Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

[nazmen1]

I have a 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 190 hp with Mercruiser Alpha 1 Sterndrive, purchased this spring. Have had it out 3 times.

On the lake the other day first time with 4 adults in the boat, I could not exceed 20 mph due to the boat bouncing on the waves. Engine would go but the boat kept bouncing despite adjusting the trim as far down as it would go. The ride got very uncomfortable when increasing the rpms, bouncing. Nearly lost the dog.

Engine is runs smoothly and has no problem getting to 4,000 rpm or so. Tried moving a passenger to the bow area but the result was the same.

Tonight, with the boat on the trailer I took the pin running through the trim cylinders out. With the pin out, the outdrive will drop down another inch of so. There is no restriction in movement, I can freely move the outdrive up and down. The trim cylinders were all the way to paint in the down position.

What I didn't check when I ran the boat in the water was if the trim cylinders were all the way to the bottom.

Is there anything the would limit how far down the outdrive goes besides the trim cylinders.

In other boats I have run, rentals of similar size, I have been able to trim the outdrive down until the boat starts to dig in and then back off a bit improving the ride and overall performance of the boat and go any speed.


Any thoughts.

Thank you.

Mike

 

[Bondo]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

On the lake the other day first time with 4 adults in the boat, I could not exceed 20 mph due to the boat bouncing on the waves. Engine would go but the boat kept bouncing despite adjusting the trim as far down as it would go. The ride got very uncomfortable when increasing the rpms, bouncing. Nearly lost the dog.

Ayuh,... The drive sounds about Normal to me,...
In an 18' boat ya gotta Slow down when the water gets Taller...

You could put powered trim tabs on it,+ Really make 'er Plow....

 

[dsmmace]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I would go through the trim sending unit adjustment in the manual or search it out online.

This doesn't sound normal, I have a similar boat.

 

[sltintexas]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I've got an 18ft boat in tall waves I've got to go slow and kids don't get to sit in the front.... gets bouncy.

How tall of waves are we talking about?

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

There was a considerable stretch where the water was quite smooth, moved an additional passenger upfront and the boat was still bouncing. I should have been able to go at full speed.

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

To Bond-o

Are there trim tabs attached to the sterndrive or the hull.

Do you know of anyone with a hull like the Bayliner 1850 ever having to install a workaround solution like this to make the boat perform.

Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Are there trim tabs attached to the sterndrive or the hull.

Ayuh,..... On the Hull,... like Bennett's, or Lenco's...

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Thanks Bond-o

Have you ever know anyone else with Bayliner 1850 having to install these, or could it be that something in the trim system is not letting the trim cylinders move the outdrive to its full bottom position.

Thanks

Mike

 

[dsmmace]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I don't have that problem with the same boat, did you read what posted about trim sender adjustment?

 

[stonyloam]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I would go through the trim sending unit adjustment in the manual or search it out online.

The trim limit switch should have no affect on the down trim, which seems to be his problem. This could be a case where the hull shape of this specific boat causes a natural "up" trim condition, and a stabilizer or trim tabs might be the solution. I use a "cobra" plate on mine, and like it (it mounts under the cavitation plate), would like to try the "smart tabs" someday. Problem is you never know how they will affect your boat till you put em on.

 

[dsmmace]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I see the trim limit switch will limit the amount of movement up, my impression is that it would limit the down movement so that the hydraulic rams wouldn't overextend?

My drive moves so far down I can't put the drive all the way down on the trailer unless I dig a hole for the skeg.

Is this boat new to you?

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Yes the boat is new to me.

In checking the trim cylinders last night after I got the boat out of the water they do pull the outdrive all the way down. I am going to take the boat this evening and check it. Perhaps I didn't have it down all the way, but I had the problem both on the outbound and inbound trip that I made on the lake.

Thanks for your comment.

 

[dsmmace]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Are you triming to the gauge display or are you listening for your pump to quit.

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I know the trim gauge a relative indicator, so I am using the sound of the pump to tell me I have reached the bottom.

This evening I took the boat out and ran the pump to tell it reached bottom and performance was much better. In past boats I've have run I was able to trim down and then have to back off because the boat was digging in the front. Not the case here. Just a bit bouncy, would like the option to back it off a bit instead of running with it all the way down.

Will investigate the other options posted here, thanks to all for your quick, courteous and insightful responses.

Mike Naz

 

[dsmmace]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Rpm and speed?

I used to run 47-48mph @ 4800 rpm with a merc 21 pitch black max with the stock motor. Above 40mph if I tried to trim it out it would porpoise (bounce).

My solution was to add 60lb Nauticus Smart SX trim tabs. It stopped the bounce and the low speed wander. I will be buying them again on my next boat.

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

I am intrigued by your response and was researching a set of Bennett trim tabs.

In order of cost, a fin for the cavitation plate, Smart Tabs and then Bennett or Lesco Trim Tabs.

Since the Smart tabs are a more passive solution I would not have thought they would do the job. Not that I am opposed to spending $500 for the Bennett trims tabs, if an option for 1/3 of that works then I would follow your recommendation.

What is slow speed wander, is that where you have to navigate at less than headway speed.

Your thoughts.

Thanks

Mike

 

[dsmmace]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Before you spend too much money I thought I would tell what worked for me. I wouldn't suggest the 'fin'.

The low speed wander I was referring to as when you are below 10mph and the constant correction you need to do in the steering wheel to keep the boat going straight.

What rpm and speed are you able to get out of your boat?

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Last night I was over 40 mph per the gauge and just for a few seconds, I had my wife in the boat and that was just before she was thinking about screaming.

 

[nazmen1]

Re: Plane Adjustment for 1998 Bayliner Capri 1850 w 190 hp with Alpha1 Sterndrive

Installed the Bennett Trim Tabs.

I wanted a definite solution and didn't want to risk the Smart Tabs, my issue was a higher speeds where based upon the posts that the Smart Tabs wouldn't work as well, was looking for the complete control solution, not necessarily the least expensive.

Tonight the ride was at 45+ mph with just beautiful handling in the waves with 4 adults. The feature to adjust for loading was a nice plus.

Thanks to Bond-O Ayuh.