Prop/Trim and Tilt/Plane problems

[Dotson]

I am struggling to get my 1999 Ranger R61 (90hp Mariner) up on plane without having to have someone sit on the front deck. Yesterday I tried my dad's 4 blade 19 pitch trophy which helped a lot but I still had to have him sit on the front deck to get it to plane. (When he did, we were on plane in seconds. When he sat in the bench seat by me, we could not get on plane with it).

My trim and tilt works great in and out of the water (sitting in the water anyway). However, when I take off, I try to trim the motor up and it won't trim past a certain point (11 - 20 degrees maybe). I can see it trying to trim higher but it won't. One boat dealer told me that is the way it is supposed to be and it will never go higher than this while going accross the water. My dad's mercury engine (on a Lund) goes much higher than this so I have a hard time believing this is specific to Rangers. I always thought trimming the motor up while taking off is what got you to plane. Any advice? I would just like to get my boat to plane without putting people up on the front. Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Prop/Trim and Tilt/Plane problems

Dotson, I am sure you will get many comments on this problem, but I will also give you mine although I have never ridden in a bass boat. Most bass boats have a pad on the bottom for high speeds and most bass boats seem to run with higher rake props for bow lift. High rake props lift the bow during acceleration and when on plane, so I believe that if you trim the motor in while trying to plane you will find the bow goes down and you will achieve planing quicker because the boat needs more surface area to attain plane than is provided when you have the bow in the air and the stern digging down as well. I also believe if you change to a prop with less rake you will find that it will tend to lift the stern more and make attaining plane muh quicker as well.

H

 

[Dotson]

Re: Prop/Trim and Tilt/Plane problems

H - thank you for your opinions. Pardon my ignorance, but what is rake? What do you recommend for a prop? Should I look at a high five 17 pitch? Should I look at the hydra foil stabilizer plates? Thanks again!

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Prop/Trim and Tilt/Plane problems

This is Propeller rake and a zero rake prop produces the most stern lift in a propeller. Your boat appears to be stern heavy with everybody in the back, and if it was me I would look at Smart Tabs, they are only about $ 130.

Prop Rake

H

 

[Dotson]

Re: Prop/Trim and Tilt/Plane problems

Thanks again H. Do I just ask a boat dealer for a zero rake prop? Do zero rake props come in different pitches too? What are smart tabs?

 

[hwsiii]

Re: Prop/Trim and Tilt/Plane problems

I would do one or the other, you don't need to do both. In my opinion the smart tabs are the best buy, they are trim tabs. Nauticus makes them and I would purchase the Smart Tabs SX SX9510-60. Here is the manufacturers site, but do some shopping in the internet as some people have real good prices on them.
http://www.nauticusinc.com/smart_tabsSX.htm




H