How long should a trailing log be?

[joe17]

Hi,

I have a wasp trailing log. The line is about 13 metres long, which seems excessive and make handling it difficult.

I assume the line should be long enough so that the spinner spins in undisturbed water. My boat is 5.5 metres long - should I shorten the line? If so, how long should it be?

Thanks.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

if you shorten the line it will be more likely to jump out of the water and will be affected by wake turbulence. they make them like that for a reason, best leave well alone.

incidentally, do you find it refuses to rotate and tangles the string below 1.5 knots?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[VicS]

I cant say what Wasp recommended but for a Walker its 30feet if the instrument is no more than 5 feet above the water and with a sinker fitted 18 inches ahead of the rotator. To handle the line you unhitch it from the indicator feed it round a stanchion or guard rail back into the water until you get to the rotator, bring that on board then retrieve the line with no twists.

Do a search for Walker on Scuttlebut and you'll find that on 19/04/03 I posted a whole chunk of the Walker instrution leaflet.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[snowleopard]

the walker rotator is MUCH bigger and heavier than the wasp so won't jump out as easily.

of course height of mounting will make a difference. if less than about 3ft you could probably get away with less string.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[SlowlyButSurely]

Our Wasp log has a line about 15 feet long and is mounted about 4 feet above the water. The spinner never jumps out of the water but it does stop spinning under 1.5 knots.



<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[joe17]

I have only tried it once so I havent tried it at slow speeds. Basically I put it in and the took it out again.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[joe17]

15 feet sounds reasonable

15 feet (4.5 metres?) seems a bit more practical. The instrument is only 2 or 3 feet above the water.

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[Evadne]

Re: 15 feet sounds reasonable

The line for the Stowe (electric trailing log) is nearer to the Walker than the Wasp, about 30 feet sounds right (it's on the boat so I can't measure it for you), even though the impeller can only be a fraction of the weight. A smaller impeller has less drag and so sinks more easily though, so it is not as simple as it sounds.

<hr width=100% size=1>