one of those silly questions about planing

Cambion · Newbie Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 2

So after looking around it appears that I should not be planing out on the boat while towing. My problem is when I have enough weight to keep from planing out, even at wot I can only do 14mph. Its an 83 sea ray with a 4.3 v6. Is this fixable with a different prop? What do?

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Aug 23, 2012 11:47 am Post subject:

o you mean planeing. i think thats how its spelled?

having a hard time understanding your problem.
are you saying when you add weight you cant get the boat on plane?
where is the weight? if its in the rear thats your problem. add it to the front not the rear.
a prop could help, but most likely the lack of horsepower is probly your problem. hard to say not knowing hoiw much weight your adding.
what diameter and pitch prop are you running?
for comparison most wake boats run 12-14 pitch props. most I/Os like yours probly have about a 18 pitch prop. designed for speed not pulling weight out of the water.

Ps205Rider · Outlaw Joined: 14 Jul 2012 Posts: 130

You do want to get on plane...and add the weight to the front and back, favoring the front for a bowrider, then trim it up until the wake cleans up. Ideally between 18-24 would be a good riding speed, but it depends on the boat and wake.

kartman · Posted: Aug 23, 2012 5:41 pm Post subject:

ok, so you prolly have the 175hp version, im guessing your boat is 17-18'. try putting 300# in the ski locker, and 2-300# in the bow on the floor. trim all the way down with a 18p or 17p 3 blade aluminum prop, pull your wakeboarder about 20mph, and trim up untill the wake "stands up" and the wash disappears mostly. that would be my starting point.

Cambion · Newbie Joined: 23 Aug 2012 Posts: 2

Ahh thank you kartman. I can't read the pitch on my prop but on the other boat its 22 and the pitch looks pretty similar between the two, its rather chewed up but I didn't want to get a new one until I got an idea of what pitch i'd want on it. There's a fuel tank where my ski locker would be but I'll stash some weight behind the seats. When you say 300# you do mean pounds, right?

kartman · Posted: Aug 24, 2012 3:25 am Post subject:

yes pounds. any inboard/outboard like yours (and mine) will perform better with about 70% of the weight in the front of the boat. if you pull the prop off, the pitch should be stamped on the hub, either on the front or the back inside.

kartman · Posted: Aug 24, 2012 3:27 am Post subject:

just to clear it up, you want the boat to plane out. if your not getting on plane, you are over weight, and/or underpowered.

STANG KILLA SS · Posted: Aug 24, 2012 10:44 am Post subject:

agreed. move that weight forward and get a new prop. youll probly be pleasantly suprised

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

I/Os sometimes struggle at wakeboarding speeds when weighted. Cavitation/trim/foil plates on the outdrive can somewhat help with this.

kartman · Posted: Aug 24, 2012 7:29 pm Post subject:

the biggest thing you can do to improve it is to pick up a high5 prop. then perfect pass/speed control.

3MileBayWaker · Posted: Aug 24, 2012 8:52 pm Post subject:

I have a 20' glastron with a 4.3l 190hp, 3 blade 21 pitch prop factory ( 4700rpm, 51mph WOT)

I went with a high-five 19 pitch prop, and it's a night and day difference when towing. I do less throttle correcting and I'm yanked up rather than dragged up before. However the boat can over rev if you go WOT, but im not one to floor it down the lake. (4700rpms 45mph)

800# in ski locker, plus 3-4 ppl in the boat, trim up till wake has little wash.