Boat issue

[Wurming67]

This is a tough one I feel terrible about it cause I was real heavy at one time but I got an old 15'9" fiberglass,1978 Fiberking Bomber bass boat with a 70hp Johnson and it's a heavy boat as it is ,I take different friends out on it and I have no problem getting plane, but this one friend I got he is pretty heavy and I have a hard time getting plane when he's sitting in back of the boat, but when he moves to front I get plane no problem, at first I thought it was motor issue but had other friends on boat that are lighter and no issue.Any advice?Don't want to hurt the guys feelings by telling him to sit in front til I get plane

[Hez]

There should be no shame in asking him to move forward until you get on plane.  Just let him know it makes it easier on your motor, and have him get up front so the ol' girl don't have to work so hard.  

 

 

[PECo]

I had a 16-1/2 foot G3 mod-vee bass boat with a 60 hp Yamaha four-stroke and had the same problem with a buddy the one time we filled the livewell. He didn’t have any problem with sitting on the front deck until we got on plane.

[WRB]

The question is can he stay up front while you go down the lake on plane?

If the heavy person isn't agile enough to move to the back of the boat after on plane then you shouldn't bring it up.

Options; 4 blade prop or plane aid like a Doel-fin, both will cost you money.

Tom

[NHBull]

A friend will understand.

If this is becomes a greater problem, trim tabs of 4 blade is the answer.

Spring loaded trim tabs can be had for 150.00 and installed in 30 minutes 

[slonezp]

I'm sure he knows he's fat. I know I am.

[Dwight Hottle]

1 minute ago, slonezp said:

I'm sure he knows he's fat. I know I am.

Sometimes I think you missed your calling. 

[Way2slow]

go down a pitch size on the prop and add a hydrofoil.

[Wurming67]

Thanks guys,he such a nice guy and good friend hate to hurt his feelings by asking him to go up front,I dont even know what the weight capacity is for that boat it's so old info just isn't out there but shes a heavy girl but gives a really nice ride ,they made things differently back than built to last along time.

[Sam]

3 hours ago, WRB said:

The question is can he stay up front while you go down the lake on plane?

If the heavy person isn't agile enough to move to the back of the boat after on plane then you shouldn't bring it up.

Options; 4 blade prop or plane aid like a Doel-fin, both will cost you money.

Tom

As Tom pens, get a four blade prop.

 

Check with a qualified Mercury or Yamaha tech at BPS, Cabela's, etc. and ask them which four blade prop would work best and the size you need. Not the counter guys, but the actual trained techs who work on boats and motors.

[BigAngus752]

2 hours ago, slonezp said:

I'm sure he knows he's fat. I know I am.

 

23 minutes ago, Wurming67 said:

 

Thanks guys,he such a nice guy and good friend hate to hurt his feelings

 

So maybe you need to think even more seriously about this if the is guy really is your friend. If he is that large then he has a whole bunch of potentially fatal health problems already in the works whether he knows it or not. This boat subject may be a good way to bring up a tough subject with your friend and save his life. 

[Wurming67]

9 hours ago, Sam said:

As Tom pens, get a four blade prop.

 

Check with a qualified Mercury or Yamaha tech at BPS, Cabela's, etc. and ask them which four blade prop would work best and the size you need. Not the counter guys, but the actual trained techs who work on boats and motors.

Great idea thanks, personally I think that motor is under powered for the weight of the boat,it's my first boat it has been a great learning experience and has made me a better fishermen by owning a boat,plan on buying a new boat in two years so at least now I got some experience and getting an idea what I want in a boat and gaining alot of knowledge of boat maintenance,it's been a great boat to learn on.

8 hours ago, BigAngus752 said:

 

So maybe you need to think even more seriously about this if the is guy really is your friend. If he is that large then he has a whole bunch of potentially fatal health problems already in the works whether he knows it or not. This boat subject may be a good way to bring up a tough subject with your friend and save his life. 

I totally agree with you when I was really heavy it created a whole bunch of health issues that put me in the hospital for 3 months and almost killed me,I took the weight of from better diet and exercise and I'm probably in best shape of my life and off of all those medications.Thanks for the advice.

[Brew City Bass]

When I first got my older 16ft bass boat with a 75 I weighed 430lbs. If I was alone, it'd get up on plane fine. But with any of my fishing partners I had to have them drive while I was upfront leaning over the deck haha. 

Now I'm down to 330lbs and she doesn't struggle anymore. Helps that I moved the batteries upfront too. Boats are boats, weight is relevant. No shame in sitting up front. 

[Wurming67]

21 minutes ago, Brew City Bass said:

When I first got my older 16ft bass boat with a 75 I weighed 430lbs. If I was alone, it'd get up on plane fine. But with any of my fishing partners I had to have them drive while I was upfront leaning over the deck haha. 

Now I'm down to 330lbs and she doesn't struggle anymore. Helps that I moved the batteries upfront too. Boats are boats, weight is relevant. No shame in sitting up front. 

So true just don't want to hurt anybody's feelings,Its old and VERY heavy boat and that extra weight im sure puts a big strain on the motor when I fish by myself it's not an issue I weigh 180 and it's only 15ft boat but she's a tank.

[Way2slow]

Back in the early 70's I owned a 16' Bomber and it wasn't that heavy, so that leads me to believe you probably have water logged flotation foam.  Back then, they used open cell foam and that stuff will absorb water like a sponge but does not turn loose if it.  I took 285 pounds out of a 1989 Stratos 285 Pro I once owned.

However, a lot of the really old boats didn't have flotation foam, so you would need to be sure yours even has any first.

[Wurming67]

37 minutes ago, Way2slow said:

Back in the early 70's I owned a 16' Bomber and it wasn't that heavy, so that leads me to believe you probably have water logged flotation foam.  Back then, they used open cell foam and that stuff will absorb water like a sponge but does not turn loose if it.  I took 285 pounds out of a 1989 Stratos 285 Pro I once owned.

However, a lot of the really old boats didn't have flotation foam, so you would need to be sure yours even has any first.

It's possible,I had a couple of holes I just had repaired.