water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

[Paddy3101]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

I reckon a canvas dodger around the back would give you more confidence. It's not very heavy, so doesn't compound the problem. It can be right across the back, with a slit cut in it for the tiller. You can extend it round the sides. And it can be easily lowered.<br /><br />It's not going to stop you sinking if the back gets stuck under for a long time (water will come through the tiller slit), but probably better than a solid one with a big hole for the engine.<br /><br />Trimming the boat level is probably more important though. I'm guessing it's tiller steared? Try a tiller extention so you can sit in the center of the boat rather than right at the back.

 

[DocG2828]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

The tiller extension sounds like a good idea to get more weight in the front. You can buy a longer fuel line if need be to move the tank.<br /><br />I have a 17.5' bowrider on the Ohio River. At times there will be waves 3-4 feet that scare the crap out of me in my boat. Maybe its cuz I'm fairly inexperienced, but some days we just stay out of the river.

 

[josh6780]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

well it's not a problem when I am driving. But I fish in the back. And if I am not going to fish in back someone els will be fishing in the back. I dont't go alone all the time. I think I will try my idea. I will go ahead and get the wave wackers or something for the back. And just go fishing when there is no traffic on the water. Till I get everything done.

 

[JasonJ]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

Can you post a pic of the transom area of the boat? Does the top of the transom run straight across from gunel to gunnel (is it even with the sides)? If there is a cut down in the transom for the motor, then a splashwell would be a good idea. You can build it all the way across and a foot in. I know a 14 footer doesn't give a lot of room to be wasted with a splashwell, but if this is a concern, that wasted space might be worth it. You could also do a stick-steer conversion to it, so your body weight is forward. You steer with a stick that connects to the motor with a cable. Push the stick forward, you go left, pull the stick back, you go right. This way the transom isn't as low in the water. I think that if you are dealing with wakes from other pleasure boats, you probably will not swamp with the setup as it is, boat wakes tend to roll, and you bob over them. Of course, there could be the day one of those 30+ foot express cruisers roll through throwing a large wake. You would still bob over it, but I can under stand your concern. I don't like to be in a boat that is much smaller than my 17 footer.

 

[josh6780]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

http://s19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/josh6780/ <br /><br />There are some pictures of the boat. I'm not good with photoshop. But the first one is kinda of an outline of what I want to do. with the splashguard on the back of course.<br /><br />And again this is not a problem while I am moving. The whole issue is not moving. And I have a cable rig. I hardly use it but I do have one.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

Originally posted by josh6780:<br /> well my fuel line does not strech that far.

Get a longer hose. It's either 5/16" fuel hose or 3/8" fuel hose. You can buy as much as you want at any auto parts store. In my 12' Sea King boat, I have a 3 gal plastic fuel tank. I use the rear and middle seats mostly, so the tank goes up in the bow area. It keeps it out of the way, and adds a little front-end weight when I'm solo.<br /><br />In a small boat, your engine's fuel pump will have no problem with a longer hose.

 

[josh6780]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

you only have a 3 gal tank? I guess I could do that. But I would not be able to go very far. If I build a deck up front. I guess I could put my tank under that. That would work.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

Leave the alumacraft at home and take that whaler out. Shouldn't have near the worries!

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

Not a lot of point in putting a splashwell on that eh? Worth a couple inches but not much more. <br /><br />Sorry to wander off topic here, but You know you have a long shaft motor on a short shaft boat right? Might be worth stealing parts from the 18hp to shorten it those 5".

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

Paul's right on the long shaft for sure, that kind of defeats the purpose of having a shallow draft boat. Not to mention the performance loss of having the AV plate so far under the bottom of the boat.

 

[josh6780]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

Yeah, The engine I am using now came off that whaler Which is my next project. But it might be waterlogged. Hopefully not to bad. But yeah. The motor is a longshaft. But I didn't know it would effect the performance? well. I am trying to fix the 18 now. Hopfully it will have good compresion when I test it. And it won't cost me to much. All the rubber needs to be replaced. If it has good compression. How much do you think it would cost me to just take it in and have the whole thing serviced back to normal?

 

[michael-lagrange]

Re: water very close to getting into boat when boat waves come. Normal?

dont add weight if you dont haave too!