boat plane and hole shot problem

[boaterntexas]

howdy, <br /> my 17.5' fiberglass bass boat with 155 hp merc on it, doesn't seem to plane out, being a newbie, I'm not sure how to tell when it is actually planed but it seems that at WOT and full trim that alot of the baot is still in the water, I've notice that after the boat is in the water for a while the bilge get a small amout of water in it about .5" to 1" is this normall, I've looked for signs of a leak but found none, coupld this be loading me down? also after running the boat for a while and trimimng it often the trim seems to get sluggish, and I refill it with fluid it's fine, I see no leak here either, what coul dbe the prob.? one last thing, when the boat is trimmed up most of the way it will begin to "skip" across the wakes, cuasing the prop to come out of the water is the bad on the motor, or again is this normal..<br /><br /> Thanks guys,<br /> Thomas

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

Are you trimming the Motor in when you take off? When running on plane, trim the motor in some to stop the prop cavitation. Sounds like you are trimming out too far in both cases. As for the water, is the bilge plug in good shape and secured tightly? If so, start looking around for possible spots in the hull the water could be entering from.

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

I fell that I am trimming the motor properly.. is ther eany rule of thumb for this situation<br /><br />Thomas

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

if the flotation foam is saturated with water<br />you could be pushing tons of extra weight.<br />take your rig to a truck scale and weigh it.<br />truck stops and moving companies should have<br />scales you can use. assume you've checked the<br />hull for cracks or holes....

 

[muskyone]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

what prop are you running is the pin for your trim low enough not sure of the name but when your trimed all the way down it hit's a pin see if it's in the lowest hole if it's the boat in your profile when you slow down does water come over the back of the transome that could be the water in your bilge or your live well may be leaking

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

water does most always comes over the back of the boat when slowing down, not sure about the trim <br />pin will have to check on that, we reflorred th boat, and there is not floatation foam in it, so I knwo that not the problem, I don't see any cracks or holes. nost sure what prop is on the boat, I would assume it was the originaly, but it's bent out of shape and nicked up pretty bad.<br />is ther such a thing as a stock prop, if so does any one know what would had cam with a 115 hp merc in 1976 on a 17.5, bass boat? Just checking<br /> thanks<br /> Thomas

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

you mentioned replacing the floor... assume it<br />was rotted out and you confirmed the stringers R OK.<br />might want to check the hull for a hook or bow<br />eliminating yet another possibility. a hook would<br />sure cause yur symptoms.

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

hook? Bow? Not sure if I know what you mean, are you talking about the hull actually being misshaped from when we replaced the floor? NOt sure,, but definetly should take alook at it.<br /><br /> Thanks again

 

[mellowyellow]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

yep, the floor is partially responsible for maintaining hull integrity and sometimes when old floor is removed the hull becomes off-center. how'd the stringers look when you pulled the floor? measure from bow point to each corner of transom and see if it's square.<br />carefully check the bottom of the hull with a nice straight 2x4 to make sure it's straight. had a buddy who's boat looked straight, but when we put a straight edge on it was 3" bowed in the center.<br />a long shot, but eliminates yet 1 more thing and don't cost nothin.<br />good luck,<br />M.Y.

 

[RICKRICK1]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

Boaterntexas-- When you take off do you have the motor trimmed down? On mine I have found that with the motor trimmed down and full throttle, then trim up the motor I get on plane better without a drastic flop over. Water line is at at front of the boat when I start and as the motor trims up the waterline moves back to even or behind the seat on my bass boat. Do you have a tach and what RPM are you getting? You should be able to run a 19 to 21 pitch prop easy.

 

[boaterntexas]

Re: boat plane and hole shot problem

I will definetly check the hull out, the stringers where not to bad, I did some minor work to them, and recoated them in resin and cloth. When I take off, the motor is in a down position, but not all the way down, all teh way down seems to stress the motor and cuase it to bogg down. I can actually reach 6000 rpms ( which I heard was okay on my 1976 115 hp merc) when I do reach higher end rpms, the water line is about in the middle of my boat in front of the console.. I have also notice that the boat always leans to the drivers side weather loaded or not, I assumed it was becuase the console, the battery, and trim motor where all on that side. the lean has actually cuase some problem when landing the boat back on the trailor, it will actually miss the runners on the driver side, and cuase the boat to lean on the trailor, never thought of it, but I bet the boat was stored with the wieght unevely applyied on the hull, could be a problem here.. If the hull is miss shaped, any simple solutions?<br /><br /> Thanks,<br /> Thomas