Boat wont get on plane

[dave524]

Hello to all. I have a problem that I need help with. I have a 2002 Lowe 1467 V Hull boat and it has floors in it. The boat sat under trees for 3 years, and the flotation foam undrer the floor was soaked. I took it all out, but the 2 corners are full of foam and I assume that they are also wet. Today I put a 1995 15hp long shaft Merc on the boat and went out. the motor reaches top rpm, but the boat wont get up on plane. I thought that an aluminum hull boat would scream with 15hp on it. Tried several trim positions, no change. What could be my problem ? Could the prop on the motor be slipping, how do I tell ? Could those corners be that heavy ? I took 70lbs out from under the floors. If it is the corner foam, how does someone remove it ? Everything is rivited together, and drilling out rivits will destroy the paint job on the outside. Also , how do you tell if you need a long shaft or a short shaft motor for a boat.? The transome on this boat is 20" from top to bottom. Any ideas ? Need help. Please email me direct if you wish. Thanks in advance for your help.

Dave1909@ptd.net

 

[Milkmaster]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

This is meant to be funny. Your story made me remember a story about a person having problems getting their boat on plane. When someone offered to help, it was discovered the trailer was still beneath the boat in the water. Was a very funny story.

Now to the serious questions...how big is the boat? Is 15hp enough uummph for it?

 

[dmcb]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

How do you know the motor reached top rpms?
If it did and the boat wasn't on plane, it seems to me the prop is to small or not enough pitch.
It should have been lugging trying to get the boat to plane. The fact it wasn't indicates what I said.
You might try a larger prop.
Doug

 

[mike176]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

I think the long shaft may be your problem. Long shaft motors are really ment for pontoons and sailboats. You may be creating to much drag with all that shaft in the water

 

[wallin]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

I had a 198914 ft smoker craft for years, just got rid of it,was a great boat all this time.It came with a 15 hp Johnson which was great as well, but anyway the only way it would plane was when I would pull the rod on the motor that your adjustment is made with and then I could adjust to plane, you just have to becareful in reverse so it doesn't kick up on you.

 

[Windykid]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

I am guessing that you are underpowered for your boat. But go ahead and mark your prop and hub to see if it slips, also any info on boat size, weight, and prop size would help.

 

[bkj]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

I have the same boat with 15 yammie. It planes better with additional weight in front-so therefore the second person sits in the front seat and I extended the fuel hose so the gas is in front. I get 20-22 Mph

 

[JimS123]

Re: Boat wont get on plane

Whoa!!! I don't want to be nasty here, but lots of bad info above.

First of all, the 20" transom calls for a long shaft motor. So you got that right.

Secondly, if the problem is propellor related, you need a smaller one (lower pitch), not a bigger one. Obviously, you don't know the engine rpms, so you don't know if its going to full speed or not. You need a tach.

I'm gessing yours is a 14' boat, so a 15 HP should plane it. Sounds like weight is your problem, and probably water related like you already suspect.

Look up the boat, motor and trailer on each manufacturer's web site and find out the weight specs. Add them up and then go to your local truck scale and get the rig weighed. That'll tell you if you got a problem or not.

If the weight is OK, go to the engine mfg's website (or Michigan Wheel) and see which prop you should be running.

PS - if you look up the urban myth web site you will find the story about the boat with trailer attached.