Boat takes forever to plane

[Frustrated]

Ok guys,  first timer on this forum long time reader. I have had  bass boats for over thirty years and just bought another (used one) about a year ago. In the last couple trips it starting have real trouble getting to plane. Never had that problem before. Any trouble shooting ideas? AND PLEASE DO NOT RESPOND WITH ANY TRIM ISSUES OR QUESTIONS.  GOT THAT COVERED. 

[Dwight Hottle]

It would help if you told us what kind of boat & what motor you have. 

[geo g]

If the problem just started, and you never had the problem before, it  sounds like a weight distribution problem, or a motor problem.  If the boats sits outside are you getting water in the hull between trips?  Has the motor been running properly?  Have you changed the weight distribution in the boat by adding anything, like an additional battery, or power poles.  Good luck, never fun when the boat acts up!

[E-rude dude]

3 questions 

Do you have water in boat 

Did you inspect your prop hub

Have you checked the spark plugs

[Way2slow]

Simple problem, either the motor is not making the power it should

Or, the prop is not transferring the power to the water as it should.

Now, all you have to do is figure out which one.   

If it has run great in the past and just started doing this over night.  Most likely a bad cylinder on the engine.  If it slowly progressed, then checking the compression would be my first step.

However, there are a ton of things that can cause a motor to loose power, besides compression, but it get's into engine smarts and know how to get much beyond compression test.

Another possible cause could be a damaged prop.

A friend of mine called me from California last year saying his 225HO was not running as good as his 225.  I told him to take the flywheel off the 225 and put it on the HO.  He doubted me and said he thought I was nuts, but he did it anyway.   Guess what, it ran great and like an HO should after doing it.   Finding problems like that only comes with experience, and I had run into that problem twice before, and have to thank a friend that was a lead instructor with OMC for telling me a common cause of that problem was a weak magnet in the flywheel.

Now, don't go replacing your flywheel, the only motor I've ever run into this problem on is the OMC looper engines.  This was just to show you how hidden the problem can get.  

[Frustrated]

Thanks for the insight.  One thing I forgot to mention is once I have it at plane she Flys. I have a 200 efi mercury and runs around 60 + depending on conditions. Everything else is checking out. Now if all minor things are checking out and run great once out of the whole could there still be bigger issues or just adjustment?

[WRB]

When you do get up on plane does the engine run good and speed is ok?

Does the engine start as easy as did before?

Tom

[Frustrated]

Thanks for all the tips. Boat has always been kept in the garage and never holds water when I pull the plug never a drop. Only thing I have done is replace the trim sender. And may have moved the throttle  cable a bit but put it back in its original spot.

Champion  200 hp EFI

Sorry for lack of info I'm a first timer .

[Michigander]

So you altered something in the trim system and now it's not working as before.... That may warrant re-researching.

[Frustrated]

I wish that's the issue I put a new one on about year ago when I bought it the old one didn't work. Thanks though. 

[Way2slow]

There is no magic wand we can wave around to fix it, or crystal ball we can look into and say "this is your problem"  

Go through the basic trouble shooting procedures and tell use what you find.  The very first is make sure the butterfly is opening to fully, and not going past fully open.  Then do a compression test.  There should be no more than a 10% difference between the highest and lowest reading.  

Trouble shooting is a systematic process.  There are steps you will need to take in the process as we try to help.  Without that, take it to a professional that can troubleshoot and maybe fix it for you.  

[WRB]

16 hours ago, Frustrated said:

Thanks for all the tips. Boat has always been kept in the garage and never holds water when I pull the plug never a drop. Only thing I have done is replace the trim sender. And may have moved the throttle  cable a bit but put it back in its original spot.

Champion  200 hp EFI

Sorry for lack of info I'm a first timer .

Hmmm, Champ w/200 EFI Merc runs 60+ mph, isn’t that fast for this boat. What rpms are you maxing out at? 5,800? 

3 blade SST prop.

Hot Foot or standard helm controls?

You may have a clogged injector or injectors depending on oil used and time between cleaning.

Just trying to eliminate unknowns.

Tom

 

 

[Way2slow]

Sorry, didn't like what I posted.