Sat in water for a week now won't plane

[pvmtsux]

Ok, so I normally don't leave my boat in water but recently I had it in a wet slip for about a week. I had the boat out, it ran great, I parked it in the slip, it sat for 6 days in the water, took it out again and it won't plane. I checked the plugs, they're good. I checked the exhaust ports, they're clear. I changed the drive oil. The boat will run and go about 15mph even at full throtle. It's like the RPMs go up but the boat stays the same speed and won't plane out. Any suggestions?

1998 Regal Destiny
4.0L V6 MerCruiser Alpha I

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

prop hub bad ?, prop blades bent?

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

prop hub and the prop are good to go.

 

[Black as]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

Check if your hull has taken on any water, the extra weight in the hull will affect your boat from getting out of the water.

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

hull is dry.

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

Check if your hull has taken on any water, the extra weight in the hull will affect your boat from getting out of the water.

I agree...if the only thing that changed from when it planed out is the fact that it sat at a dock then you've got a leak.

Pull it out and check for leaks...not sure how you do that on a 'glass rig. On tinnies you can just fill the boat with a foot or two of water to check for bad rivets.

 

[Black as]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

Have you done anything to the boat from the day it ran right to date ?

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

Just the stuff listed above trying to troubleshoot the problem.

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

There is no leak

 

[Black as]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

I would say you are going to have to keep trouble shooting, check your fuel system, when was the last time you changed your fuel filter.

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

I thought about that. That was the next step.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

How dirty is the bottom?

 

[pvmtsux]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

very small barnicles are covering the bottom of the boat but you would think I should be able to power through that right? How does everyone else that leaves there boats in the water do it?

 

[smarks]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

I would check the fuel filters to check for some kind of abstruction, possible even the pick up in the tank might be partially blocked.
You can try to blow air through the line to clear.

Good luck and let us know what you find.

Steve

 

[Huron Angler]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

Sounds like you need to clean those barnacles off the bottom of the hull.

They will create lots of drag. Like having little feet dragging in the water slowing you down.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

Sounds like you need to clean those barnacles off the bottom of the hull.

They will create lots of drag. Like having little feet dragging in the water slowing you down.

Yep

How everyone else handles being in the water is anti-fouling bottom paint. They don't have barnacles on their hull.

 

[Don S]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

very small barnicles are covering the bottom of the boat but you would think I should be able to power through that right?

I agree, there is your problem. Have seen it many times.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

My first thought was the hull is absorbing the water somewhere making it heavier. Hard to beleive enough growth after 1 week to do what he describes.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

If the engine is running at the same RPM's as before and only going 15MPH it has to be increased drag,weight or power not making it out to the prop...

 

[70Torino]

Re: Sat in water for a week now won't plane

New guy here. But if the boat was leaking it would appear to sit lower in the water, which could be seen by looking at old water marks, old old pictures compared to what the boat looks like now.

Also if RPM is the same speed is not, is there some sort of coulper that connects the engine to the drive? Maybe splines stripped?