Penn Yan Tunnel drive for Trolling?

[dvdegeorge]

Anyone use a Penn Yan with tunnel drive for trolling?It's a 23' boat with 270 crusader engine. I love the layout and platform for fishing just not sure of how well it will troll. Tunnel drive is greek to me

 

[John E Powell]

Vince had a nice response to a similar question recently, check it out here:

 

http://www.lakeontariounited.com/fishing-hunting/topic/39087-penn-yan-pocket-drive/?hl=%2Btunnel+%2Bdrive#entry250005

Edited September 9, 2013 by John E Powell

[dvdegeorge]

This ?  http://www.lakeontariounited.com/fishing-hunting/topic/39087-penn-yan-pocket-drive/

 

Any more input? Will the boat troll down well say 2.5 - 3mph?

Is steering an issue at those speed and can a kick be run with it locked straight and simply use the boat steering wheel and ruder of the tunnel drive to steer?

[John E Powell]

A properly sized set of trolling bags will get that boat to the right speeds when running the main or auxiliary engine no problem.

 

As to auxiliary power and steering, I'm confident one of the high thrust 10-15 hp engines and a maximum thrust propeller would push this along nicely, but steering with the main rudder and auxiliary locked down the center just isn't going to work. There is no thrust of water from the propeller against the surface of the rudder; this is how steerage is accomplished at low speeds on rudder-steered boats. Having never done this myself, i believe you will have to either connect the outboard to the main steering system by a mechanical or electronic means, or come up with a secondary dedicated steering system altogether. In either case, the integration of a good autopilot would be a welcome addition at the same time your are sorting all this out.

 

I'm sure this has been done by many people as that is a pretty popular boat. Hopefully, someone will chime up with actual experience and be able offer more detailed info.

[dvdegeorge]

Thanks! If I can accomplish the proper speed with the main engine with trolling bags I'd rather not have the headache and cost of purchasing a kicker and steering system

 

If anyone has hooked a kicker up to be controlled by the main steering I'd be interested to hear about it

[Tall Tails]

Send Vince a PM I am sure he would be happy to answer in more detail.  He trolled with a 30ft Penn Yan tunnel for years and years.

[fishlips01]

Look at pro troll they have attachments for the speed and steering of kicker motors that work remotely.

Sent from my SGH-T989D using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[Jitterbug]

I troll with a tunnel drive penn yan. You have to use drift bags to allow you to slow down to get the right speed. Could not control the boat with a trolling motor.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Lake Ontario United mobile app

[dvdegeorge]

Well I went for it, so I will see

Edited September 13, 2013 by dvdegeorge

[john1947]

there is a 26 penyan out of putneyville the boats name is fish hopper and he does very well using it.Catches alof fish and stable,better than my 268  searay with sterndrive.

[drlfc]

My 26' Penn Yan is a tunnel drive with an 8 hp yamaha kicker. PM me if you would like to chat.