196 hard to plane

[Speedfreak95]

Hello I have an 196 with an extension bracket and 150hp yami on the back. Boat flies but getting out of the hole is tough. If I'm sitting in 18 inches or less of water I rooster and can never get up and go I usually idle to deeper water and then can get going. Are trim tabs going to be the answer? Also what brand and size would you recommend

[mshugg]

Trim tabs are a definite help when it comes to getting your boat on top.  I like Bennetts.  I've always used the hydraulic tabs, but I'll probably use bolts on  my current rebuild for ease of installation reasons.

With that said, it would be helpful for you to tell us a bit more about your rig.  Is your engine two stroke or four?  How much does the engine weigh?  What type of bracket?  Is it an Armstrong type?  Porta bracket?  Or do you mean jackplate?  How much  setback?  Is there any reason to suspect waterlogged foam or similar issues?  As always pictures help.  A twenty foot boat is going to be extremely sensitive to weight distribution,so there could be issues that tabs won't help with.

[love2fish]

your explanation is puzzling as the depth of water shouldn't make you rooster- if anything, it would make you bog down even more (as your motor would sink to hit bottom)... more likely- if it's roistering like that, you have your motor trimmed to high- pushing your boat transom down and shooting water up.

typically- the more down (straight) you have your motor trimmed- the faster it will hop on plane. typically- with either a porta bracket or Armstrong type bracket (adjustable)... its best to keep the motor in a "neutral trim"- straight or just slightly up... then use the bracket to change the motor height as you increase speed.

what is your difference in experiences as far as starting in shallow vs. deeper water. are you going from dead stop to full throttle to get on plane? or is it a gradual increase? allowing the boat to work it's way up over the bow crest can help it plane, and sometimes if space allows- just as you start- doing a 90' turn to the left or right can help "lift" the boat if water is super shallow. but without more description of your situations- I would say to play with the trim more.

also- what is your boat setup- is it transom heavy? these boats are extremely balance sensitive.

[Speedfreak95]

In shallow water with the engine trimmed all the way down I basically rooster up and then prop hit the sea floor which makes me have to limp out of shallow area to deeper. When I'm in deeper water I have to smash the throttle as the bow raises pretty high then level out to a plane. The engine extension is a bolt on extension which set the engine about a foot-2 off the transom. The engine is a 2 stroke 150hp not sure of the weight. I have pictures but they will not fit in the attachments

[RickK]

Follow the instructions here to post pix - don't attach them, upload them to your gallery. http://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?topic=12725.0

[Blue Agave]

1) 18 inches of water is not enough water to plane off the boat. You're going to need 2 to 2 1/2 feet to plane off.

2) if you're having trouble planing off in deep water you need a different prop with a lower pitch.

[Speedfreak95]

I have a 4 blade prop. I read that a 3 will give me more out of the hole and a 4 is more top end?

[love2fish]

I think that is backwards: typically a 4blade prop is what is recommended for a better hole-shot- more blades closer together to grip the water better and push the boat.
3 blades tend to be larger blade, but friction and more space between them, so they can have a more aggressive pitch- thus a "faster" prop.

this is also subject to the hull and motor setup... the 35 contender I fish off of has twin 350-4strokes and gets far better economy, speed, and prop bite with 4 blades.

do you know what your prop is now? should be a size and then a pitch number. we need some specifics on your setup to better help you.


I have a 22-2 with a tower, leanpost/livewell, and the original transom setup, and a 1999 Yamaha 150 v-max. it has a 14.25x 17pitch prop and it will hop on plane in surprisingly shallow water, or with a full load.

also- does your motor have a the dol-phin on the lower unit? these can help keep the motor stationary and multiply your trim setting. 

[Speedfreak95]

Thanks for the info yeah I guess I was wrong with that prop theory. Makes more sense a 4 blade would get out of the hole faster. The guy I bought the boat from always used a dolphin but had it removed when I bought it he said it was all bear up. A few buddies I have with boats don't use the dolphin but all have trim tabs. For 30-40$ I might give the dolphin a try..

Basically boat has to be idle speed or up on a plane cruising. If you're in lower rom boat bow raises pretty high making it pretty unsafe to drive. So I usually cruise at idle or smash the throttle and get out of the hole going pretty fast.

Mind you this is my first boat so still learning a lot! The Jetski scene got too old and I enjoy fishing more. This aquasport gets a lot of attention looks like I got the right rig