My Boat Is Spinning Like A Top !

[Jim Mac]

Ok, I'm exaggerating a little. Since I sold my outboard motor, I have no weight in the rear. The other problem is I fish in the bow now, along with my battery and trolling motor. Will a stationary rudder or something in the rear help? If so, any ideas of how I can make one? My boat is a 1648 flat jon. Thanks.

[wnybassman]

Put a rudder in the back like a small sailboat, then you can turn it one way or the other depending on what the wind is doing to you.

[Traveler2586]

No need to drill holes in your boat to add a rudder, just put the battery in the rear, and distribute the weight of your gear.

[Scott F]

Have you got any oars? Leaving the oars in the water will help slow the boat from spinning.

[Bladesmith,]

I agree with wnybassman. Put a rudder in the back. I also agree with Traveler, distribute the weight in a boat always. Weight distribution is important for stability especially if it's a small or light boat.

[Kevin22]

Put more weight in the back. Your battery(s), an anchor, your gear, etc. Get more weight in the back and it won't want to spin around on you. 

[Jim Mac]

Thanks guys. Any ideas on how I can make a rudder? I don't consider it a light or small boat. It's 16' long with a 48" floor, and a 70" beam.

[Fishing Rhino]

I'm with those who tell you to redistribute the weight in the boat.

 

A rudder will create other problems. 

 

Sounds like you are talking about a jon boat.  In any case with you, the battery, and perhaps other gear up front, the stern is considerably elevated, perhaps even out of the water.  You have created a sail at the stern for the wind to grab.

 

A rudder will create other problems.  It's one more thing for a fish to wrap the line around.  It may interfere when fishing in shallow water.  Sure, you can remove it, but then it's just another thing in the boat to deal with.  To counteract the sail effect of the stern you may need a fairly large rudder.  A small rudder will only slow the spinning effect.

 

Extension cables so you can move the battery to the stern are your best solution, along with moving other gear on board toward the stern.  

[aavery2]

Drift sock, would not have to be very big for your application. We use them quite a bit here in KS

[Traveler2586]

I'm with those who tell you to redistribute the weight in the boat.

 

A rudder will create other problems. 

 

Sounds like you are talking about a Jon boat.  In any case with you, the battery, and perhaps other gear up front, the stern is considerably elevated, perhaps even out of the water.  You have created a sail at the stern for the wind to grab.

 

A rudder will create other problems.  It's one more thing for a fish to wrap the line around.  It may interfere when fishing in shallow water.  Sure, you can remove it, but then it's just another thing in the boat to deal with.  To counteract the sail effect of the stern you may need a fairly large rudder.  A small rudder will only slow the spinning effect.

 

Extension cables ( Traveler suggest 6 awg wire ) so you can move the battery to the stern are your best solution, along with moving other gear on board toward the stern.  

 

X2 on everything RH said.

 

Depending on your body weight and other gear, you could also consider doing a test with some cinder-blocks to add additional weight to the rear.  If you want to try a rudder I would suggest that you C-clamp a section of plywood to your transom and attach your rudder hinges to that.  Then there will be no damage to your boat and you can remove the rudder at any time.

 

If you have a cooler full of ice and drinks - put that in the rear also.

[MichBassMan]

fish from the back

[Brandon Dozier]

fish from the back

 He would still run in to the same issue.

[martintheduck]

Drift sock, would not have to be very big for your application. We use them quite a bit here in KS

 

Came here to say this.

[Jim Mac]

fish from the back

No thanks. I fished from the back for many years, and it sucked. My trolling motor on the bow(transom mount with head reversed) has a foot switch wired in, and I have to find out how to extend the wiring on it. The place where I bought it wired the switch in for free. If I can extend the wiring, I will move the battery to the rear.

[tnriverluver]

You need some type of rudder in the back.  Simply adding weight is not the answer.  I was trolling for crappie pulling crankbaits yesterday out of my 1542 Tracker and one of the lines kept getting wrapped in the prop of the outboard.  (I was fishing from the front of the boat).  I decided to tilt the motor up to prevent this and the boat guickly became nearly uncontrollable in the 10mph winds. Keep on mind I still had a battery, full 6 gallon tank, and a 20hp Merc 4 stroke in the back.  An old transon mount trolling motor would help as a rudder if you had one lying around or could find one cheap on Craigslist.

[Jim Mac]

Thanks. I have an old/bad trolling motor I want to use to make a rudder, by bolting something onto the shaft. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should use for the rudder? And what size to make it? Preferably something cheap.

[Traveler2586]

some pipe strapping from the big box store and a old chunk of plywood will get you started and you can play around with the shape & size; maybe 12X16 to start???

[tnriverluver]

Thanks. I have an old/bad trolling motor I want to use to make a rudder, by bolting something onto the shaft. Does anyone have any ideas of what I should use for the rudder? And what size to make it? Preferably something cheap.

The trolling motor itself has a rudder and should be all you need.  No need to modify anything other than mounting it on the transom.

[Jim Mac]

some pipe strapping from the big box store and a old chunk of plywood will get you started and you can play around with the shape & size; maybe 12X16 to start???

 

Do you mean hose clamps?  But if I don't drill thru the shaft and use bolts, what's to keep the rudder from moving(around the shaft)?

[Traveler2586]

Do you mean hose clamps?  But if I don't drill thru the shaft and use bolts, what's to keep the rudder from moving(around the shaft)?

 

The strapping I am referring to is a metal ribbon with lots of holes along its length.  Place two around the shaft, and one around the motor housing. Wrap the shaft and motor housing with black vinal electrical tape to give the strapping something to grab hold of; then bolt the strapping to the rudder so it is as tight as possible on the TM.   That should hold the plywood in place.  http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B0058I19QS/ref=asc_df_B0058I19QS2592250?ie=UTF8&condition=new&tag=sdcbing591-20&creative=395165&creativeASIN=B0058I19QS&linkCode=asm

[slonezp]

We call it plumbers strap. You can also try U bolts

[dwtaylor]

Find yourself a big ol girlfriend to sit in the back while you fish. That should replace the weight of the outboard.

[Traveler2586]

Find yourself a big ol girlfriend to sit in the back while you fish. That should replace the weight of the outboard.

 

OMG no !!  That comes with far too many other issues you don't need; unless...... you have an ejection seat in the rear

[slonezp]

Find yourself a big ol girlfriend to sit in the back while you fish. That should replace the weight of the outboard.

Problem with that is by the time he buys her lunch, there will be no money left for the bait monkey

[Jim Mac]

some pipe strapping from the big box store and a old chunk of plywood will get you started and you can play around with the shape & size; maybe 12X16 to start???

 

Thanks. I assume the bigger the rudder is, the better? Since I'm bolting it to the trolling motor's shaft, you don't think 12" is too wide?