Help,boat plowing not planing

[Rudy Brown]

Can someone help me with the correct setup on a friends boat. Its a 14 ft fiberglass "V" bottom. The problem is when he tries to plane the boat, it just plows and shoots a plume of water several feet in the air. Its almost like the bow is being pushed down. He's tried tilting the motor and raising it to no avail. The boat seems to be balanced well as it sits level in the water. Oh, it has a 25 hp Johnson on it. Any advise would be helpful. Rudy.

 

[ed/il]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Is the prop in good shape? If it is water logged or heavy boat 25hp might be small. I had a 85 when I had a 14 ft boat.

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Its a light weight boat. He cant even open up the 25 cause of the plowing. The water spray will cover the boat!! The whole boat weighs about 500 lbs. I just wonder if a wedge is needed on the transom or something. He has to run it at half throttle just to keep from getting wet. It may be just a bad hull design. He got it last year. If we could just figure out how to lift the bow, it may plane. Oh, the prop looks to be in good shape. I dont think its a motor/power problem.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Where is the plume coming from, the motor? Is the motor tucked under as far as it will go?

 

[agitator]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Sounds like a classic case of boat being too heavy, perhaps waterlogged flotation foam. He may need to weigh it. If not too heavy the 25 should plane it nicely.

 

[Boatist]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Move the motor trim out one notch at a time until the bow comes up. Move weight from the front of the boat to the back of the boat. Move the heavy iteams first. People, Gas tanks, Batteries, Fishing gear, Ice chest. If all that does not help then you must find why the bow is so heavy. Look for a hook in the hull.<br /><br />I am assumeing you do not have trim tabs of any type.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

There may be a hook in the bottom.With the boat on the trailer put a straight edge along the keel.The hook will usually appear in front of the transom if there is a hollow spot that doesn't contact the straight edge that is your hook.It sounds like it may be severe.It is a major repair to straighten a hook.Let us know what you find.

 

[Rudy Brown]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Thanks everybody that responded. The boat has a major hook!! When I am looking at the bottom of the hull about 2/3 towards the front, if we place a 2x4 on the hull, we can stick 2 fingers between the hull and the 2x4!. Looks like the boat has a beak from underneath. Oh well, it aint my boat. Apparently the previous owner had told my friend he had hit a stump but repaired the hull himself.(thats the reason for the new foot on the motor too). At least it floats and dosent leak. He's looking for a new hull now. Thanks all.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

Thats one reason I lean toward an aluminum boat.<br /> Usually a little easier to repair No wooden stringers to rot or waterlog.A quality aluminum boat with a little care is not likely to crack or leak.<br /> We have a 55 Lonestar 15 ft utility that has been used and abused it leaks a little. Bail once a week ,never had a leak repair,our 56 Crestliner 17 ft utility used as a fire boat,garbage boat and for duck hunting.Kept covered or in boat house.one small leak repaired with a rubber patch,77 Crestliner 18 ft. utility some rivets seep water slowly<br /> sits all week no cover used hard from April to December.Spent 90% of its life outside uncovered year round.

 

[paulie0735]

Re: Help,boat plowing not planing

If the rest of the package is in good condition and the boat suits his needs than repairing it does not have to be a major problem. Stripping the boat out and flipping it over is actually harder than doing the repair. I have blueprinted a few hulls over the years and it's really not that hard. Takes time and effort but the results can be very rewarding. He will also need to make sure the trailer is supporting the hull correctly.