packing/loading a boat for good performance

[blongfishing]

I was wondering how I should pack my boat for the best performance. I bought a 1997 Stratos 282 with a 150 Johnson yesterday. How would you recommend the layout? Weight in the front or in the back? I carry a lot of tackle and rods. The boat is 18 foot. In the past in my 15 foot bass boat I just threw everything in and drove off. I feel like I didn't get good speed or a good ride. Thanks!

[Way2slow]

For best performance, don't put anything in it and just a few gallons of gas. 

If you want to use it to fish out of, pay attention the where you are placing the weight.  Most of the weight needs to be fairly balanced from side to side and from the drivers seat back.  Naturally with rods and reels you don't have much of a choice, but store your lighter stuff like life jackets and hard baits in the front boxes.  Plastic baits and heavier stuff in the rear boxes.  If you are like me, and have a garage full of junk, don't try to keep it all in the boat.  Only take what you are going to be fishing with.  Like right now, it's pretty obvious you are not going to be throwing many top water lures, so why have them.   Plastics, many are seasonal, only used at certain times of the year, why have them in the boat when there is no chance they will get used the next trip.   I doesn't take a lot of them to total up to a lot of weight. 

[A-Jay]

This is pretty easy ~

First off - Do Not overload your boat.  Read, Know & Understand what the safe limits of your vessel are.  ALWAYS refer to the Capacity Plate mounted on your boat.

The terms loading and capacity relate to the weight of people, fuel and gear that can be safely carried. The safe load of a boat in terms of people depends on a number of characteristics, including hull volume and dimension, the weight of the engine and, if an outboard, how is it mounted. The number of seats in a boat is not an indication of the number of people it can safely carry. Capacity plates can generally be found on the inside transom, or next to the helm station.

Capacity plates should never be removed, altered, or tampered with. While it is not a Federal violation for a boat owner to exceed the listed capacities, many states do have statutes prohibiting the carriage of people and gear in excess of the stated capacity, or the installation of a motor that exceeds the recommended horse power limit.  Also, you may void your insurance policy if you are found to have exceeded the limits stated on your capacity plate.

Under the U.S. Coast Guard Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, boats less than 20 feet powered with an inboard, outboard, or stern drive engine manufactured after November 1, 1972, must display a capacity plate defining the safe load limits. This plate must be mounted where you can see it when preparing to get underway. Sailboats, canoes, kayaks and inflatable boats are exempt from this standard.

Now with that important information in mind ~  simply distribute the gear in your boat so that the vessel sits "balanced" at the dock.

So in relationship to the waterline, once it's loaded, try to ensure that it's even side to side and bow to stern.  

Do not forget that you (and any passengers) play a role in this as well.  If needed, you can use your gears position in the boat to "Counter balance" the load in relationship to who & where any passengers will be while under power. 

Then once underway only minor trim adjustments should be required to ensure a safe & economical ride.

Improper storage that leads to a vessel that's listing wildly to one side or the other, or especially bow way up or down, is a dangerous situation; particularly at higher speeds and / or in challenging sea state.

A-Jay

[RyneB]

I pack light if I know I'm making long runs. If I have to pack heavy, I put all my heavy tackle in the back. Keep my lighter stuff up front. I lose 3 mph if i pack all my tackle in the front. I love learned to pack light

[Bankbeater]

Spread the weight out across the boat.  I have noticed that the lighter end of the boat will catch the wind more than the weighted end will.