2O13 smartwave 3500sw

[Jabiru658]

That's a neat fitout, haven't seen a smartliner in other than bare form before.

As for poly boats I had a Polycraft 4.55 C/C for a few years and it was the most durable boat I've ever owned (no need to worry about gelcoat) and you couldn't kill it if you tried.

Oh and you'll get used to the plastic boat jokes after a while

[Apollo]

She is looking the bomb now mate. Or as a few lads I meet the other day would say, "fully sic"

[daveo17]

as for as i know i am the first one to put a casting deck on one of these. just crossing my fingers hoping it sits in the water OK

[daveo17]

had a few dramas on my first trip. when ever i get on the plane the bow drops down to low and makes it hard to steer . so i tried tilting the engine up a couple of holes and that made it very uncontrollable. so now i am thinking my casting deck is to heavy? any ideas, solutions or
theorys would be appreciated

[Moonlighter]

Check the engine height on the transom, you would be amazed how big a difference it makes when the engine height is set correctly.

Most engines are set too deep in the water. The best way to check is to get the boat onto the plane and you should be able to see the anti-ventilation plate just skimming the surface of the water at a decent cruise speed. The AV plate is the wide plate immediately above the prop.

if its below the water, engine is too deep and should be lifted higher on the transom bolts so its just skimming the surface or getting splashed.

That would be one if the first things to check and get right. Too deep can cause the kind of symptoms you are experiencing.

When you are adjusting the engine trim pin, do it one hole at a time and then re-test. If you lift the engine, maybe drop the trim pin down one hole before you test.

[netmaker]

hey dave, post up a pic of your transom with motor down.

[daveo17]

thanks moonlighter didn't know that rule about height i guess that might why i am getting a lot of wash over the transom when i stop suddenly.

[fishychrissy]

thanks moonlighter didn't know that rule about height i guess that might why i am getting a lot of wash over the transom when i stop suddenly.

Hi Dave,
Got the same problem with my tinny at the mo
Exactly the same symptoms since I changed the motor to a 30hp.
Same shite handling too. Took my Minn Kota off and removed the battery but still does it.
I get more wash over the transom now too.
Cheers

[daveo17]

i am going to have to fabricate a bracket for mine when i go back to work. problem is that's in two weeks time. i feel your pain chrissy i will let you know if i come up with a easy solution

[Moonlighter]

Correctly set motor height can turn a boat that handles like a dog into a good thing. And vice versa. Well worth getting right.

From the pic posted its hard to tell, but it looks like the motor bracket might be set as low as is possible and the engine also looks to be trimmed in a long way. Some more pictures showing itfrom side on and directly behind so so we can see the bottom of the hull and the motor leg in relation to it would help.

It is easy to lift small hp motors like that. Lift it one hole higher, retest carefully, and see if it improves. Check where that cav plate is when its on the plane at a decent speed. If it improves and the prop is still holding on in turns, lift it another hole and retest. If the prop loses grip in reasonable turns after that it may need to drop it back down 1 hole. If not, leave it there.

it is a bit if trial and error, so go carefully and change one thing at a time, and retest.

[daveo17]

the transom plate has a lip on it and was the highest i could get the motor. can an outboard be held on with just bolts and no clamps? I will get a better picture today but iam sure you have hit the nail on the head cheers moonlighter

[fishychrissy]

i am going to have to fabricate a bracket for mine when i go back to work. problem is that's in two weeks time. i feel your pain chrissy i will let you know if i come up with a easy solution

Cheers Daveo, would be really interested to know how you go
Hope you can solve the problem
Good luck
chris

[daveo17]

here are some better pics

[STUIE63]

It looks about 2 inches to low to me

[Moonlighter]

It looks about 2 inches to low to me

I agree. The anti -vent plate looks to be well below the line of the keel. It is almost certainly too low by quite a distance.

If there are 4 bolts holding it on, that should do the job. Brisbane marine may care to comment on that too.