Bimini Top Question

[JoeFromAkron]

I have what may be a dumb question. This spring I put a Bimini top on my boat and now it wont plane out correctly. It plowing and burying the bow in bigger waves. The only other thing I changed was removing one battery from the back. I feel stupid asking this but can the bimini top somehow push the bow down. I'm in a aluminum 16ft Lonestar Holiday, so not a heavy boat at all, with a 50 hp manual trim third hole. If I tilt the motor out one more slot it blows out. It's wide and closed bow so maybe need more weight in the back?

 

[GA_Boater]

One way to find out if the bimini is causing the planing issue, Joe. Drop it flat on the gunnels or take it off for a test drive.

 

[JoeFromAkron]

One way to find out if the bimini is causing the planing issue, Joe. Drop it flat on the gunnels or take it off for a test drive.

Ha! Of course. I am just wondering if it's even a reasonable thought I guess. I have other probably more relevant issues I am going to work out as I am sure this motor is propped wrong. It takes forever to reach top speed and was not planing correctly before I put the top on. It seems to me it's worse with it up but maybe I'm imagining that.

 

[GA_Boater]

I meant to ask how it was before the bimini was added, but my fingers outran my brain. :smile:

 

[Starcraft5834]

You likely have to much prop for the engine... the bimini opened can be like a kite... if your propped properly... the bimini wont effect much... obviously they are not designed for speed...

 

[JoeFromAkron]

You likely have to much prop for the engine... the bimini opened can be like a kite... if your propped properly... the bimini wont effect much... obviously they are not designed for speed...

Thats what I was thinking, to try a lower pitched prop, right? This is probably a prop issue really. It's got a 13 1/2 X 15 on it now. It does reach full RPM but it takes about 10 to 15 seconds and kind of surges. It's odd to describe. What happens now is if I am just going along along half throttle about 13 MPH by gps it will put the nose down eventually and speed up itself as it levels off till I back off the throttle. I cant get the boat to stay a steady speed for very long. If I go full throttle it takes off, planes correctly for a few seconds then acts like something is holding it back till its gets to about 3/4 speed or 16 mph then starts plowing and reaches full speed in a more few seconds. It tops out at 26 mph plowing like a snow truck. If I try this in even 1 ft following waves it buries the bow. Forward waves its buries the bow also just not as bad. Obviously I don't go full speed for long in waves. It did this before I put the top on but not as bad it seems. I could just be wrong about that.