whaler Outrage 17 (17'3" LOA, 1020lbs dry) with a 2006 Evinrude E-Tec 90hp (only 320lbs with plenty of low-end torque) get on plane quickly, the bow rise significantly while getting out-of-the hole and I can't stay on plane under 18-20mph.

Those aren't that bad but the main reason I'm looking for that model is that only a couple of times a year, I do some walleye and salmon fishing trips and, with my current set-up, can't go slower than 2.5-2.8mph, which is definitely too fast, looking more for the 2.0mph range. If I'd fish at all for lakers or a lot for walleyes, which I don't, I'd really look into a EasyTroller kind of trolling plate to slow me down near 1.0mph, but that's not the case.

So, I'm wondering if I'd be better to get the ProTroller tabs in my case instead of a trolling plate, also reducing the bow-rise and minimum plannig speed, provided that they'll slow me down enough for my use.

Thanks for your imputs.
 

saumon

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Aug 2, 2004
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1,452
Re: Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

Bump! Anyone?
 

Bondo

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Apr 17, 2002
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71,103
Re: Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

Bump! Anyone?

Ayuh,.... While I haven't tried the Pro-Trollers,....
I do have a story, 'bout just How they came about,....

'bout a decade ago, my phone rang, 'n some guy was tellin' me he thought I was a darn Good poster at iboats,...
He offered to send me a Free set of Smart Tabs, If I'd run 'em, 'n talk 'bout 'em here on iboats,...
I thanked the guy, 'n declined, explainin' I already had a custom over-sized set of Bennett's that I use as trollin' brakes,...

Of course, That Guy, was John, owner/ developer of the Smart Tabs empire,...
Our conversation extended into Hours,....
I explained my trollin' habits out on the Sweetwater Sea for Walleye, Trout, Salmon, 'n 'bout anything that'll bite a trolled lure,...

John sent me that set of tabs anyways, 'n though my barge had tabs, I mounted 'em on a friends boat,...
They worked as advertised til Mark backed into a rock, 'n destroyed one,...

'n 'bout a year or so later, Smart Tabs was offerin' the Pro-Troller Tabs,...

So,.... I'm guessin' they'll work as advertised,....

ya just won't have the power of hyd. controlin' 'em from the dash,...
Not that I use it much, Tabs up, run out to the fishin' grounds, tabs full down,...
Tabs up for the run home, rinse, 'n repeat,.....

Btw,.... I get down to 'bout 1.5, tabs down,...
'bout .5, tabs down, 'n 6' drift socks out off the bow cleats,...
 
Last edited:

bruceb58

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 5, 2006
Messages
30,589
Re: Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

Ever try tilting your engine up to troll slower?
 

saumon

Lieutenant
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Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

bruceb58: Yep, I go from 2.8 to 2.5 by tilting it up the higher I can.

Bondo: Great story! I haven't heard anything but positive about John and their customer service.

In fact, I wrote them and got all the infos I needed. I'm glad I did it because, for my particular application and setup, they recommended the 40lbs actuators, even if their generic chart suggest to use the 60lbs ones based on my boat lenght/weight, which is what I was about to order before contacting them.

As said before, considering that I'll troll for salmon/walleye only maybe 10 days a year, they'll probably do the trick, my main target species being the muskies for which I mostly run around 5-6mph, but in any case never under 3mph, so no need to use breaks there!

I'll keep you updated and report back as soon as I try them.
 

S&F180SEI

Recruit
Joined
Aug 11, 2009
Messages
5
Re: Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

I had them on my 18' Larson fish and ski with the 4.3l volvo I/O. I don't remember exactly how much they slowed me down, i think it was between .5 and 1 mile an hour. I bought them for the same reason you are looking too, I like to troll for lakers in the spring, but didn't want to buy the trolling plate for the few times I actually get out. I wasn't able to get my boat slowed down enough with just the tabs so I ended up using the tabs with a drift sock and that got me down to around the 1.5 mph's I was looking for.
 

saumon

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Aug 2, 2004
Messages
1,452
Re: Experience with Smart Tabs ProTroller series...

Thanks S&F180SEI. As I'm not into lakers, I should be ok with them.
 
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