Hello!
I recently got my first (engine-powered) boat - an 8'10 inflatable. Has a soft floor with a few wooden slats fitted to it for rigidity. It's powered by a 4HP Tohatsu 4-Stroke outboard.
I can get it up on plane well enough with just myself and some gear (gas can, small cargo box, a couple of lifejackets and a seat pad) however cannot keep it on plane. It seems that once on plane for 30 seconds - 1 minute, the engine will suddenly stop spinning the prop and rev up really high. More than once it has almost thrown me out of the boat/off balance. Once the small wake behind the boat hits the engine, the prop will kick back in and I'll accelerate again, but no longer planing (since the speed died so quickly/drastically).
I'm assuming this is due to the boat/engine cavitating, but not sure why the engine would stop the prop and rev up. I'm assuming that the prop stops also, based on the behavior of the boat - I have no way to look. If I shift my weight to the back, the prop will engage again. I cannot get it on plane while sitting at the back to begin with.
Would this be due to the engine not having enough water to suck in to cool itself, so as a safety it throws it in neutral/stops the prop? If so, what would be the solution for this - lowering the motor (also known as cutting the transom)?
This happens on rough and calm waters (though reaching plane on the ocean/with waves is more difficult).
Help please and thanks!
I recently got my first (engine-powered) boat - an 8'10 inflatable. Has a soft floor with a few wooden slats fitted to it for rigidity. It's powered by a 4HP Tohatsu 4-Stroke outboard.
I can get it up on plane well enough with just myself and some gear (gas can, small cargo box, a couple of lifejackets and a seat pad) however cannot keep it on plane. It seems that once on plane for 30 seconds - 1 minute, the engine will suddenly stop spinning the prop and rev up really high. More than once it has almost thrown me out of the boat/off balance. Once the small wake behind the boat hits the engine, the prop will kick back in and I'll accelerate again, but no longer planing (since the speed died so quickly/drastically).
I'm assuming this is due to the boat/engine cavitating, but not sure why the engine would stop the prop and rev up. I'm assuming that the prop stops also, based on the behavior of the boat - I have no way to look. If I shift my weight to the back, the prop will engage again. I cannot get it on plane while sitting at the back to begin with.
Would this be due to the engine not having enough water to suck in to cool itself, so as a safety it throws it in neutral/stops the prop? If so, what would be the solution for this - lowering the motor (also known as cutting the transom)?
This happens on rough and calm waters (though reaching plane on the ocean/with waves is more difficult).
Help please and thanks!
