boat is slow out of the hole???

[msando]

hey guys,<br />i have a 18' wellcraft bowrider and i am having problems coming out of the whole fast. i am wanting to get me kids on some skis but do not see this boat pulling them up the way it is. i have a 3.0 merc i/o and the prop size is 14 1/2 x 17. my WOT is around 4500. does anybody have any idea why this may be happening? the boat runs good but it is almost like you are starting in 4th gear in a car. thanks in advance.

 

[a.d.mobile]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

how many people in the boat loaded weight? many low power I,O boats need to have a different prop for pulling. might need to drop to a 15 just watch the max rpm when empty do not over rev!

 

[thienpham817]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

have a 1999 17' 135hp and just installed a ES SPORT 300 hydrofoil yesterday.I noticed a big difference in performance. Better handling and it put my boat in plane in no time. If there's a Academy store in your area they have it for only $20 (that's where I bought my), that's 50% cheaper than a lot of place on internet.I recommend you try the hydrofoil first because they are cheap and if you don't like it , there's only 4 bolt to remove.Big bang for your bucks. Regard. Tim. <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

Do a search on this site for postings on Trim Tabs, & Smart Tabs. Any additional planing surface will help the boat get out of the hole, but what happens after is just as important if not more. Most often any boat capable of more than 30 MPH will find a reduction in top speed with a Hydrofoil. This means that the engine is working harder and using more fuel. So everytime you use the boat the cost of the Hydrofoil goes up. <br /><br />Handling in turns can also become an issue, especially if the foil is at or below water level when cruising. <br /><br />Much has been written on this subject and it is a good idea to read the information. However; if the motor manufacturers felt that this was a good way to improve performance, they would simply increase the size of the cavitaton plate at a cost of about $1.50 in extra material.

 

[msando]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

my max load is around 450lbs.

 

[motox6]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

I own a 93 four winns 5.0 initially 38MPH. one tune-up and going from 14x19 pitch prop to 15x19 pitch prop got me to 45MPH and much much better out of the hole pull and faster plane.

 

[Doug Durako]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

As you follow this forum for a couple of seasons, you will find much discussion on power and hole-shot for water skiing.<br /><br />I have been slalom skiing all of my adult life, at least 30 of my 47 years. I am 6-3, 210 lbs.<br /><br />I can ski behind anything from 50 horsepower on up, but I have never been satisfied with the hole shot on any rig under 150 horsepower----ANY rig under 150 horsepower does not have the umph to get the boat on plane, let alone get 200 additional pounds of "drag" out of the water.<br /><br />You can do a lot of things, but the real solution is more horsepower if you do a lot of skiing, tubing, or wakeboarding.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[Jdeagro]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

dboater;<br /><br />it sounds like he has the HP but the boat balance is the issue. I am sure with all of the skiing you have done somewhere at sometime you have been behind a MasterCraft or similar boat. The do not have hole shot issues since they launch level. The motor is in the middle of the boat. Not much room for people, but great for towing.<br /><br />If you ever have a chance to ski or tube behind a boat with Smart Tabs you will think your behind a MasterCraft. No prop change or hydrofoil can match the performance!

 

[navigator336]

Re: boat is slow out of the hole???

Got to agree with ddboater on this one. I've slalomed behind a lot of boats including a 14 foot Boston Whalers with 50 hp outboards, bigger jet skis,tri-hulls and mono-hulls with I/O's, OB's, and jet drives,all kinds of boats with and without trim tabs (both fixed and Bennett style), most tournament boats and vee-drive versions, flat bottoms with blown big blocks and at the aching back age of 49, a 22 foot Party Barge with a 3 liter Mercrusier (won a $20 bet on this one). If you want hole shot with a skier bigger than 100 pounds, you need horsepower. An 18' Wellcraft (which is a good solid and no light weight boat) loaded with 450 pounds with a 130 hp I/O is going to be marginal no matter what mods you make to it. For the kids though, the tabs probably will help some.