First Boat Question

[chaddeems]

This is my first boat. It a 1989 Four Winns 180 Horizon w/ 4.3 OMC Cobra. My question is last season the boat had a hard time to get on plane when towing two tubes. It turns out the engine had alot of proplems and the prop pitch was to high (14 x 19) so i rebuilt the engine and got the right prop (15 x 15) and the engine has more low end but still wont plane easily if everyone is in the back of the boat. i have to make some people sit up front get it on plane faster. My guess i just want to know if this is normal and at what speed should it be on plane? Also where should the trim be set at? Do you have to have the weight in the boat distributer evenly to get on plane? thanks

 

[vipzach]

Re: First Boat Question

Most smaller boats(15-20ft) won't plane out easily if all the weight is in the back. When your boat is trying to plane, it is trying to push the back of the boat out or higher in the water and the front down. <br />All boats will plane a t different speeds. <br />Set the trim all the way down when you are taking off and once on plane trim it up a little, if the bow begins bouncing too much, bring it back down a little.<br />If you want to plane at a lower speed, do a search on smart tabs.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: First Boat Question

Don't know your specific boat but generally the more weight you have foreward, the faster you will get on plane. Especially if your dragging tubes/skiers......J

 

[chaddeems]

Re: First Boat Question

so its not a problem with the boat its just what happens with small boats when towing loads. thanks for your help. one more thing when towing two tubes and people up front i can get on plane about 8 mph. is that good?

 

[QC]

Re: First Boat Question

Originally posted by chaddeems:<br />one more thing when towing two tubes and people up front i can get on plane about 8 mph. is that good?

Yes, but it sounds TOO good. How are you getting your speed reading?

 

[chaddeems]

Re: First Boat Question

from my speedo. By the way how and where does it read?