Trim??? adjustments

[Bunnerrabbit]

First off I am a NEBIE I just got my first boat a 1987 Bass Tracker with a 35hp Mercury, I am not a big fisher but will prob take it a time or two. This boat will mainly be used just for ridding around. I am currently fixxing it up getting it back in to a more like new condition since it was in pretty bad shape. Anyway to the point I want to be able to get top speed out of it. It has a stainless prop, and I am going to get a stabalixer thing for the motor but am unsure how to adjust the trim. Mainly move it what way for what reason up or down. Its fixxed or not adjustable when running but has like 6 settings on it. I just want to know what to look for or how to tell it needs adjusting. I hope I got my point accross but I might not have. Thanks for any info someone can give me. Also I hope to be able to run 30 to 33mph whats your opinion on that one?

 

[hondon]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

That tilt pin will need to be adjusted to your own comfort zone. If you move the pin out this will cause the bow to rise and give more speed but can also cause lenghthy planeing and porpousing.If you move it to far in you will bow steer and the boat will be hard to handle and slow.Start by eyeballing the engines cavitation plate about level with the bottom of the boat and then go out or in from there.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

Bun/rab, That stabilizer thing is great. It will help your boat plane easier and stay on plane at lower power.It will also help keep bow from bounding around and boat will handle better.But-- It will slow your boat slightly only a mile or so but some.Max speed will depend on trimming carefully,careful weight distribution,no extra weight.Hard to predict speed depends on size,<br />weight,bottom shape etc.You probably can see<br />your target speed. Good luck.

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

Hmmmm......35 hp motor...Hmmmm...With a Bass Tracker you will be lucky to get 30 mph. Your boat I think weighs about 1000 lbs or more empty.....with gear and people.......1400 to 1600 lbs.<br />Give me the max rpm of your engine pitch of prop and lower unit ratio and I'll give you your speed + or - 2 mph. To give you an idea I have custom aluminum mini bass boat that has an all up weight of about 585 lbs less people, gear and gas, 13' 10" long with a NEW Merc 3 cyl 40 hp. Alone I get 38-39 MPH, with two it drops to 36 MPH with a 1.83 lower ratio an 16" pitch prop. I've built the same boat for others that use the newer Merc 25 Hp and their getting about 30 MPH alone and 26-28 with two. I believe your engine has 2.00 to 1 ratio need pitch and max rpm. Low weight is the key to faster speed.....

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

Well its a 16ft Alu bass tracker. So weight even a little is a big key? It currently has 3 batts 1 for starting 2 for trolling one of wich is pretty old. would dropping the weight of even that one battery make a difference I am guessing it has to weigh 50 lbs(BIG BATTERY)Also I am going to re carpet the whole thing and replace the plywood. Any sugestions on what to use? as far as weight I really dont think it weights 1000+lbs. Then again I dont know. The motor would have to be a big part of that,and its only a 35. Its pretty basic bass tracker not to much storage I would figure its on the lighter side for a bass tracker. One more thing I noticed today the fin thing by the prop is missing will that make much of a difference. (the screw on one above the prop)and I really only want to reach 30mph anything more would just be a plus. Guy I bought it from said it did 27 and he had it loaded full of fishing stuff and didnt really car about top speed.

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

I believe the motor you have is about 160 lbs., its the old 40hp @ powerhead 2 cyl. derated to 35 @ the prop, one of Mercs first "looper" engines. Very good old engine....If your boat has 3 batt. and wood floors plus all the the other stuff to make it a console, your over 1000 lbs. If ya have the skill, make your new floor boards from 5052 x .050" aluminum with an aluminum sub structure will save you about 50% in weght over wood plus no rot. 5' x 12' sheet should only cost about $50.00-60.00. I would alumiprep, alodine and zinc chromate the parts before you glue carpet down. Use Weldwood "solvent" based contact cement and get a good quality 3 yr warranty carpet for boats or better. If you have a trolling motor that produces about 24-36 lbs of thrust and you don't run it @ high speed all day, a single group 27 115 amper/hour battery should do you for everything. If you really want a seperate battery for motor, get one of the little marine batteries thats the size of a lawn tractor battery. Small light weight and will crank your outboard for a half an hour. I can e-mail detailed pics of how this project should look. Loose about 300 lbs and gain at least 2-3 MPH or better. Two of those big batts are about 120-150 lbs alone....The loss of the trim tab on the motor actually would make the boat faster, but not really enough to notice in your case, it would though, relieve any stearing torque, if you have any, when adjusted properly

 

[Bunnerrabbit]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

Well, I took the boat out today and it only went 26MPH now I am thinking its going to be VERY hard to reach 30mph. There was 2 of us with a combined weight of prob about 375lbs me being only 150lbs. Anyway I am planning to buy a smaller starting battery not a real small one but the one I got is old and prob the biggest size you can get. Where can I find the aluminum? How can you cut it good enought? jigsaw with a metal blade? I still need to get the stabilizer and a trim tab, and well I am running old gass too. I am not sure how old but I am thinking its kinda old and he sayed it was mixxed 18 to1 so I am thinking it would run a little better with new gas mixxed at 50 to 1. Anyway I am finding things wrong all the time. Got most the wires figured out now. Got terminals on the batt conections.cleaned alot of corroded wires and everything seems to work now.

 

[FlyBoyMark]

Re: Trim??? adjustments

For your floor boards;Try Alro Metals, Tull Metals, or look up aluminum supply in the yellow pages, go to home depot and tell them you need an electric metal shear for sheet metal, they also rent.