Boat unstable on plane

[Bondo]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Edit; Sorry for the double post, I guess what I did, Don't work....
Gotta make that 29,000,.. Somehow....

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

As long as your touting courtesy among the ranks on here, Mr Bond-O should be at the top of your "courtesy watch"
He responds with a grunting "AYUH" and then condescendly, tells the OP to learn to drive his boat.

Although that may be the solution, an explanation as to why it's a solution, would, in my opinion, be a "courteous" response.

once you get past a few posts yourself, you will see that Bondo tosses in an "Ayuh" quite regularly. I find it funny.

Interesting how people with only a few posts are telling people with 10K plus posts who have time and time again shown their knowledge of all things boat, what is going on.

You don't always get the answer you were hoping for when you ask a question.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

People here have ALL experience levels from newbie to pro..... when people do not fill out their profile or give a bit of explanation it is difficult to tell.

How long they have had the boat, how long the problem has been going on, what solutions/steps they have taken to correct the problem.

Where do you boat? I live not too far from Lake Champlain and depending on which section of the lake where I boat depends on how I operate it. I have years of experience in both salt water and fresh water and the direction I take varies.....

Mr Cortez....had much contact with people from Maine? I think not. Ayuh is a Maine/New England expression for positive affirmation ....... Your interpretation is way off base. Go ahead and google it!

BTW Bond-o and I have spoken on the telephone and Ayuh is part of normal conversation.

Hooah!

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Wicked Bad, Bob, Atleast spell it Right,.... Ayuh.....

Btw,... It's a more Local term, used almost exclusively in Downeast Maine, being south by east of the Penobscot river,...

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Wicked Bad, Bob, Atleast spell it Right,.... Ayuh.....

Btw,... It's a more Local term, used almost exclusively in Downeast Maine, being south by east of the Penobscot river,...

However you spell it, we know what you meant Bob !!!

 

[Lrider]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Not to take you all off the high horses

I looked this boat up, it's dry weight is only 925 pounds and is 17 feet in length. constructed of fiberglass, and has a 7 foot 4 inch beam.

I suspect the boat floats like a cork and is akin to riding a dirt bike in the wind, as was noted somewhere above and the Coast Guard boating safety guide, you need to cut across the swells at some angle.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Wicked Bad, Bob, Atleast spell it Right,.... Ayuh.....

Btw,... It's a more Local term, used almost exclusively in Downeast Maine, being south by east of the Penobscot river,...

I am quite familiar with the expression. I spent my teenage years in Maine and all my extended family is from Maine. I grew up fishing on Cross Lake and Square Lake in Ft. Kent (way up north) and fished the Androscoggin River extensively near Brunswick/Lisbon Falls.

Just to be clear, I figured out quickly how to safely maneuver the boat across the chop and was out yesterday in some fairly heavy chop without issue. So driving the boat took some learning but I now know how to do it safely. So the "learn to drive a boat" is not the answer I'm looking for.

My question was is this normal behavior and something I should continue to work around, or does the boat have a problem that I should look into correcting. That's all I'm asking. I'm not an idiot who is recklessly trying to get from point A to point B at any cost. I've figured out the boat's tendencies and have adapted.

But if the boat has an issues, I'd like to know so I can correct it. This is the first boat I've owned but I've been on boats all my life and never seen anything like this. That's where my question is coming from.

18mph on 6" waves, and people are in danger of falling out of the boat?

Something is seriously wrong, take it in or have someone experienced ride with you and drive the boat. Is the motor tight on the transom? Does the steering have a lot of play? Have you ever owned a boat before?

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Is this your boat?

That is my boat, yes. Motor is tight on transom (one of the first things I checked after it happened) but the steering does have some play, not sure what constitutes "a lot" but I'm thinking that could be a contributing factor.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

no-one has any idea if there's issues with the boat since we're not there or can see it, as I've said twice and someone posted the actual weight, that boat is light, it does not cut thru chop, it bounces off it especially at speed, it's the nature of that particular boat.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

To add to my last post. Several years ago I had a 14 or 15 foot fiberglass starcraft with a 35 hp rude, with the engine attached I could lift the stern and reposition it on the trailer, it was that lite.

I took it out on the pacific and found out in short order that the sea was in control no mater what size the swells were. Technically, I did not make a big enough footprint in the water due to the lack of weight. Two more people on the boat made a Lot of difference.

So in answer to your question, this is fairly normal for your boat size and weight and as you have noted above you have learned how to deal with it.

I suggest that you add a few guys (about 450 + pounds and see how it reacts to the same size swells. You will be surprised.

On the good size, being a lite boat you will save on fuel

My 2 cents

Hang around this place will grow on you

Be Well

 

[Mike Robinson]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

.Bennett

I can understand where Bond-o's response could be interpreted as a condescending remark.

It's difficult to interpret the poster's intent when reading a post on the internet, you cannot hear any tone or inflection or see any facial expressions which are important aspects of communication.

I hope that after reading more of Bond-o's posts you will see that he is an important contributor here in the iboats community and will give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[phwrd]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Gee, everyone take a deep breath and chill. Question asked, question answered.

Mr. Moderator, might I suggest that we close this one out and everybody get on with the important stuff in life, like boating.

 

[DonHof]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

I have a 15 foot aluminum with a 30 Merc. We were out Saturday for a while.
Had the wife, sister in law and nephew. We were doing good till all the big boats came out. Waves coming at you for every witch way. Boat did the same thing. We stopped boating and went home. Problem solved

 

[180Fisherman]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Not that this helps any but most 17' boats aren't going to be good in anything but the calmest waters.

Now let's wait for replies from the guys that say they've taken their 15' Whalers from California to Hawaii in a typhoon.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Not that this helps any but most 17' boats aren't going to be good in anything but the calmest waters.

Now let's wait for replies from the guys that say they've taken their 15' Whalers from California to Hawaii in a typhoon.

No, it was a 13 foot Whaler from Florida to France in a hurricane !!!
Seriously though, small Whalers beat the crap out of you in chop.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

if you are hauling butt down a mountain road and the car feels like it's losing control, what do you do? I slow down.

 

[hubbard53]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

no-one has any idea if there's issues with the boat since we're not there or can see it, as I've said twice and someone posted the actual weight, that boat is light, it does not cut thru chop, it bounces off it especially at speed, it's the nature of that particular boat.

i think this is the best answer but not sure if it addresses your concerns... it is hard to define 6" "chop" as "chop", in my low-post-count opinion

It *seems* that if a course change is that drastic, pucker-drastic, then there could be a problem. If I were you, I would seek out an experienced boater locally and give them a spin and see what they think. Computer-mariners, no matter the post count, can not tell you if it is normal or not since they arent there.

As an aside, don't let the crotchety old men scare you away - there are lots of us out here that can answer your question respectfully. And there is a reason our post counts are low; we don't feel like getting bashed by the 'forum admirals' for havving an opinion or asking a question.

 

[JB]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

Now, if the survivors can discuss this courteously please continue.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

i think this is the best answer but not sure if it addresses your concerns... it is hard to define 6" "chop" as "chop", in my low-post-count opinion

Yeah, that was partially my point. The problem is prone to occurring (again, if I were to let it, but I don't because I know how to drive my boat lol) even in the slightest water disturbances.

I appreciate the answers guys. I think I'm going to start with tabs because I've been planning on doing that anyway for overall better handling/planing and if that doesn't seem to help this issue, I'll investigate further. Cheers :beer:

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

I had this EXACT same problem in my first boat.

boat was a 1960-ish alumimum (35hp max)
motor was a 1993 20hp johnson tracker

Let me first start by saying 20 HP is WAY to much for that boat.

I finally figured out the problem after my post count went up;
Long shaft motor on a short transom.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Boat unstable on plane

SPL

decoded;

SP = Special Styling
L = 20? Long

Maybe that is your problem...