Motor tilt question

[bhughes]

Hey guys,

I've got a 1974 25hp johnson on a 14' fiberglass skiff type boat. It runs really good.

Here's my question. I think it may have to do with the fact that I have a 3ph kicker motor on the back of my boat beside my main motor so there's a lot of weight in the back, but when my boat planes out and gets up to full throttle, water is spraying straight up to my motor so that there's this big "V" of spray coming from the back as the water spray is being divided by the motor itself. So far it doesn't seem to hurt the motor, but I was wondering if this is normal or could that water spraying the bottom of the motor eventually screw something up? I've tried messing with the tilt, but the boat won't get on a plane unless it's in the very bottom position where the water sprays up like it does.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Motor tilt question

It sounds like the main motor is mounted too high, or is the wrong length for he boat. Observe the motor when on plane. The antiventilation plate should be at the surface of the water, or slightly above. I think you will see that the AV plate is quite high off the water. if so, the motor should be lowered a bit, if possible.

As long as the motor doesn't overheat or ventilate, there is nothing wrong with some spray.

 

[bhughes]

Re: Motor tilt question

Thanks Chris, I'll have to check that out. Although, I can't think of a way that I'd be able to lower the motor any further than it is. I guess that would involve shaving down the top edge of the boat so that is can sit down lower.

 

[bhughes]

Re: Motor tilt question

Chris, you were exactly right. I read that the antiventilation plate should be even with or just below the bottom or keel of the boat. When I looked at mine out of the water, it was slightly above it about 1/2" and that was on the lowest tilt setting. So, I removed the motor and shaved off an inch from the top of my transom with a hacksaw. My forarm was pretty sore after that.

Went fishing this past Friday evening and the 1 inch drop did the trick. There was no water spraying up anymore and the wake behind the motor looked better too. I had to move the tilt to the second position out this time and it seems to run at a slightly higher RPM at top speed.

Thanks for the advise Chris.