Ensure that the tongue weight on the hitch is 5 to 10 percent of the total load. You could find yourself with only 2 to 3 inches of free board by the motor after you load the boat they way you would to use it. gravity slightly downward and makes GM a little more positive, if you add the weight low in the boat about the same height as the designed center of gravity, or put so much weight in that the CG moves below the CB. West to East: Florida Snook Tactics. All rights reserved. Good luck which ever direction you choose!! Sometimes insufficient buoyancy in a boat is due to any unnecessary weight being added to the boat. I run with a 60 lb. As suggested earlier, launch the boat and put some weight right in front of the motor, don't spread it across the stern. Salty sea dog right, you wrong. A feature from our June 2010 issue. The freeboard matter is one I'd not given any thought to.....so yes, I will try to put a 50 lb battery next to the transom to see how it affects clearance. You start to tell him it's probably not a good idea for your truck to haul quite so much weight … In this feature, Elite Series pro Mark Menendez says that carrying your heavier items in the back of the boat makes for an all-around better ride. It's easy! 4) Strong Waves Approached Incorrectly The optimal ballast configuration will place the majority of the weight in the back of the boat with a smaller amount of weight near the bow of the boat. A boat that is too far back on the lift creates a light front — much like the imbalance of a 100-pound kid on one end of a seesaw with a 30-pound kid at the other end. I have an 18' tin and it's rated for 1650 lbs with a 150 hp max. Sometimes adding weight in the wrong place will alter a boat’s CG or CB away from the ideal spot. Most tournament pro's carry only enough fuel for the day's run because fuel is … More How To. How To. I will say he can't troll with it, it's speed at an idle in gear is 3 plus other then that that's the only down, he runs 2 of the smallest socks the Amish outfitter sells, actually a little throttle to get 1.5-1.8 That's the only down fall I sea. You can find him in the Black Forest biome but his exact location is … Don't get me wrong they both pro's and con's but I'm really impressed with his new Merc. Building that perfect surf wake takes more than just additional Small boats are much more susceptible to an extra person or two or a couple of heavy coolers aboard than larger boats. Steer the boat slightly left and right when you take off. I do like the 4 stroke though & would never go back to a 2 stroke. Two batteries is a good idea. It can be a little more or a little less, but if some or all of your passengers weigh over one hundred fifty pounds, you may have to decrease the number of passengers you can safely take on board. Eeling with Planer Boards for Striped Bass. U.S. Department of Transportation. With 950 Coins, you can boast of a carry weight of 450 when you equip this item (+150 more weight). I worry about freeboard as well and am considering White Cap splash guards. A change in weather, a freak wave, or even the wake of a bigger boat could turn a heavily loaded pontoon boat and tip everything, and everyone, into the water. Purchase Megingjord. Too little weight will make the trailer prone to fishtailing, one of the main reasons for serious towing accidents. This can cause the journey to be loud. Moving your battery to the front of the boat will solve your problem. Checking Starcraft's website, I see they have a 16.5 tin rated for 1100 lbs, not sure if your boat is similar but it wouldn't surprise me, if the boat is structurally sound. Weight wants to keep on going (or maybe it's mass), so when the bow begins to drop, the weight of anchor and chain perched right up the front end wants to keep on dropping, accentuating the pitch. From the traveling Merchant, Haldor, you can buy Megingjord which will help you increase your carry weight easily. Because the stern houses the heaviest items on a jon boat like the gas tank, engine, and battery, you can add buoyancy to the boat by counteracting the weight on that side of the boat by adding flotation pods. Many products featured on this site were editorially chosen. First off, when you back the trailer down, be sure not to go too far. Small Fishing Boat – 1,700 lbs – Standard Weight. Proper Tongue Weight Explained. Copyright © 2021 Cruising World. The boat goes so fast that I don't even need to open it up all the way (goes ~28 mph, not wide open.). To create a stable trailer the weight needs to be close to 55% on the front of the trailer and 45% on the rear. More How To. Older boats especially may have gained weight over the years as more gear is stored aboard. How To. Your boat might be able to handle it but I would test it first. But to give you an idea of weight. Two batteries is a good idea. Pontoon boat with too much weight at one side. The Lowdown on Coppercoat Antifouling. Run the boat and see how it sits in the water and how often you take water over the transom. Light Tackle Thresher Shark Action in Southern California. Be careful choosing a heavier motor than the boat is designed for. A feature from our June 2010 issue. Trimming up redirects the thrust from the propeller and raises the bow, helping a boat locate its sweet spot. September 23, 2010. This thing will save your back and make transporting the boat to and from the water much easier. For example, a 2018 22’ Key West 219FS Center Console weighs approximately 2,250 pounds without motor (with 250 hp outboard, add approximately 750 pounds with rigging). This is a loose rule but is good to generally follow while configuring your boat's ballast. In the meantime, here's a handling trick you can try to provide additional lift at the stern. Most boat engines are loud, but sometimes this can become too much. Ericson (28.5) 7,500 lbs. United States, 2013 Keystone Montana High Country 325RL for sale reduced, 15 lb Downrigger weights for sale reduced, Lake Ontario Charter Boat Association- General Meeting, Monroe County Offshore Classic Multi-Species Tourney. December 4, 2015 in This Old Boat. Okay, let’s recap. With today's 2 strokers, oil injected just add gas, keep oil reservoir capped off, they are quiet from what you got now. A subreddit focused on US politics, and the ridiculousness surrounding them. How to Remove Bottom Paint. Hauling your boat out of the water is essentially performing the launching operation in reverse. Sailboats. But every 25 hp 4 stroke I have looked at weighs 50 to 60 pounds more than my current motor, and I am questioning if that extra weight would be too much for the transom to bear. Conversely, too much weight on the hitch will make it difficult to steer the vehicle. Then your friend arrives and starts to hook his 20-foot (6-meter) boat onto the hitch. Also, make sure your passengers are not sitting too close to each other on either side of the boat or at the back of the boat. Because pontoon boats are not fast, people often overcompensate with large motors or even more than one motor. My uncle put a new 2 stroker on his aluminum 16.5, mister muskie, I know that's the make but I'm not sure of the manufacturer. Light Tackle Thresher Shark Action in Southern California. The only issue is that they need to warm up otherwise they run like sh&t. By Jim Hendricks. I keep the trolling motor battery, extra fuel tank, anchors & any other weight up there. How To. Never though of that. Thank you . Two batteries is a good idea. January 12, 2012. Adding weight at the bow would help to bring the transom up. I keep all the weight at the back of the boat - battery and tackle bag are just forward of the rear bench seat just like it's laid out in my bass boat. Eeling with Planer Boards for Striped Bass. As people here have said, make sure it's trimmed all the way down. Check to Coast Guard capacity plate in the boat and see how much weight it can handle. Best upgrade I ever made. More How To. The only weight in the front are the trolling motor and anchor (unavoidable as they're fixed mounted.) West to East: Florida Snook Tactics. To find how much weight the gas adds to the overall weight of the boat, multiply the fuel tank capacity by 7. I would look into the 2 strokers just for shyts and giggles, unless your dead set on a 4 stroker. Taking a swell over the stern could sink your boat in seconds so keep your stability safe. If your boat does not have a capacity plate, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends the following formula for calculating maximum occupancy: multiply the boat… 120 lbs. How To. Weight shifted towards the back of the trailer should correct this problem. Also, I am wondering if that extra weight in the back affects the boat's handling. It had a 60hp. How To. Your boat’s running attitude makes a big difference in comfort and efficiency. Out of the hole will be different but you'll know what the extra weight feels like for steering & wave action. I rebuilt a 16' fiberglass skiff a few years ago, replaced a 25 HP 2 stroke with a 25 HP 4 stroke and found it was always taking water over the stern. United States Coast Guard. I am sure someone will chime in to the good or the bad, but at least the conversation will be had. Your boat’s running attitude makes a big difference in comfort and efficiency. Or take two AGM batteries on board (about 45# each) & give the extra weight a try. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. It helps to keep the boat even. I'll throw my extra weight (with the 4 stroke) up in the bow. The max weight recommended for a sailboat varies depending on the size of the boat. Hello to all in the forum......for 15 yrs I've owned a 16.5' Starcraft Camp Boat, with a 25 hp 2 stroke Merc. But there are a few important items to bear in mind. Your first line of defense is how you trim the engine. Sailing Totem: Hidden Issues in Older Boats, Troubleshooting a Sailboat’s Auxiliary Diesel Engine, National Regatta Series Gets New Director, Sailing Tools and Accessories to Have Onboard, Newport Bermuda Race Names Cruising World and Sailing World as Official Media Sponsors, The Floating Bakers of Saint-Anne, Martinique. You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Remember adding accessories or items to your boat can increase the weight. Run the boat and see how it sits in the water and how often you take water over the transom. In this article, I refer to trucks and SUVs of all shapes … 1. A four stroke 25 will weigh as much as 170. Keep the weight low, and in the centre of the boat. Chrysler I know that's not much to come pair to, but we were amazed with its performance, and the dealer told Dave, and he could drop to a 50hp. You can also use the 18 Longship storage slots if you have upgraded to that boat. You start to tell him it's probably not a good idea for your truck to haul quite so much weight … You would need to put it on top of the motor to get the correct weight hanging off the transom. This assures that it inherently tries to follow as opposed to trying to swap ends. I would not worry overly much about the extra 42 pounds. You also can’t position the boat farther back on the trailer if you’re exceeding 15% tongue weight rating. Moving your gas tank is less advisable  because as it empties out it will change the balance. There’s not much you can do about this area, which -- no matter how many 1-ounce jigs you carry -- is the heaviest in your boat.