my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

[kawaboy-zx11]

i have a 12' aluminum boat and i just bought a 6hp motor for it, well i took it to the lake today and the front of my boat rides way too high (aiming at the sky). i even moved the tilt pin to the lowest hole and its still real high when running. i left the motor running at full speed and moved up to my middle seat and it started going much faster and even sounded faster. i guess i am too fat plus the weight of the motor makes me have poor performance when im out alone. is there anything it can do to flatten my boat out when im the only passinger? i have to sit on the back seat to beable to control the motor. Thanks, Dennis

 

[mthieme]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

You could get a tiller extension.
I assume you've tried moving you're tank forward along with any other gear.

 

[capt sam]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

it's underpowered, move everything you can up front like mthieme said....or get used to going slow speed.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

This is where having a big dog is nice This may sound odd, but why not get several concrete half blocks and put in the front of your boat whey you go out alone, or several of those 5 gallon collapsible water containers.

 

[kawaboy-zx11]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

well i only took my small tool kit with me today, i just wanted to see how the new motor would do, so i didnt have any gear to put in the front of the boat. i was just looking at some hydrofoils for 1hp-40hp motors called stingray JR....would that help to keep the nose down? Thanks, Dennis

 

[capt sam]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

maybe some, but then your handling characteristics are shot.....get a bigger motor or lose some weight or go slow, those are kinda your only choices.

 

[kawaboy-zx11]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

maybe some, but then your handling characteristics are shot.....get a bigger motor or lose some weight or go slow, those are kinda your only choices.

i dont mean to sound ignorant here but i am new to boating. if i got a bigger motor would it be heavier and make the front go even higher? i used to use a 3hp and never really noticed this problem. Thanks Dennis

 

[NFA]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

I had the same problem with my 14' aluminum. I did two things, installed a steering wheel, cable, etc. So now I'm sitting 3/4 up the boat, instead of tiller driving. Also put in a few cinder blocks in the bow. The added weight really balanced out the boat.



SSS

 

[grego]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

Sand bags. easy to find and sand is cheap. If you can't find bags,i will give you a few.

 

[MrPhotographer06]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

i built a casting deck in the front of my boat.. it weighs the weight of one person.. haha

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

as sand sand bags is the simplest. how much do you weigh? for any boat to perform properly you have to have proper weight distribution.

you take a 250 hp, and put 6 people in the stern, it is going to have problems planing.

 

[MrPhotographer06]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

i have a buddy that puts a battery or a cinder block in the front of his jonboat when hes by himself...

 

[capt sam]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

i dont mean to sound ignorant here but i am new to boating. if i got a bigger motor would it be heavier and make the front go even higher? i used to use a 3hp and never really noticed this problem. Thanks Dennis

The horsepower will over come the engine weight, besides there isn't a huge difference in the weight between a 6 hp or a 9.9 hp or a 15 hp. I'm a big guy too, my son had a 14' aluminum boat with a 9.9 hp on it and it would plane with me and the fuel tank in the rear. The sandbags will work, maybe but then again you're adding more weight, which will slow it down even more, the weight differences in the engines will only be a few pounds.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

Weight distribution is everything in a 12' boat with a 6 hp outboard.

I put my fuel tank up in front of the middle seat. Then, I built a little platform in front of the rear seat to move myself forward about a foot. I mounted my swivel seat on that platform. That position makes it easier to operate the outboard, too, with me sitting in the center of the boat. The tiller handle's in just the right place. Just that small distance forward made all the difference.

I also have a transom mount trolling motor. I put the battery up just behind the front seat, in a battery box, and ran wires back to the trolling motor. Basically, I moved everything forward that I could.

With just me in the boat, with all my fishing tackle, the boat planes at about 14-15mph. Works fine. Add another person, though, and it's plowing through the water time.

If your 6 hp is running right, moving some weight forward will probably get you up and planing.

 

[Ned L]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

I think 'CA' said it best. Its about weight distribution. I wouldn't suggest adding any more weight than what you already have. Try to move some forward (you). A tiller extension is your best solution, you can even use a piece of broomstick and a couple of hose clamps to give it a try. If you can get yourself up toward the middle seat you should see a big improvemnt. Don't think of it as getting the bow down (adding weight forward), think of it as picking the stern up (moving weight away from the transom).

 

[kawaboy-zx11]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

as sand sand bags is the simplest. how much do you weigh? for any boat to perform properly you have to have proper weight distribution.

you take a 250 hp, and put 6 people in the stern, it is going to have problems planing.

i weigh about 230 id guess the motor weighs around 50 or so, and ill bet the aluminum boat only weighs around 100, its easy to move around...on and off the trailer exc.... here is a couple pictures of my rig....very basic set up.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

yeah, just plain tail heavy with you alone. get longer gas line, and put everything you can in the bow.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

We have the identical boat and even the outboard, except mine's a few years newer. I weigh 190, so we're not that far off.

As I said, I carry a trolling motor and battery, which more than makes the difference, plus a bunch of fishing tackle, anchor, oars, and more.

Check out how I've distributed the weight in mine, and that'll give you the clue. Mounting my seat in front of the reach bench makes a big difference, and gets me centered in the boat. Any sideways list also disturbs planing.

Move the fuel tank and any other gear up front and get your seat forwards a foot or so, and you'll see a big difference. You might actually consider a sandbag in front of the front seat, too, if you're not going to carry a trolling motor and battery. The extra 50-100 lb won't slow you down, but it'll redistribute the weight. But do try it with you sitting forward. Take a milk crate or something to test the new position, then build a short extension from your rear bench, right in the center.

 

[kawaboy-zx11]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

We have the identical boat and even the outboard, except mine's a few years newer. I weigh 190, so we're not that far off.

As I said, I carry a trolling motor and battery, which more than makes the difference, plus a bunch of fishing tackle, anchor, oars, and more.

Check out how I've distributed the weight in mine, and that'll give you the clue. Mounting my seat in front of the reach bench makes a big difference, and gets me centered in the boat. Any sideways list also disturbs planing.

Move the fuel tank and any other gear up front and get your seat forwards a foot or so, and you'll see a big difference. You might actually consider a sandbag in front of the front seat, too, if you're not going to carry a trolling motor and battery. The extra 50-100 lb won't slow you down, but it'll redistribute the weight. But do try it with you sitting forward. Take a milk crate or something to test the new position, then build a short extension from your rear bench, right in the center.

do you have to use a tiller extention? Thanks, Dennis

 

[kawaboy-zx11]

Re: my boat doesnt do well with just me in it!

oh now i see...you have to build a tiller extention....if you dont mind me asking , how did you make yours? Thanks, Dennis