getting out of the hole problems

fish 4 life

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Oct 3, 2009
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I have a 1985 Ranger 335 Comanche with a 1978 140 HP Evinrude outboard. When in the water the RPMs go up to only about 2000 RPMs and would not get out of the hole. I did finally get the boat to plane out and was able to go about 50 MPH, but I was only able to plane the boat out after me and my brother sat at the very front of the boat while my father drove the boat. I weigh about 300 lbs and my brother weighs about 160, and my father weighs about 300 lbs. I have a 13" X 19" stainless steel 3 blade prop. Do you know what could be the problem or problems?
 

WAVENBYE2

Lieutenant Commander
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Apr 28, 2007
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1,636
Re: getting out of the hole problems

As far as the Rpm's go, when was the last tune-up and maintenance done??
 

fish 4 life

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Oct 3, 2009
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

The WOT RPMs are at about 5,200. I just had the motor tuned up last week with new carbs and stator. The engine seems to run great.
 

WAVENBYE2

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Re: getting out of the hole problems

I have a 1985 Ranger 335 Comanche with a 1978 140 HP Evinrude outboard. When in the water the RPMs go up to only about 2000 RPMs and would not get out of the hole.

As far as the Rpm's go, when was the last tune-up and maintenance done??

The WOT RPMs are at about 5,200. I just had the motor tuned up last week with new carbs and stator. The engine seems to run great.

Hmm.
 

fish 4 life

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Oct 3, 2009
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

Yes, I know, a real head scratcher. I have been trying to figure this out for months now. I have called around and a couple of people have suggested that my boat may have water soaked in the foam of the boat causing the bow to raise up higher than normal. Other say I need a prop with a lower pitch, switch to a 4 blade prop, or take my prop to a prop shop to have ventilation holes drilled. People have told me that my motor may be sitting too high and others say it is too low.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Nov 11, 2005
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51,019
Re: getting out of the hole problems

i say probably all the above, plus you have 750 lbs in people 300 lbs in motor, bass style boat with seats set more to the stern. the boat is just plain tail heavy. you have to balance the load. that is what you did when you moved forward. a set of smart tabs, will help with the planing. i also suggest with that vintage boat to check for waterlogged foam. foam can hold as much as 5-700 lbs of water.
 

rockyrude

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Sep 10, 2007
Messages
1,120
Re: getting out of the hole problems

As far as the motor height goes, the cavitation plate should be from even with the bottom of the keel to as much as an inch above it. Are you sure you are trimming it correctly?
 

fish 4 life

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Oct 3, 2009
Messages
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

Thanks for all the information.

I am having a boat specialist drill some holes in the bottom of the boat to check for water that may be in the foam. Hopefully I won't need smart tabs if the water can be drained out of the boat.
 

ezmobee

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 26, 2007
Messages
23,767
Re: getting out of the hole problems

I think I'd much rather do that from INSIDE the boat. Do a search on here for "core sample".
 

david_r

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Aug 11, 2008
Messages
1,118
Re: getting out of the hole problems

i used to be on the fence about "whale tails" but not anymore.

i bought a stingray summer before last and sued it off and on, depending on our activities and load form the day........ i eventually quit using it since i fished a lot more than tubed.

now my bass boats are in the restoration process, since i had water intrusion and had water soaked foam and rotten wood.

i have been going about it slowly (low on funds) while all the while looking for another boat........ aluminum this time, but buying an aluminum boat around where i live is like pulling teeth.. or buying gold.

my dad blew up the eng on his ranger 350v , rated for a 150hp, and said i could borrow his boat and use my eng till i could do something with my current situation.......... i would fish everyday if i could, and i go every chance i get, even i the winter.

i have a '79 johnson 115 with a factory 13x19 prop.

with all our gear, myself (192), buddy (280) and about 25 gallons of gas we had trouble planning.... well it sure was a big difference compared to how my lil 17' bassmaster with a 70" beam planed out.... of course it is 830# dry and this ranger is 1100# dry.

so i decide to put the stingray back on until i have the money to buy another rectifier (burnt mine up somehow during the motor exchange) and find out if my rpm range is optimal.

we planed out in a very short distance (still didnt jump out like my 17') and we got up to 41mph.........

you might try it.. mine was only $50.

trim tabs are better if you can afford them.
 

fish 4 life

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Oct 3, 2009
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

Good news, no water was found in the foam. I will try a prop with less pitch.
 

Jdeagro

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Jul 30, 2003
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1,682
Re: getting out of the hole problems

Fish 4 Life;

I am happy you did not find water in the hull. Good news! However, once again the focus turns to the prop as a solution to boat balnce issues. Remember the lower pitch prop will give you the same effects as down shifting you car or truck into 2nd gear and leaving it there. You will loose top end, and use more fuel, and turn the engine over more for every mile you run.

How about focusing on the hull? By adding trim tabs you extend the running surface of the hull AND you change the hull design to give the stern more lift when the tabs are down during acceleration and slow speeds. Once the boat planes the tabs retract to a level possition. Your problem is common - too much weight per sq.ft. of hull surface. The Pounds per sq inch is high and mostly in the rear. Once the bow goes up all of th HP is used to climb the hill. Trim tabs will eliminate the hill so that the HP can move the boat forward.

www.rjmediamagic.com/smarttabssx check this video which we are about to release and see the before and after pictures.
 

fish 4 life

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Oct 3, 2009
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

I don't think the smart tabs will mount on my boat because the back corners are angled with a curve.
 

fish 4 life

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Oct 3, 2009
Messages
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

I tried a 4 blade prop with a 17 inch pitch and the boat is doing the same thing. It will not plane out unless my brother and I sit at the front of the boat. I measured the the distance from the cavitation plate to the very bottom of the boat and the cavitation plate is about 3 inches higher than the bottom of the boat.
 

DaveHawkins

Seaman
Joined
Sep 25, 2007
Messages
64
Re: getting out of the hole problems

I think your motor is way too high. Generally, with most applications, the cavitation plate should be about even with the bottom of the boat. If you have a jack plate, I believe I was told for every inch setback off the transom, the motor could be raised a 1/2". So the question is...do you have a jack plate? And can you lower the motor?
 

fish 4 life

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Oct 3, 2009
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

Unfortunately I do not have a jack plate and the motor is as low as it can go. Do you think I need to put a jack plate on so I can lower the motor about 3 inches? I was actually thinking about raising the motor a couple of inches because I talked to the local prop shop and he said the prop is to low in the water. He said the center of the prop should be about 4 inches lower than the bottom of the boat and 3 inches for a 4 blade prop. Right now it is about 5 inches below the bottom of the boat.
 

Bronc Rider

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Sep 1, 2009
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Re: getting out of the hole problems

Unfortunately I do not have a jack plate and the motor is as low as it can go. Do you think I need to put a jack plate on so I can lower the motor about 3 inches? I was actually thinking about raising the motor a couple of inches because I talked to the local prop shop and he said the prop is to low in the water. He said the center of the prop should be about 4 inches lower than the bottom of the boat and 3 inches for a 4 blade prop. Right now it is about 5 inches below the bottom of the boat.

Where is your anti-cavitation plate in relation to the bottom of the hull?
They are right, if the prop is too low it will cause the bow to raise more than it should.
 

fish 4 life

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Oct 3, 2009
Messages
90
Re: getting out of the hole problems

The anti-cavitation plate is about 3 inches higher than the very bottom of the boat.
 
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