19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

[gty2k2000]

ok this is how it went I used to have a 18 foot manatee v hull that was powered by a 1976 115hp Johnson V4 at this time I was able to reach speeds of up to 36 mph but then I switched boats to a 19 foot cruise craft bow rider that is considerably liter and it wont plane and will only reach speeds of up to 24 mph. But only when one person drives and the other sits far in the back near the transom. if me and my father sit in the front it plows into the water. and when a little bit of water gets in the boat it always runs to the front while cruising. someone please help me get back up to speed. I think it might just be the trim adjustment pin?

 

[chuckz]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

It sounds like the engine is trimmed much too far in. It's pushing the bow down. Move the trim pin out several notches.

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Hum, just a thought. Every 115 I ever saw had power trim. maybe there are some out there without it. If you dont have it, then I definatly would try to set the pin back farther than it is now. I would think that even with a 19 foot boat you should be able to get at least 35 MPH with the right setup.<br /><br />If you dont have a tach, get one, its the most valuable guage on your boat. If you have one, let us know what the WOT RPM is and what pitch prop you have.

 

[gty2k2000]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

it has power tilt my father is working on it as i type but as of now its not very dependable. and sorry no tachometer but the prop and pitch are as follows. it a michigan wheel and its 13.25x17 hope that helps

 

[gty2k2000]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

i also forgot to mention that it is on its lowest pin hole as in firthist one back

 

[Solittle]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

You found the problem. Move it back one pin at a time and checking performance as you go. My guess is that you will find the middle setting about right.

 

[gty2k2000]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

my johnson will only accept up to a 14 inch prop and no larger. and the pin is all ready all the way back aginst the transom

 

[biloxiriver]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Have you checked to see if the hull is holding water? My neighbors boat was acting that way last summer and he found a bunch of water in the hull. Drained it and put a bilge pump in an planed off just fine.

 

[kesso]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Is your transom straight up/down or does it angle back under the boat?<br /><br />If the transom angles back under, you may be getting a neutral or slightly negative pitch even when trimmed all the way out. Some of those V4 T/T units only give you 15 degrees of trim. Anything above 15 degrees is using the Tilt system and when you increase RPMs, it goes back to 15 degrees (Max).<br /><br />My boat suffers from a lack of pitch capability (for the above reason), i have devised a bracket that bolts through the last pin-hole and gives the effect of approximately 2 more pin-holes. It does the job, more bow lift, better speed, beter ride...lose the ability to trim it in though.

 

[kesso]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

My apologies, missed your last post gty2k. Move your pin to the furtherst pin hole away from the transom....so the prop is facing more towards the sky, that will lift the bow.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

gty2K2000, It sounds like your boat is certainly riding bow down. Changing the tilt pin to the second hole from the transom is a good start. You can adjust it outward from there for optimum performance. If for some reason, you cannot achieve good performance by changing the tilt pin hole, I would check to see that the hull does not have a "hook" in it's bottom. A hook will sometimes force the transom up and therefore drive the bow down. Use a straight edge on the hull to make the check.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Every 115 I ever saw had power trim

well i have 2 of them now without it! ! ! ! i wish they did though<br /><br /><br />you have good advice here! follow it.<br /><br />on my boat i have the tilt pin in the 3rd hole from the transom. some are different, tyours may need the 4th hole or may need the 2nd.<br /><br />just move it back one hole at a time and try again. its fun trying these things cause you have a great excuse to use the boat ! hahahaha<br /><br />do that first.<br /><br />there may also be water in the hull or maybe too much weight up front. a 19 foot bowrider is kinda big for a 115. they usually have a 150 when they are new. just my thoughts

 

[rwidman]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

In addition to the above:<br /><br />Is the prop the correct diameter and pitch? Is it in good condition? Is it slipping on the hub (spun prop)?

 

[gty2k2000]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

the prop is farly new only used like 4 times but was bought when i owned another boat a much heavier 18 ft manatee.<br /><br /> can i post pics of my transom to see if any one can geuss wich pin hole to use? <br /><br />also when my power trim did work it wasnt able to trim out when i got going to try to plane out. is this normale of old tilt n trims. also i think one of the hidrolics or both may have bad seal any chance of finding replace ment.<br /><br />i could be runnin a 14x17/18 but i am currently runnin a 13.25x17. ill probably buy a new one.

 

[gty2k2000]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

whats a hook

 

[Solittle]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Feel free to post pictures. It may help but you have already been given the advice you need.<br /><br />Before you go buying props you need to get a tachometer to find out what RPMs you are getting at wide open throttle. Then we can aid you on what prop to try.<br /><br />A hook is when the bottom of the boat develops a slight (or severe) concave lie. Take a 2X4 and place it along the bottom along the axis of the hull. It should be parallel with the bottom.

 

[gty2k2000]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

how would i go about installing a tachometer?

 

[kesso]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Should have following unused wires inside the control box:<br /><br />1. Purple - Key switched 12VDC<br />2. Grey - Tacho-alternator signal<br />3. Black - Ground<br /><br />Now all you need is a tachometer suitable for an outboard motor with a 12 pole alternator (should have a number of possible selections on rear of tacho).

 

[rwidman]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

Take a 2X4 and place it along the bottom along the axis of the hull. It should be parallel with the bottom.

If you can find a straight 2X4 !

 

[shep70057]

Re: 19 Foot cruise Craft with 115 hp johnson wont plane

You should be able to move and adjust the pins on the water. Just have someone hold the motor up while you move it into a different position. Just be sure not to drop the pin.