Why do I sit so low?

[Buster_boy]

I'm the new owner and I recently put it in the water. It's a 16ft Sylvan. Granted I have two motors (I added the kicker) so that's a lot of weight but if you saw the water lines on the toons you'd see its done this before. There is also a smaller toon in the center of the bow.

​If I removed the smaller toon would that affect anything?

 

[MH Hawker]

looks about normal for the weight to me, and yes if its a toon then it will go lower

 

[ahicks]

The front would go lower with the center 'toon removed, but I doubt that's going to affect how deep the rear is sitting. Would moving the center 'toon back closer to center be an option? That might help you out.

The shorter boats are pickier about weight distribution from what I see (we bought our first 20' not long ago, after many many years with 24's). If that were mine, I'd be tempted to move the battery and fuel tank forward, as well as anything else I could find (anchors, etc), to try and level the boat a little better.

 

[HotTommy]

It looks normal to me given all the weight you have at the very back. ... When you mentioned the smaller toon in the center of the bow, did you perhaps mean the engine pod in the center at the back (stern)? If so, that is not a pontoon and does not provide lift. If you don't need it AND if it is not contributing to the strutural strength of the boat, it could be removed and that would take a little weight off the back. ... My suggestion would be to find an easy way to remove the extra motor that you don't need on a given day. I can't think of anything else that would help as much.

 

[Buster_boy]

Hey Tommy. No, it's a smaller pontoon. I don't have a good pic of it so you can see. The Johnson motor on there is what was on the boat when new, but I've never seen a boat sit like this, not even other smaller pontoons where I keep it docked.

 

[Buster_boy]

You might be able to sorta see it behind the winch. That's the best pic I have.

 

[Silvertip]

You have a 16 foot boat. Consider the weight distribution vs the same setup on say a 24 - 26 footer. At 16 ft, the center of the boat is 8 feet from the rear. The same setup on the larger boat would put the center at 12 - 13 feet and result in about a 50% difference in weight distribution. You have a pretty normal situation for the weight hanging off the back. 240# main engine, 80# kicker, and 50# of fuel & oil plus a battery which equates to two stout adults sitting back there.

 

[ron nh]

I can't see the center toon, Is it a power glide? (or what ever there called) on such a small boat it may be just giving to much flotation up front, thus pressuring the stern down. I doubt it's factory what ever it is. Also I'm sure the toons are less diameter than most so that would affect it as well.

 

[Buster_boy]

Here ya go.

 

[Buster_boy]

I spoke to a Sylvan dealer. That pontoon is an option that was added for stability and control. I don't know if the original owner ordered it that way or added it afterwards. The lake this boat was original used on (Buckeye Lake) is only 12ft deep and can get very choppy at times. Our guess is he added it because of this. Dealer suggested I remove it since I'm on restricted water and really won't need it. He also said ditch the Johnson.

 

[HotTommy]

It's rare that I'd agree with someone suggesting you get rid of your Johnson, but in this case I do.

 

[Buster_boy]

Yeah, it's a two stroker. Sucks being me, huh? LOL!!!!!

 

[ahicks]

Maybe I'm missing something. Why 2 motors?

 

[jbcurt00]

You're allowed to have the larger 40hp Johnson OB installed, as long as its full tilt out of the water while on the 10hp restricted lake? So 2 motors?

You boat other waters, that are not hp restricted, often enough to warrant leaving the Johnson mounted full time?

Rasing the bow, w the extra center 'toon, probably does help keep the bow from stuffing in really choppy conditions. Or at least keeps less water from coming over the front of the deck.

You'd rather drop the extra flotation, instead of removing excess weight at the stern?

Interesting problems to have w this 'toon on a restricted hp lake:

Level float

Getting passed by bigger boats
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engin...eed-more-speed

Sounds like you already know the answer: Remove the 40
http://forums.iboats.com/forum/boat-...son-to-mercury

Oh, and a 4stroke motor, in the same HP is likely to weigh more then the same size 2stroke motor. Whats wrong w 2strokes that it sucks to be you and have one?

 

[HotTommy]

Whats wrong w 2strokes that it sucks to be you and have one?

Buster_boy and I were engaged in a little middle school level double entendre humor involving the dual meanings of the word Johnson.

 

[Silver Eagle]

Have your friends sit up front.

 

[jbcurt00]

HT and BB: Lets stay above a 3rd grade level shall we?

Thank you

 

[Buster_boy]

You got it Tommy! Lol

Ahicks - I keep it docked on 10hp max restricted water 1 mile from my home. There is also an open hp lake 10 miles from my home. I wanted the best of both worlds. It came with the 40, I added the 10.

This is my first boat so there's lots I don't know. I'm learning as I go. I bought this late fall of last year from a guy at work. I had never seen it on water so I didn't know it would sit like this.

I grew up near Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes region in NY, so I've been around boats, just never owned one. I've also never seen one sit like this or with that extra toon.

We just wanted something small to putt around the lake with. We weren't looking for speed, but the bigger motor was there so why not? I paid $2600 for boat, motor (40), trailer, playpen cover, two biminis, full and half camper cabin, and storage cover. I couldn't pass it up.

It was an experiment and turns out it's not worth having both worlds. The boat is overkill outfitted for what I want. I'll start by removing the Johnson and see what happens. If that doesn't get me what I want I'll drop the extra toon.

 

[ron nh]

Just having the tri hull is worth that money, You can tear that sucker apart and do what ever you'd like to it.

 

[ahicks]

If you want to mess with it to try and get it to work better with both engines, assuming there's room in back of it, I'd try moving the center 'toon back a couple of feet (or maybe 4'?) to help support the weight on the back. Moving some flotation back a little could easily level the boat some.