Adding transom floatation

[GLADES]

Other than bolting on jon boat pods, is there another method of adding some flotation to the stern of a 87 18' Ranger 373? I do not want to affect the boat performance. The hull is powered with a 2.0 mercury 150HP mounted on a 6" jack plate. The hull is rated for 175 HP. I have had boat wakes come over the stern.

The boat sits low in the water at the stern while at idle speed or when seated in driving position while stopped. From what I have seen in pictures, this vintage of Ranger rides low in back so it is not my boat specifically. The boat layout has the twin 12 gallon gas tanks and 3 batteries located just in front of the transom. The driver seats are also located 3-4 feet in front of the transom.

Any good ideas?

[Fishing Rhino]

Adding "flotation" at the transom will not lift the stern.  Any flotation added at the stern, unless outside of the boat will add weight, and make the stern ride even lower.

One thing manufacturers have done is to make the transom like an A frame, with the motor set back, which deflects waves off to the side rather than all of it crashing over the transom.

To get the stern to ride higher will require shifting weight forward in your boat.  That may cause other undesirable effects.

I haven't seen a bass boat that doesn't ride low in the stern at rest.  The reason bass boats do not have high sides like open water boats is to reduce the effect wind has on the boat.  Raise your stern, and you will get blown around more.

[GLADES]

Adding "flotation" at the transom will not lift the stern. Any flotation added at the stern, unless outside of the boat will add weight, and make the stern ride even lower.

One thing manufacturers have done is to make the transom like an A frame, with the motor set back, which deflects waves off to the side rather than all of it crashing over the transom.

To get the stern to ride higher will require shifting weight forward in your boat. That may cause other undesirable effects.

I haven't seen a bass boat that doesn't ride low in the stern at rest. The reason bass boats do not have high sides like open water boats is to reduce the effect wind has on the boat. Raise your stern, and you will get blown around more.

I want to add flotation at the stern, specifically around the jack plate, outside of the boat. I am only looking for a few more inches of transom free board. Right now the bow sticks up like a checkmate speed boat, I doubt that by raising the stern a few inches(lowering the bow) will matter as far as the wind.

[Carrington]

to stop water from coming over you have to come off plane then right before the wake hits the boat gun the engine and then let off it steadly.  the deck of my boat sits about 3 inches above the water in the back.  I never have water come over when i do this.

[Carrington]

Also as far as adding flotation, that will not work.  The only way for you to make something float is to add surface area to the hull or to reduce weight.  adding anything that floats inside the boat does absolutly nothing.

[GLADES]

Quote

Also as far as adding flotation, that will not work. The only way for you to make something float is to add surface area to the hull or to reduce weight. adding anything that floats inside the boat does absolutly nothing.

I never said anything about adding flotation to the inside of the boat. I want to add flotation to the outside of the boat.

Thanks for the reply's.

[fishfordollars]

Try an inflatable ball of some type(Basketball, volleyball, football). whatever you can cram in the middle of the jackplate. It's an old boat racers trick, but it usually won't raise the rear over an inch or so.

[Fishing Rhino]

Try an inflatable ball of some type(Basketball, volleyball, football). whatever you can cram in the middle of the jackplate. It's an old boat racers trick, but it usually won't raise the rear over an inch or so.

That's interesting.  Learn something new every day.

I can see where a small inflatable ball might lift the stern of a small hydroplane an inch or so, but I doubt it would do the same for a bass boat which, with motor, load of fuel, batteries etc., might weigh close to a ton.

For the stern to rise an inch, you'd need buoyancy equal to the weight of one inch of water multiplied by the square foot area of the aft portion of the hull at the waterline.

Conservatively, 6 feet wide, X 5 feet (the distance from the stern to the seating area) equals 30 square feet time 1/12 foot which results in 2.5 cubic feet of water.

Water weighs 62.5 pounds per cubic foot.  That means you will need a total bouyancy of 156 pounds to raise the stern one inch.

On a nice day, when the water is warm, get a bass boat in enough water to float it, then try lifting it at the stern.  Very few of us would be able to raise it an inch.

[fishfordollars]

Your probably right about the bass boat. They run them on the little outlaw racing boats at times. first time i ever saw it i laughed my A$$ off, but they do it and said it helps.

I started not to post it figuring everyone would call me stupid, or worse.

[Long Mike]

The answer is obvious. Either move weight forward or live with what you have.  When slowing down from being on plane, gunning the motor a bit, just before the backwash hits the stern, will keep most of the water out.

[Fishing Rhino]

From the first post, it wasn't backwash coming over the stern when he slowed.  It was wakes from other boats washing over the stern when he was stopped.  I'm surmising this happened while he was fishing.

[GLADES]

When I am fishing, I move to the front seat, which levels the boat nicely. The problem occurs when a boat passes behind my boat putting a wake into my transom while I am seated in driving position. I addition, when I am idling slowly forward, all of the weight, including my own is in the stern or rear of the boat. If I am on a large windy wake like lake Okeechobee while idling towards the grass or cut, the chop can wash up on the deck. Coming off plane (and idling in reverse), I get some water up through the jack plate, but I just control the throttle to stay ahead of the wake as the boat settles down.

Somebody recommend a volley ball (or basketball), hard foam, or off the shelf flotation attached to the outside or inside of the jack plate to raise it an inch or so.This issue is actually quite common with boats hanging big motors on large jack plates and others have came up with their own home made solutions. I can live with it, but I am just searching for some way to improve the situation.

Thanks again to everyone for your help.

[fishfordollars]

Well at least I was not told I'm stupid for posting the ball solution.

Thanks for posting.

Jack

[Fishing Rhino]

Well at least I was not told I'm stupid for posting the ball solution.

Thanks for posting.

Jack

If it will make you feel better, I'll call you stupid.

It's not my opinion of you, but you almost sounded disappointed that no one had called you stupid. ;D

[Long Mike]

I'll second Rhino's evaluation.  STOOPID!   

Sorry Jack, I couldn't resist the dig.  ;D

[K_Mac]

Jack I have to say that was the dumbest answer to a bass boat floataton question I've read today. On the other hand it was it also the smartest answer.  :-? Feel better? ;D

[fishfordollars]

Thanks guys. Ya'll made my day.

[GLADES]

I am glad you guys had a nice laugh

[FD.]

Just relocate your batteries forward.  Two tm batteries and a cranking battery equals about 240 lbs.  Move that forward as far as possible and your problem should go away.

Also when I am not in a tournament, I close the inlet valve to my livewells. That raises my stern by an inch or so.

[cart7t]

Just relocate your batteries forward. Two tm batteries and a cranking battery equals about 240 lbs. Move that forward as far as possible and your problem should go away.

Also when I am not in a tournament, I close the inlet valve to my livewells. That raises my stern by an inch or so.

Shifting that much weight forward will help solve the transom issue, sort of.. but you'll wind up with problems getting the nose of that 370 to lift running across the water. Those 370's were slow running barges to begin with and didn't like rough water. Creating a bow lift problem will only make that worse.

I'd say learn to live with the problem. Old Hydra Sport bass boats were some of the lowest stern sitting boats I ever saw. The owners learned to compensate for it and live with the issue.

[fishn hard]

I had 2 basketballs in the jack plate of my old skeeter and i brought the back up 1inch

[Carrington]

my nitro when it sits in the water then back is only about 1 inch off the water if that.  you just have to gun it right when you see the wake coming back at the boat for a split second then this will stop the water from coming over.