Post by Russ Koon on Oct 26, 2009 23:14:03 GMT -5
I've had boats of some type for many years, but am new to motorboating.
Bought a 14 ft Starcraft semi-V fishing boat used but in good shape from the brother-in-law, complete with a 9.9 Evinrude.
Had the motor checked out after experiencing difficulty getting it started, and now it seems to start and run fine, but can't get the boat on plane.
I checked the speed Sunday on my GPS, and it tops out at 9mph, with the bow way up.
The motor was trimmed out to the lowest possible position (shaft as close as possible to the transom), but it still sticks the bow into the air and I'm pretty sure there's more speed and a much more efficient attitude available, but can't figure out how to get it.
Bro-in-law said he couldn't figure it out either. He had thought the motor was just underpowered to get to planing speed, so he'd bought a 25 horse motor, and when that didn't improve the situation, another prop for the 9.9 that was supposed to improve the speed, but couldn't tell any difference.
My uninformed opinion is that it needs more help with improving the trim, like maybe a Whale Tail or some trim tabs on the hull.
But that's more of a guess than anything else. I plan to try adding weight to the bow next time out to see if that helps, but like my nephew said, when we were discussing it tonight, "it needs about a cord of wood up front".
So I figured I'd ask for opiniions on here. Any experience with Whale Tails or similar trim aids? Other ways to handle the problem?
I've got a couple cords of wood in the sideyard, but thought I'd leave that suggestion for the time being 8^).
Bought a 14 ft Starcraft semi-V fishing boat used but in good shape from the brother-in-law, complete with a 9.9 Evinrude.
Had the motor checked out after experiencing difficulty getting it started, and now it seems to start and run fine, but can't get the boat on plane.
I checked the speed Sunday on my GPS, and it tops out at 9mph, with the bow way up.
The motor was trimmed out to the lowest possible position (shaft as close as possible to the transom), but it still sticks the bow into the air and I'm pretty sure there's more speed and a much more efficient attitude available, but can't figure out how to get it.
Bro-in-law said he couldn't figure it out either. He had thought the motor was just underpowered to get to planing speed, so he'd bought a 25 horse motor, and when that didn't improve the situation, another prop for the 9.9 that was supposed to improve the speed, but couldn't tell any difference.
My uninformed opinion is that it needs more help with improving the trim, like maybe a Whale Tail or some trim tabs on the hull.
But that's more of a guess than anything else. I plan to try adding weight to the bow next time out to see if that helps, but like my nephew said, when we were discussing it tonight, "it needs about a cord of wood up front".
So I figured I'd ask for opiniions on here. Any experience with Whale Tails or similar trim aids? Other ways to handle the problem?
I've got a couple cords of wood in the sideyard, but thought I'd leave that suggestion for the time being 8^).
