sluggish acceleration from dead stop

[bassndude112]

My motor is 2000 25hp bigfoot mounted on a 2000 15' Smokercraft Stinger.<br /><br />When starting from a dead stop, I can't accelerate unless I lightly ease the throttle. If I give it too much throttle, the boat hardly moves and I get a revving sound like the propellor is spinning quickly in place. It almost sounds like it's out of the water. <br /><br />The dealer mounted the motor so I'm assuming it's mounted at the correct height. Curiously though, another boat dealer told me a couple years back that the motor isn't made for the type of boat that I have. <br /><br />I'd really appreciate any help. Is there a problem with the motor? Or was there some truth in what the second dealer told me. <br /><br />Thanks,<br />Sunny

 

[Fouled Plug]

Re: sluggish acceleration from dead stop

Those motors are intended for moving heavy loads like pontoons. The gearcase is larger, and puts the prop lower in the water. I think the props are more thrust than speed oriented. They also have larger cavitation (antiventilation) plates than a 'regular' motor. Is your cavitation plate level with the bottom of your hull? Your symptoms almost sound like a spun prop hub, though.

 

[bassndude112]

Re: sluggish acceleration from dead stop

Hi Captain,<br /><br />I'm going to have to check on the where the cavitation plate is in respect to the bottom of my hull. Currently my boat is in storage. <br /><br />I am however really upset to find out that they sold me a pontoon motor. I bought the boat and motor together, so I assumed that it was compatible. <br /><br />Are you saying that my prop is made for thrust and it is geared to go slow? <br /><br />Will changing the prop to a different pitch give me more speed? <br /><br />In the mean time I'll check the cavitation plate location. Thanks alot for your help.<br /><br />Sunny

 

[ross_larter]

Re: sluggish acceleration from dead stop

I have a 60hp bigfoot on my 14' ski boat, with a 13x17p prop, it pulls me up 200+lbs with 3 other people in the boat and will get to 36mph WOT.<br /><br />I like the larger cavitation (antiventilation) plates , my motor doesn't cavitate on the even very tight turns, i've driven the 60hp with and without the bigfoot and there is only a slight top speed (2-4mph) advantage of the non-bigfoot, but the big advantage to me is I have the thrust to pullout a wakeboarder on a pretty small engine and still get good top speed.<br /><br />I wouldn't worry about having a bigfoot, just emjoy the boating season, it does sound like you have spun the hub on the prop, but thats easy to fix.<br /><br />Cheers<br />Ross

 

[bassndude112]

Re: sluggish acceleration from dead stop

Hi Ross,<br /><br />With a spun prop hub, would I still be able to get up to speed? I don't have a problem unless I try to accelerate to fast or I'm making sharp turns. <br /><br />I checked the position of my anti-ventilation plate recently, and by eye it looked like it was about 1.5 to 2 inches above the bottom of the hull. Who knows, I might actually have two problems at the same time. <br /><br />One thing that I have to try now is moving my outboard down one hole. The dealers in my area are a backed up atleast a month. I was told that I could safely do it by myself by tilting my trailer back and placing wooden blocks underneath the motor. Have you or anyone else tried this? I'm concerned about the weight of the motor (200 lbs) on the skeg or dropping it altogether. Thanks for all the help.<br /><br />-Sunny