Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

[bigesox11]

Boat moves great with just me but doesn't get on plane with additional person. I would rather get better acceleration and speed with two people even if I suffer when by myself. I have a 10 1/2 X 13 aluminum 3 blade prop on now. My WOT RPM is 5200-5300 and my speed is 22mph by myself with full tank of gas. The boat is a 2002 Aluminium Tracker 16' DV. The motor is a 2002 40hp Mercury 2 stroke. Weight of boat motor and two people will be 1,500#. I don't know what full 27 gallon tank would add. I would rather set boat up for optimal performance for two people instead of when by myself as I will usually have two people in boat. What prop would be best? Thanks.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

In my opinion it should plane easily with 2.
Is it truely a Deep V? is the bottom about 18% at the transom? or is it a broad shallow V at the transom?Wherte is the tank located?27 gallons is about 16olbs.
A 40 will use about 4 gallons per hour(gph) at wide open throttle(wot)
less at lesser throttle.So you may not have to maintain 27 gallons.
Do you trim in(prop closer to the boat) to plane with 2?Does your passenger move forward till you plane?Is there a bunch of weight stored in the stern?
Are you sure the throttle opens all the way at the carb?Is the antivent plate just above the prop visable on plane?Or about even with the bottom?
If everything checks out a change to an 11" pitch should help.Should add abouut 300 to 400 rpm.

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

Gas tank is.in stern. Only other weight are batteries. The boat would not plane even when passenger moved to front. And, yes the boat was trimmed all the way down trying to plane. It would only plane when the current and wind were just right. Is it possible or should I say OK to set up the boat to run at max rpm with a passenger and just watch my rpm's when by myself?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

You should check the things I suggested.If you motor is too low raising it could result in 2 to 3 mph increase with a slight increase in hole shot.Don't assume the throttle is right. Unless you do some serious cruising you don't need more that 12 gallon of fuel except for winter storage.If you could move the batteries to the mid section of the boat that would help.
A solas amita 4blade in 11" with a diameter close to your present one will likely vastly improve your hole shot and ability to stay on plane with reduced power.
It is less likely to over rev when your alone.

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

I'm probably going to move the two trolling batteries to the front of the boat. I'm going to have the motor checked out this winter and definitely have the carb cleaned.

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

What HP is the boat rated for?

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

75hp

 

[CRFan1]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

I have an alumacraft 16.5' boat which is similar to what you have and I have a 60 hp four stroke with the same prop. I can barely get on plane with 3 and do about 30mph.....but I am having my motor moved up at the end of the season because it is about an inch below the keel which is magnifying the issue.

I would listen to steelspike, check everything out and at the very least, you are definitely mis-propped I would think, given the weight and HP of your boat. I am going to hold off on any props more props until my motor gets raised

 

[briangeorge]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

I purchased a brand new smokercraft 16 foot with 50 H.P. Merc. 4 stroke this summer. I had the same kind of problems you had bigesox11.

It came from the factory with a 10 & 3/8 Diameter with 13 pitch. It worked great with one person. Not so great with 2 people and after that worse and worse. The max RPM I could get out of the engine was 5000 to 5200 RPM. Factory specs. on the Merc. 50 H.P. are MAX RPM 6000 RPM.

I went to my Dealer and they suggested and sold me a 12 inch diameter with 10.5 pitch ( I know strange to have a pitch with a half # but it is true). I could not believe the difference. I had as many as 4 adult men in the boat with all their supplies and it still got up on plane. Yes it was slow but it did get up. With 2 to 3 people it works great. Most noticeable was Engine now at WOT is around 5600 to 5800 RPM. and I can cut throttle back to 4000 RPM. and boat still stays on plane at around 16 - 18 mph. I have to be careful when making sharp turns as the potential for over rev is there if water conditions are just right so I usually throttle back a bit when making sharp turns to ensure I don't over rev.

I hope this is of some help for you and don't hesitate to contact me if you need more info. The prop change for me was the ticket but as other posters have said there are other things to check out first. Good Luck.
Regards:
briangeorge

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

I appreciate the input. I think I'm going to at least try a 10 3/8 X 11 prop. I only have a 40hp. Sure wish I could try two or three of them. I too will watch my RPM's when by myself.

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

I will also have to look at raising the motor as well.

 

[lunkerv16]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

Just for your info. I have a 2002 Lund Rebel with a 02 40 HP yamaha 4 stroke. This is a steering wheel boat, it is loaded pretty good I am guessing with 2 pple and all our gear the boat weighs 1500-1600lbs. I have a 13p prop and I get 5300 RPM at WOt and 27 MPH. I just put an 11 pitch prop on today and took it out by myself. I got 6000 RPMs I was just under full throttle I shut it down because the max rpm on this motor is 6000. I got 28 MPH and MUCH better hole shot and throttle response. The 13p prop makes this boat a real turd the 11p prop really makes this boat respond like it should. I am hoping that with 2 pple it will bring the rpms down right to 6000.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

A few things i would do..First Nauticus trim tabs..they will lift your boat out of the water (launch). Once that is done play with the engine height...from there get a good ideal of how to balance the boat..weight dist..

I believe youd see a different boat when thats all done

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

Does anyone recommend setting up the boat with a prop that gives the boat top speed with two people in the boat versus setting the boat up for WOT with only one person? Couldn't I set the boat up to get on plane and top speed for two people and gear and jist back off when by myself? Or is that not smart die to the threat of accidentally running over max rpm when solo?

 

[CRFan1]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

Does anyone recommend setting up the boat with a prop that gives the boat top speed with two people in the boat versus setting the boat up for WOT with only one person? Couldn't I set the boat up to get on plane and top speed for two people and gear and jist back off when by myself? Or is that not smart die to the threat of accidentally running over max rpm when solo?

I would set it up to have the proper performance/RPM with your normal load (i.e 2 people if that's what is normal for you) and just pay attention if you are ever alone. I would guess you won't be by yourself too much anyway

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

That's what I was thinking but you only hear about WOT max when in boat alone.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

That's what I was thinking but you only hear about WOT max when in boat alone.

That is incorrect...If you know that you are going run with a certain load prop the boat for the average load. Aka if you go out with 3 people 80% of the time why would prop the boat for the other 20%..You just need to back off the throttle 20% of the time..

Or get another prop for the 20%...

 

[sethjon]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

Boat moves great with just me but doesn't get on plane with additional person. I would rather get better acceleration and speed with two people even if I suffer when by myself. I have a 10 1/2 X 13 aluminum 3 blade prop on now. My WOT RPM is 5200-5300 and my speed is 22mph by myself with full tank of gas. The boat is a 2002 Aluminium Tracker 16' DV. The motor is a 2002 40hp Mercury 2 stroke. Weight of boat motor and two people will be 1,500#. I don't know what full 27 gallon tank would add. I would rather set boat up for optimal performance for two people instead of when by myself as I will usually have two people in boat. What prop would be best? Thanks.

Your prop sounds fine. have the second person sit up front for take off.

 

[bigesox11]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

It still didn't plane with him sitting up front.

 

[CRFan1]

Re: Trying to get on plane and better acceleration on 16' Tracker DV

IMO, assuming all else is ok (like your motor is mounted at the correct hieght etc.), you are way over propped and that 13p prop is not "fine". The operating range for your motor is 5500 to 6000 like my 60 which means you need to gain at least 400 rpm. I would try an 11 pitch prop as has been suggested. You need to get the motor up into the correct operating range.