back trolling 150 hp out board

Does any one know a way to slow down a mercury 150 going in reverse? Have a slip that I have to back into and my boat is too fast all the time.

labman wrote:

Does any one know a way to slow down a mercury 150 going in reverse? Have a slip that I have to back into and my boat is too fast all the time. [/quote
I used a drift sock clipped on the eye.
Had a 150 Suzuki, worked pretty good

Put it in neutral…

Matt Moen wrote:

Put it in neutral…

X1000

Shift in and out of reverse to maintain control.

If it seems abnormally fast it might be worth making sure your idle speed is to spec.

For actual backtrolling (not just backing) a four blade prop is slightly slower in reverse, a five blade is really slow. The more blades you have the less reverse thrust you have due to cavitation, but lose maneuverability.

In and out of neutral

Transom mount trolling motor?

There use to be small trolling motors that attached direct to a out board motor. Looks like Minn Kota makes one:

Engine Mount

I’m sure there are others as well.

having to put it in and out of gear a couple of times a minute gets real old if you’re trolling all day long for the full summer.

drill a few holes in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and tie it to a rope that is tied to the front port and starboard anchor cleats and toss it out the bow of the boat and let it provide drag. start with only a few smaller holes and keep drilling more/bigger holes until you find the sweet spot for trolling speed

Gitchi Gummi wrote:

having to put it in and out of gear a couple of times a minute gets real old if you’re trolling all day long for the full summer.

drill a few holes in the bottom of a 5 gallon bucket and tie it to a rope that is tied to the front port and starboard anchor cleats and toss it out the bow of the boat and let it provide drag. start with only a few smaller holes and keep drilling more/bigger holes until you find the sweet spot for trolling speed

His post says he’s backing into a slip.

I wouldn’t back an outboard powered boat into a slip. I like the idea of having my prop and outboard away from potential obstructions (support cables, garbage in the water, shallower bottom, etc). Our tritoon and 99% of the outboard powered boats I see that are slipped in our local marina are pulled in forward and backed out.

A larger cruiser without outboards or something that’s got water level access in the rear only – yes back it in.

Do you have a picture of the slip? I am not sure why you couldnt nose in. I have an extendable pole (no jokes please) in my boat that I can use to push, pull, grab docks when needed. Coming from many years of only having a tiller, it really comes in handy in current or wind.

Back trolling and backing into a slip are two different scenarios and will most likely have two different approaches.
As every one else said backing into a slip should not be an issue just popping it in and out of gear.