Question for the Surface Drive Gurus

[ballcoach]

27 HP 2 People 1 Dog 2 Bags of Decoys... Sometimes I get 17 MPH sometimes I get 7 MPH??? Same RPM, Same Trim, etc. etc.

Any suggestions???

I am referring to when I am running in deep water... Good power in the shallows when I can get the prop down in the mud.

Thanks for the response!!

[blgros1]

27 HP 2 People 1 Dog 2 Bags of Decoys... Sometimes I get 17 MPH sometimes I get 7 MPH??? Same RPM, Same Trim, etc. etc.

Any suggestions???

Load Distribution plays a part in getting up on plane or not. Also depth of water you running in will have an effect on it as well. All i run are long tails but the pricipal is the same.

[SHANE704]

i would guess weight distribution isnt allowing you to get on plane...try shifting some more weight to the back and see if that helps

[ballcoach]

blgros1 I know an old football coach from Destrahan... Probably just mispelled that

[legends of the lower mars]

Shallow water, weight distribution not as critical... Shallow water based on the width and length gives varing degrees of increased displacement and lift.
Answer to your question: As previously stated; Deep water, weight distribution is a must!!! One way to overcome the booty from dragging is to get a longer and narrower boat "OR" get a larger engine "OR" do both! In Mud motors, I have found that the wider, shorter boats perform poorer in deeper water and in some instances, shallow water. Speaking of, say, 15X52, 16X52 or 16X60 size boats. What size boat are you running your 27 on???

I run a 23 Hypersport drive on a gator trax 14X48 fatboy layout. I used to run an 18hp on it and was having the problems you were stating. I overcame the short / wide boat issue with more HP. With 2 men, dog and decoys/gear, I went from running 12mph in deep water with the 18hp to 18mph. In shallow water, I went from running 16mph to 24mph!!! HP definately helped me but in some cases that may not be the fix... Like I stated above; it might just be the boat...

[greenheadgrimreaper]

Gotta be your hull...

[jmh600]

i would guess weight distribution isnt allowing you to get on plane...try shifting some more weight to the back and see if that helps

I don't run a surface drive but if an outboard isn't plaining out I've always shifted weight to the front.

[mudsucker]

i would guess weight distribution isnt allowing you to get on plane...try shifting some more weight to the back and see if that helps

I don't run a surface drive but if an outboard isn't plaining out I've always shifted weight to the front.

Yep. More wetted surface equals more bouyant forces acting against the hull and "lifting' it up.

[Wildfowler]

Yep. More wetted surface equals more bouyant forces acting against the hull and "lifting' it up.

Also equals more drag that the engine has to overcome.

If all the boat will do is plow through the water, some of the weight needs to be shifted to the back so the hull can lift out of the water. I always try not to load up the far front end of the boat, whenever possible.

If by chance the bow is pointing really high (which I would find unlikely) shift the weight forward.

[DeltaCotton12]

i would guess weight distribution isnt allowing you to get on plane...try shifting some more weight to the back and see if that helps

I don't run a surface drive but if an outboard isn't plaining out I've always shifted weight to the front.

I ran a a couple loads too much for an older boat and motor and had issues of not getting on plane. We would put most of the weight in the back, full throttle and slowly start moving weight forward as the speed increased. This helped get the boat on plane. It took longer but worked. We have since solved the problem and bought a larger boat with bigger motor.

[blgros1]

blgros1 I know an old football coach from Destrahan... Probably just mispelled that

Whats his name, grew up there all my life, chances are i know the man?

[kris Schaumburg]

what are the brand and dimensions of your boat? if you said it dropped from 17 to 7 when you added another guy I would think that reasoanble, but when you say same load that doesn't make much sense. is it a recent problem? You could have a bad coil to one side of the engine. What are you loaded rpms in the water at WOT.

And Legends and Blgros get your slow butts to the side of the canal in the morning cause i'm coming WOT in the fog.

[blgros1]

what are the brand and dimensions of your boat? if you said it dropped from 17 to 7 when you added another guy I would think that reasoanble, but when you say same load that doesn't make much sense. is it a recent problem? You could have a bad coil to one side of the engine. What are you loaded rpms in the water at WOT.

And Legends and Blgros get your slow butts to the side of the canal in the morning cause i'm coming WOT in the fog.

Kris you gonna have to cause you can dam near walk from mike's to our leases. There wasnt any water to talk about east/north of schooner canal monday after the wind blew all weekend. Kind of nice though cause it keeps all the outboards from poaching on our leases. we all still need to ketch up and drink a cold one.
Barry

[legends of the lower mars]

And Legends and Blgros get your slow butts to the side of the canal in the morning cause i'm coming WOT in the fog.

Aw hell Barry, he wants to race!!!


We about to make the Scatters look like childs play!!! He don't want none of the fatboy GT!!! Hehehehehehe!!!

[swamprooter]

Modified V Hull is a Mudmotor killer. It just plows with any load. longer and slimmer boats tote more load. 24-30 mph is about optimum mph for MM. I have a PD 36 on Phowler 1854 (.125) hull and 25 with me is top. 3 guys and gear on flat no current water ...18 is tops.