boat not going on plane

ultragiatu

Recruit
Joined
May 15, 2017
Messages
2
Hello. I have a fishing boat with an 2013 Mercury 60 HP 4 strokes outboard. I was on the lake with the boat a few days ago and the boat was not able to plane, no matter how I was trimming the motor the bow was going up and the boat would not gain any speed. I tried to trim the motor as high as possible and when I was accelerating it was pulling it back down. I am new to boating so I don't even know if the engine is trimmed all the way down should it go on plane? Also there are no leaks from the trim pump and the engine doesn't come down overnight if I I will leave it trimmed up. The previous owner installed a 4 blade prop on it I don't know if it has to do anything with it, but first time when I was with the boat we were two persons and the second time it was just me. If anyone has any ideas please let me know and thanks in advance.
 

Alumarine

Captain
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
3,757
Welcome, what kind of boat and what size?


As a rule,the motor should be all the way down (in towards the transom) to get on plane.
You then trim it out a bit to improve the ride or speed if necessary.

Also, it's best to give it lots of throttle to get the nose down quicker.
Weight distribution is also important. Moving weight to the front can help.

Has you ever seen it plane properly?
 

ultragiatu

Recruit
Joined
May 15, 2017
Messages
2
Hello Marc, It is 17.7 aluminium Bass Tracker. I must say I am totally nubbie to boating. I was gradually giving it more throttle and the bow was rising really high. I don't think I put the throttle all the way down suddenly and I don't remember how I did it the first time but first time I had no problems getting it to plane and it was going 30 - 35 miles/h.
 

Alumarine

Captain
Joined
Feb 22, 2005
Messages
3,757
You've got to power through the bow rise. If you don't it will just stay up in the air.
Sometimes you have to stand up to see over the bow until it gets on plane.
As the bow starts to go up I would apply more or full power. That's not too much power for that boat.
 

Triangleboater

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Mar 5, 2013
Messages
207
Yup go full throttle and go from there. Have trim all the way down. Report back. That four blade prop should actually help it playing at a slower speed
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
39,271
Is the motor trimmed all the way down ???----Hold the DOWN switch till it stops moving.
 

westcoaster90

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jul 11, 2013
Messages
38
if i were you i would get your dealer to plug into the ECM. i've had more then one of these 50/60 fuel injected mercs (although older) that had no power to get up on plane because a coil was failing under load. idled fine and could hardly tell there was a dead cylinder at full bore. unless you have a stash of parts those coils ain't cheap to just buy to try lol so the dealer diagnostic will tell you if it is the issue and which coil is the culprit.
 
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