planing question....

[ginagirl]

Do you have to play around with the tilt to plane a boat or does it do it all by itself? If you have to do it then how come people say their boats will plane out at XX mph?

My other question is if that is what we are doing wrong on our boat. My husband is always the driver and he doesn't mess with the tilt and trim while boat is in motion. I get scared sitting in passenger seat cause the front of the boat raises too high for comfort. I feel like one good wave or wind is going to flip the boat. When hitting waves it comes crashing down hard and just doesn't feel right to me. Front of the boat never comes down after going up.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: planing question....

Boats will plane by themselves if the trim is set anywhere close to the proper range. The nose of the boat should lower once the boat is 'on plane'. It sounds like your boat is not really getting fully on plane. Usually trim adjustments are fairly minor once on plane.

What boat are we talking about?

 

[ginagirl]

Re: planing question....

Its like a 60 or 70 something powercat tri hull with a 70 something johnson 115

 

[Blacksting]

Re: planing question....

Its like a 60 or 70 something powercat tri hull with a 70 something johnson 115

,.....lol, this is why we can't live with em or without em

 

[Georgesalmon]

Re: planing question....

Its typical for the bow to rise as the boat gets to planing speed. Thats when the hull is riding on top of the water and not riding through the water. Its normal for the operator to adjust the trim while running the boat at different speeds and weather conditions. For a number of reasons such as efficiency, speed, adjusting for load, total and location. Many of my boats had to have the motor tucked in to get up on plane faster and then trimmed up some to reach max speed or stay on plane at best efficiency. If your captain would lower the trim the bow would lower to but maybe come off plane if it is on plane to start with. So much depends on the boat, motor, prop, motor location, etc. its awful hard to make assumptions without knowing more about your particular setup. Although maybe its just perception, how high is high? It is possible for a boat to flip end to end called pitchpoling(sp). Not a good thing, but also not real common on boats such as you describe. Get the bow down a little IMHO.

 

[willib0731]

Re: planing question....

Is all the weight in the aft part of the boat? Try moving forward as the bow comes up. Weight distribution in smaller boats can have much to do with bow angle and the ability to plane. Once the bow starts coming up, move forward and see it it helps.

 

[Jlawsen]

Re: planing question....

Have your husband start with the motor trimmed all the way down. This will bring the boat up on plane the fastest but it will put too much of the forward hull in the water when on plane and hold back your top speed. The answer to that is to add up trim just a little at a time until the boat feels like it's riding right. It should feel like it's riding on top of the wave and not crashing through them. On a properly loaded boat with adequate power you should see just the last couple of feet of the hull splashing water when you're on plane at a comfortable speed. The bow should be held up out of the water but feel nearly level with the waters surface.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: planing question....

Trim motor down all the way, then hit the throttle to get up on plane, experience will let you know how much throttle- varies a lot depending on load, pulling skiier or tube, etc... When up on plane, adjust trim up gradually until boat starts to porpoise (front end bobs up and down), then trim down a little till the bobbing stops. Adjust throttle up or down to whatever speed you want to cruise.
Playiing with the trim is fine, and the only way to learn how to use it properly.

 

[steelespike]

Re: planing question....

As you figure out the ideal trim for getting planed you will note that it levels out at a specific speed all things being equal.
Once on plane you will note as you slow it will drop off plane at a specific speed.
Of course load and conditions will change that.
Trim down to get on plane as it gets on plane trim up for the best speed for a given throttle setting.
As you slow, trim down as required to maintain plane best. Some times trimming up or down will help handle conditions on the water.
If you read the stickys at the top of the prop forum and get us the info requested we may be able to tell if your boat is performing as it should and what may help. Try to be specific about year of boat and motor.Get us the wot(wide open throttle) rpm and speed.
You will need a tach for rpm and a gps for speed. Some cells have a gps app. In a pinch gps speed can get us started.
Your prop size may be near the base of the blades or under the prop nut.