I went with trolling plate -- yes -- the Easy Troller for a number of reasons, including the hinge that keeps it from bending. I got sick of buckets and socks and did not want to get a separate motor.
The Easy Troller works great. Its a little more $ than some of the others but worth it in my estimation.
Bought an Easy Troller on line from BoatersOutlet.com for $99.99. It is all metallic and the bottom plate is hinged and pops outward if you forget to raise it prior to takeoff. I'll let you know next weekend how it works.
Do you have to drill holes in your motor to mount it? That's the only thing that scares me away from using plates. Last thing I need is a hole gone bad in my motors lower unit.
Yes. You need to drill four 1/4" holes fastened with stainless steel bolts and lock nuts on the anti-cavitation plate. If it doesn't work out you can remove the unit and just leave the bolts in place. I've done it in the past with a hydrofoil that I didn't care for. I removed it and left the bolts on and had no negative effect on steering, performance, etc. I'll post this weekend on how it works out installation and performance wise.