Water Coming Over Bow

[scott2000d]

I have a 14' Aluminum (not sure what kind or year) with a 25HP Johnson. I can barely open it up to 1/4 throttle without the breaking water coming right over the bow. I have tried it with 2 guys (about 200lbs ea) one in the front, and one in the back, also with both in the back and the water still comes right up and over. Also I have tried it with 4 guys (again about 200lbs ea), 1 front, 1 back, and 2 on the middle bench, same result. When I have 4 guys, 2 on the back bench, and 2 on the next bench I can open it up a lot more, however the stern is VERY low in the water. It isn't just a spray either, it's enough that I have to bail water if I hold it more than 1/4 throttle for any length of time. Any ideas about how I can stop this water from coming over?

 

[Bondo]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

Any ideas about how I can stop this water from coming over?

Ayuh,..... Get a Bigger Boat,....

That sounds Over-powered,+ Over-loaded....

 

[arks]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

A 14' aluminium boat is not designed for rough water. I thnk Bondo's right- you need to go larger.
I have a 14' Lowe jonboat with a 25 Evinrude and it's not overpowered. I don't use it when conditions get rough. It's rated for a maximum of 4 people or 515 pounds. With all the gear I have onboard, that means 3 people max.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

I get quite a bit of spray over the bow of my little 14' alumacraft with a 6HP. the boat is rated for a 40HP, but yea, large waves arent its specialty. is your boat rated for a 25horse?

 

[scott2000d]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

Even with 2 people on a calm day with the lake like glass it still does it. That's what's confusing me. If it were rough it would make sence to me. All we usually have for gear is the 2 of us, 2 rods, a tackle box that isn't 10lbs, 2 lifejackets, 10lb ancor, battery, 6gal fuel tank, and motor. I wouldn't think that would be too much weight. Even with that same gear and 4 people the boat still sits about 1-1/2 feet out of the water.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

Sounds as if the attitude of the motor isn't right. Have you tried to decrease the angle of the motor against the transom? Is the transom straight and has not been bent or damaged? Anything pushing the stern up will also push the bow down. My .o2c.

 

[Shizzy]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

I didnt even think of that. when I first got my boat the bow would ride silly high with just me in the boat. I moved the motor in one notch and it changed the way the boat rode in the water. This is with only a 6HP so I can imagine with 25 it would be substantial.

 

[scott2000d]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

So maybe if I bring the motor up a bit higher it will bring the bow higher and stop the water from coming in.

 

[river 101]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

i had the same problem in my jonboat, i had to tweek the trim on it. now i don't get any spray even when its a little rough.

 

[scott2000d]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

Excellent. So next time i'm out i'll try bringing the motor up even higher. I've tried it on the bottom 2 settings so far. I'll try the next 2 and see what happens.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

proper balance of load and trim of motor. it is a total experiment. and changes when you add or delete weight.

 

[INJUN]

Re: Water Coming Over Bow

That happened to me on one of my previous boats. The first time in the water she plowed bad and thusly was extremely hard to keep straight. I came back to shore and raised the motor a couple of holes to trim it outward and that was the end of that problem.