Yamaha outboard and trolling

Looking at a G3 Sportsman 200
Subject Matter Yamaha Outboard.

200 hp max
175 hp
150 hp

All three work well with this rig so I am told.

My dilemma is No Kicker.
How well will the 200 troll down and will it withstand trolling over the years?

I know the 150 should be fine but I admit that extra power of the 200 makes me smile.

Thanks

Hang a drift sock out the back. Works well.

I would for sure max that boat out with the 200,like matt said drift sock, and if you have boat loaded you won’t regret having that 200,they also sell smart tabs that will slow you down.there sub $200 and install really easy and will help getting on plane and help trimming boat out.

Thanks Guys,
Yep I have those things as options but how well will a 200 hold up to lots of trolling?

I have not ever used a big motor for my trolling before.
I don’t want to cause issues by trolling to much on a bigger motor.
Thanks

I have 2 friends that are running Yamaha 300’s. One guy was getting gas into his oil and was told it was because he wasn’t running it hard enough. Because it wasn’t getting hot enough the gas was bypassing the rings and getting into the oil. I don’t know if the 200 would have the same issue, but it would be worth looking into. He doesn’t troll with his big motor either, just didn’t get on it enough I guess. Trolling all day would certainly allow the gas into the oil. Too much gas into the oil can equal motor failure.

“Making oil” is a pretty well-known problem with the higher HP engines. To be honest I don’t know how much of an issue the 200 would have with it. You can try to offset it by running it hard to/from spots, and spending a chunk of time running it hard before you trailer up, but that’s not a total cure (I think that helps with carbon build up more than anything, but I’m not a mechanic). I know it tends to be a “motor by motor” type of thing, where some engines handle it better than others. I’d ask the service guys at the dealership you’re buying it from what they think, they’re going to know more than your sales guy (or at least make sure he checks with them). Maybe try and find a used kicker for cheap?

If you are going to troll a bunch I would spend the money and get a kicker. I would rather get the 175 or 150 with a kicker than the 200 and no kicker. That is IF you do a lot of trolling. I have also heard of issues with these big engines having problems if ran at trolling speed for long periods of time. Don’t know how much to believe….. I have had a 150 and 250 vmax and had kickers on both and wouldn’t have had it any other way.

Matt

Change the oil often if your going to troll with it. Gas in the oil is really hard on motors.

I have a smaller boat an no input in your situation….. except even though I wish I had maxed out my boat at times, the choice and then adding a kicker makes up for it for me personally. No trolling bag, no added hours in the big motor and better trolling in general are great.

I troll down all the time with my 4 stroke. Was told by the shop it’s ok but you need to run them hard afterwards. Low idle for long periods of time causes all kinds of issues. If you troll a lot, I think a kicker is the way to go.

+1 to everyone who suggested a kicker. The 200hp might get down to your desired speeds with a drift sock or two, but at what cost? If you choose to troll with the big one, definitely run it on plane before and after. The local marina told me that trolling on my 115hp shouldn’t cause issues, but to run it on plane both before AND after any lengthy trolling.

If you troll regularly, a kicker would be a wise investment on a boat that size.

Thank you!
That’s what I was trying to find out before I talk to a dealer.
I know nothing about the Yamaha.

What gets me is other brands such as mercury etc design their 150 and 200 to troll.

This is not mine but as you can see adding a kicker would require bolting on after market mounting plate and I don’t believe I want to go that route.

Troll for Muskies at times so 3 to 5 mph is great. Just don’t want to drain the electric real quick.

What about the 150 or 175?

Attachments:

1. 

   EB33D090-347F-4E9F-8B42-56BEF311459B.jpg
   

just remember they put that same motor on pontoons and lots of idling around the lakes.once that motor is “broke in” it should affect it at all.

I have the 200 with a 9.9 and the 200 made oil during the break in period up to about 50 hours. It no longer does this so I don’t think it has issues trolling. That being said, you would want the 150 if you want to stay below 2.5 mph. If you troll a lot, you will want a kicker and the 200.

So I can troll all I want with my 50 Yamaha right? With my 2 stroke even when my spot was close I would open it up and warm it up for a few minutes, seemed to run better all day if I started it that way.

Seems like you don’t want a kicker which should be ok. Just know that running around at idle a lot can foul some things up.

I’d get a 36v/112# trolling motor and use that for slower trolling and the big motor for other stuff.

I would also assume if you are a musky guy you fish big water. Having the largest motor you can hang on the back would be good.

Double post

Thanks guys.
Medium size resivoirs .
Its a glorified bass boat in which I am looking at. Catfish boat.
Not designed for a kicker.

I will only be trolling with the main engine on the longer runs anywhere from 3 to 5 mph.

Don’t want to waste my electric on that.

Trolling is NOT my main fishing but something I plan on growing in as we search for a muskie bite and again this is not my main thing.

I am really liking this style of boat and if the Yamaha’s can’t handle the trolling I will look at a different boat make where I can have a choice of outboard..

I just really like this G3 Sportsman 200 which is a Yamaha owned company.

What happened to the future wx1910 guy?

nhamm wrote:

What happened to the future wx1910 guy?

Carpet and such.
I need a hard core work boat.
No carpet or vinyl just gator hide and a broom. Lol

However, was looking at one the other day.