OFFER ACCEPTED!!!

[Pitou]

I have a trolling valve and would not have anything else. ... the trolling valve requires nothing and might add to the value of your boat. If you keep the engine at idle speed a trolling valve does not harm the transmission. There are thousands of these things in use by recreational fishermen and charter captains and if they caused harm it would be well known. Your speed needs to be adjusted as you turn into and out of the wind or current and you do it by pushing the trolling valve control in and out.
One trick I learned from charter captains is to keep a sock or cloth tube tied to the throttle and stick that on the handle when the trolling valve is engaged. Accelerating to higher RPMs with the trolling valve engaged will ruin the transmission. It might not be you that does it but one of your fishing companions that takes over not realizing the valve is engaged.

I'm with Russell on this and have had a valve on my Albin since '07. The ZF valve instructions say to never exceed 1200 RPM's when engaged. I prefer to not exceed 1000 RPM's as precaution. If installed it's imperative to photo tach your engine and tune your RPM gauge.

As a reminder that the valve is being used I run a short length of line tied to a cap that is dropped over the throttle lever and the other end is looped over a cup holder to the rear to prevent the throttle from going too far forward. The key is to do something as a reminder that it is in use. I've seen others wire a red light to the top of the helm area.

[kirley]

Thanks Russell, hard to get my mind around $4k , but in the long run you forget about the $ and enjoy the convience!

[kirley]

Russell, thanks for the info, leaning toward the trolling valve, need to do more research on this site, I'm sure some one has installed one and has info and pictures!!!

[whwells]

Kirley: You will recall I posed the question of the use of the trolling valve. Like all the others I enjoy it and would at this point do nothing else. My Certified Yanmar mech. did voice concerns about the need to service the tranmission annually where the valve is used. He says there is some slipping because that's the way they are designed to work. I do have great confidence in him & his work. Nevertheless, I appreicate as you must the comments of others as i have used mine only one fishing season.
So having read the comment of others and my own experience of how nice it is to use - that would be my recomendation as well. I had looked at a 31 before my current purchase. The quoted trolling valve price then near San Diego installed was around 3,000. Like everything else the prices are going up - that was 2 1/2 maybe even 3 years ago.
You can use the water drag bags for a season while you make a final decision. I know how it is just after a purchase - at least for me it was where is the next "thousand" coming from.
whwells 'Howard"

[kirley]

Thanks Howard,with that thought, money will be spent sooner than later, just want to do it right the 1st time!
Pitou, if you were given the chance, would you have put the $600 panish control lock out cable set in when you installed your valve

[Pitou]

Thanks Howard,with that thought, money will be spent sooner than later, just want to do it right the 1st time!
Pitou, if you were given the chance, would you have put the $600 panish control lock out cable set in when you installed your valve

Kirley - I have the same set-up as Russell with a push pull control and no lockout. Would I add a lockout ... not a bad idea if it brings you comfort and it could save you from a distraction which could entail a rebuild of the gear clutches.

Back in 2011 it happened to me ... powered up with the valve engaged ... too long a story and it "won't" happen again R&R on engine and gear to rebuild clutches ... parts were back ordered for 6 to 8 weeks so I went with an in stock "brand spanking new" ZF gear and took the time to do maintenance on the engine while it was out and easy to work on. I was back in the water in just over 2 weeks. you can purchase an electronic valve with new electronic controls and possibly save yourself some money in the future. For me, at the time going all electronic was $ 7,000.00. Mechanical all told was about a grand. New transmission and associated work $ 13,000. Ouch! Fortunately for me my Yacht Policy with Travelers kicked in under the machinery breakdown clause and my blood spill was only $ 1,100 and a head hung low with stupidity and embarrassment. There's a true confession for you.

I'm back at it running a valve with full mechanical controls and catching fish!

Gather your information, find your comfort level and proceed from there , install the valve and pay attention. And as Howard mentioned do a gear oil change annually ... valve or no valve as this recommended ZF service. For me it's done every spring commissioning here in the northeast.
Welcome aboard.

[kirley]

All hail Travelers Ins. co. You dodged a giant bullet there! Yearly oil change no problem! Again thanks for the help!

[kirley]

BTW, We're using Travelers also because they have mechnical breakdown coverage!!! Thanks Jim.

[kirley]

Yea, boat is ours!!! Going to spend weekend on it ! Going to take it out sat, and try a sea anchor, and try to catch some fish, rock cod is open, salmon opens 4/6. I'll have lots of questions monday!

[kirley]

We've bloddied up our decks! Salmon in the box! Fish box too big! Need dividers to keep fish in place not to talk about the ice! Had to throw a sea anchor and two buckets out to slow the beast down!!! but it fishes well!

[RobS]

Fish box too big! Need dividers to keep fish in place not to talk about the ice!

I hear ya, I remember when I put a block of ice in that transom box for the first time, as soon as the boat rocked back and forth, BANG..........BANG...........BANG

[kirley]

Boy, what a thing to complain about -- fish box too big?!?

[DougSea]

Boy, what a thing to complain about -- fish box too big?!?

That's tough luck there...oversized fish box. I feel for ya!

Congratulations on the new boat!

[Rtroy]

Kirley,
Get the trolling valve, I recently purchased a 28 TE with the 330hp volvo. Thought about the 9.9 yamaha kicker, but did not want to haul gas and change the look of the boat. Cost was comparable between the two options. Here is the San Juans, WA. we have heavey tide, wind and wave action and the valve works great. I can dial down to less than a knot when fishing bait, or pick it up a bit for hardware, no problem catching our chinooks with this set up. Good luck
PS, install some sort of throttle lock to be in place when the valve is being used, you will smoke your tranny if someone slams the throttle.

Rtroy
Bellingham WA

[jcollins]

<moved to TE forum>