Water comming over transom

[ronnieray]

Hi tracker owners!
I recently purchased a 2001 Tracker Targa Aluminum boat. Its a 17 ft, 85" beam, walk through window, deep V type boat. It's paired with a 90 HP Merc ELPTO power trim engine.

When we get it up on plane, water comes back in over the transom. If i trim it ip high enough to stop the water from comming back in over the transom, then it begins to porpoise too much. I have an auto /float type bilge and I have to keep it always on in rough water cause the purpoising really gets out of control when the water is rough and I have to trim it down a bit, then the water comes in.

Why can't I trim it to prevent porpoising without taking water over the back?

Would getting the engine raised or lowered help?

There is a boarding ladder that just barely scratches the water when up on plane. Could this be contributing to the problem?

What if anything could I do to improve this situation or to seek help with it?

 

[Bob o' da Nort]

Re: Water comming over transom

A couple of years ago, I bought a used '96 Tracker Targa 17 SC with a Merc 115 ELPTO, but I am not sure how similar my boat is to your model year (I believe my Targa measures 17'4" long and has a 92" or 94" beam).

When I bought it, it still had the "dealer set-up." The boat jumped onto plane, but water would pour over the transom and into the motorwell until we trimmed the motor up quite a bit, and then it would be prone to porpoising. We bought the boat anyway.

I took the boat to a different dealer that I had grown to respect. They raised the motor ONE notch and that cured both the water over the transom and the porpoising problem. Hole shot, top speed (over 45 mph on the speedo), and handling (turns) remain awesome and the RPM is dead on (Approx 5400 at WOT).

That being said, you may want to post your question in the "Boat Topics and Questions (not engine topics)" forum, perhaps with a photo showing how your anti-cavitation plate relates to the keel at the stern. A lot of people more knowledgable than myself answer questions there. Anything scraping water in the back will create a bit of a rooster tail, but it sounds to me like its more than your ladder.

Or, tow your boat to a good dealer or service provider, and get their advice.

 

[Bob o' da Nort]

Re: Water comming over transom

I don't know if you've already addressed your water over the transom problem, but I measured my boat and have a correction...my boat's beam is about 82". So I guess my hull may be more similar to yours than I initially thought. Raising the motor one hole did the trick for me.