Lowe 185 Ski & Fish with Verado 150 – bow won’t lift

[Smgvh]

◆Boat Setup & Test Summary for Lowe Boat

◇Boat Information
Model: Lowe 185 (Not sure model year　exactly but around 2007)
Serial No: LWCV0031F708
Transom height: 20"
Engine: Mercury Verado 150hp (October 2007)

◇Primary concern:
Bow rides unusually low during planing compared to official Lowe video of same model/year.

◇Secondary concern: Excessive side spray and visually bow-down attitude.

◇Initial Engine Mounting Geometry
Although the engine is mounted in the lowest position (1st hole), the geometry appears unusual:
The front portion of the cavitation plate sits above the keel extension line, even at the lowest mounting position.

When the engine is fully trimmed down:
The cavitation plate is not parallel to the keel line.
The rear portion of the cavitation plate sits below the keel extension line.

When trimmed up approximately 1/8 on the trim gauge:
The cavitation plate becomes parallel to the keel.
The cavitation plate sits approximately 1 inch above the keel line.

◇Initial Baseline (Original Setup)
- Engine mounted at 1st bolt hole
- QA1912 X 17P Propeller
- Trim usable up to approx. 1/8
- WOT RPM: approx. 5800 RPM
- Bow lift: insufficient (visually bow low)

◇Test w/ Enertia 17P Propeller (Engine at 1st hole)
- Trim range improved to 1/4
- WOT RPM:
Full trim down: 5500 RPM
1/4 trim up: 6000 RPM
- Slight improvement in bow lift, still visually low

◇Test w/ Engine Raised One Hole (Enertia 17P Propeller)
- Engine mounted at 2nd bolt hole
- Trim usable slightly above 1/8
Above that → prop ventilation
- WOT RPM:
Trim down: 5500 RPM
1/8 trim up: 5900 RPM
- GPS speed: 60 km/h
- Best driving feel so far
- Bow lift: no significant change

◇Test w/ Mirage Plus 19P Propeller
- Engine mounted at 2nd bolt hole
- Trim usable slightly below 1/8
- WOT RPM:
Trim down: 5000 RPM
Near 1/8 trim: 5400 RPM
- GPS speed: 58 km/h
- Bow lift: no meaningful improvement

◇Test w/ Negative 2° Transom Wedge
(Engine 2nd hole + Enertia 17P)
- Trim usable to 1/8
- WOT RPM:
Trim down: 5500–5700 RPM
1/8 trim: 6000 RPM
- GPS speed: 60 km/h
- Slight improvement, still bow-low

◇Weight Redistribution Test
- Originally: 3 batteries at stern
- Moved 2 trolling batteries (~100 kg total with passenger shift) to bow
- No meaningful change in bow lift, RPM, or trim behavior

◇Test w/ Smart Tabs SX (60 lb)
- Significant bow-down effect
- WOT RPM:
Trim down: 5400 RPM
1/8 trim: 5800 RPM
- GPS speed: 49 km/h
- Worsened bow-down condition

◇Current Best Setup
- Engine: 2nd mounting hole
- Propeller: Enertia 17P
- GPS: 60 km/h
- WOT: up to 6000 RPM
- Handling: good
- Main issue: Bow still rides lower than expected compared to Lowe official video.

The next options we are thinking about are: Electric control tram tabs, Tempest plus propeller and Jack plate.
There is a possibility that the cause is hull bottom shaped like a "Hook" but there is no good aluminum repair shop here...

 

[alldodge]

Pro XS 115 weight 163kg (359lb)
Verado 150 weight 231kg (509lb)
Pro XS 150 weight 207kg (456lb)

The vids on line do not have anyone on the bow, your vid does have someone there

The Lowe boat uses the Pro XS so your a bit heavier. Wonder how/why someone put a Verado on the boat instead of XS

What happens when your buy yourself or if folks stay off the bow?

 

[airshot]

I have used this setup for 60 years and it has always worked well. Trim the motor until the cav plate is parallel the the hull. Use a long straight edge to come off your hull and adjust until cav plate is parallel. Now measure the cav plate....is it above or below or even with the bottom? Ideally it should be right at or slightly above, by slightly, I mean within a half inch. If yes then the motor height is correct, do not compare to the keel, only the hull itself, the keel will be lower than the cav plate.
Now I hat the motor height is set, how is the boat loaded ? What all is up front as far as weight goes? Should not have batteries or fuel tanks up front as that creates a harsh ride for them. While under the boat, is the keel straight from front to back or is there a curve in it? Trimming the motor while underway can be tricky, some boats are subject to only minor adjustments on the trim, while some like bigger adjustments. Watch your speed ( GPS only) and also your tach. Once motor is set correctly for height, look carefully at weight distribution. On my boat, we have to consider how heavy the passengers are and that decides on where they sit if I expect top performance. Mabry some good pics of the motor trimmed level for us to see.

 

[racerone]

How did this boat run for you last season ?----New to you ?----Is the boat water logged ?----Has motor power output been tested on a dyno ?

 

[Ifishmuskie2]

Water filled hull? Take to get weighed.
Any deformation in the hull causes problems. I had a boat with a 6” round dent 1” deep and it didn’t trim out the same.

 

[Smgvh]

I have used this setup for 60 years and it has always worked well. Trim the motor until the cav plate is parallel the the hull. Use a long straight edge to come off your hull and adjust until cav plate is parallel. Now measure the cav plate....is it above or below or even with the bottom? Ideally it should be right at or slightly above, by slightly, I mean within a half inch. If yes then the motor height is correct, do not compare to the keel, only the hull itself, the keel will be lower than the cav plate.
Now I hat the motor height is set, how is the boat loaded ? What all is up front as far as weight goes? Should not have batteries or fuel tanks up front as that creates a harsh ride for them. While under the boat, is the keel straight from front to back or is there a curve in it? Trimming the motor while underway can be tricky, some boats are subject to only minor adjustments on the trim, while some like bigger adjustments. Watch your speed ( GPS only) and also your tach. Once motor is set correctly for height, look carefully at weight distribution. On my boat, we have to consider how heavy the passengers are and that decides on where they sit if I expect top performance. Mabry some good pics of the motor trimmed level for us to see.

 

[Smgvh]

How did this boat run for you last season ?----New to you ?----Is the boat water logged ?----Has motor power output been tested on a dyno ?

I buy this year, from usa!

 

[dingbat]

The only way I can get my bow down like that is too be way over trimmed or way too much tab

Either your smart tabs have way too much weight applied or you have a hull problem.

 

[Smgvh]

Pro XS 115 weight 163kg (359lb)
Verado 150 weight 231kg (509lb)
Pro XS 150 weight 207kg (456lb)

The vids on line do not have anyone on the bow, your vid does have someone there

The Lowe boat uses the Pro XS so your a bit heavier. Wonder how/why someone put a Verado on the boat instead of XS

What happens when your buy yourself or if folks stay off the bow?

We've already loaded people onto the bow and it's still sagging! We've already moved the batteries, weight (front to back), propellers, etc.! I need to fix this!

 

[Smgvh]

Pro XS 115 weight 163kg (359lb)
Verado 150 weight 231kg (509lb)
Pro XS 150 weight 207kg (456lb)

The vids on line do not have anyone on the bow, your vid does have someone there

The Lowe boat uses the Pro XS so your a bit heavier. Wonder how/why someone put a Verado on the boat instead of XS

What happens when your buy yourself or if folks stay off the bow?

Could the engine be too heavy? Or could that not be the problem?

 

[alldodge]

Could the engine be too heavy? Or could that not be the problem?

Don't see the weight being your current issue, just wonder why a Verado was installed other than the XS. Just looked up and the Pro XS came into production in August 2007, so may not have been an option at the time

More weight might cause the bow to ride higher, so not your issue right now.
Think there is just to much weight forward or to much tab as others have mentioned

 

[Ifishmuskie2]

What is the aluminum repair on the left side stern?

 

[airshot]

Move some weight out off the bow, check for water live free foam in the bow. Is there a hook or a curve in the keel ? Cab plate looks a little high but not enough to cause an issue. Will the motor trim out further than shown in the last pic ( leg further away from the transom) ?

 

[Texasmark]

I have used this setup for 60 years and it has always worked well. Trim the motor until the cav plate is parallel the the hull. Use a long straight edge to come off your hull and adjust until cav plate is parallel. Now measure the cav plate....is it above or below or even with the bottom? Ideally it should be right at or slightly above, by slightly, I mean within a half inch. If yes then the motor height is correct, do not compare to the keel, only the hull itself, the keel will be lower than the cav plate.
Now I hat the motor height is set, how is the boat loaded ? What all is up front as far as weight goes? Should not have batteries or fuel tanks up front as that creates a harsh ride for them. While under the boat, is the keel straight from front to back or is there a curve in it? Trimming the motor while underway can be tricky, some boats are subject to only minor adjustments on the trim, while some like bigger adjustments. Watch your speed ( GPS only) and also your tach. Once motor is set correctly for height, look carefully at weight distribution. On my boat, we have to consider how heavy the passengers are and that decides on where they sit if I expect top performance. Mabry some good pics of the motor trimmed level for us to see.

On the "tricky trim" something that I learned: If the front edge of the AV plate is below the hull line (as measured herein) bow lift at higher trim angles responds much better. Problem is that if you want speed, having the AV plate below the hull line adds drag to the system and top end isn't as good as it is (see below). Like others have said, even, or slightly above works. best for speed.

If speed is the main topic, then raising the engine as mentioned in statement just above this one, prevents the AV plate from being in the slip stream meaning that you are relying solely on thrust vectoring from the propeller to get your bow lift and if you had it below initially, you will definitely note the difference In performance..................on the same hull/load-power arrangement.....changing nothing but engine height. BTDT
With that said, hull type plays a big part in that comparison. Different hull types obviously respond differently....in amount of change. A boat with a pad (bass boat) or one with reverse "chines" that reflect water pressure back down (Crestliner Fish Hawk 1750 to name one) allow a more noticeable effect on effects of changing height and trim as these two hulls ride high in the water at speed.....to name a couple......I've had both so experience is in my corner.

 

[Chris1956]

I saw your video. It sure looked like the boat was plowing water, much more than usual, IMO. If trimming up won't lift the bow, you need to look for other causes.
Check the hull with a long straight edge from the transom forward. The straight edge should sit flat on the hull. Check both sides of the transom, and the keel area.