Why does my 190 Bay plow at WOT ?

[beradon]

I bought my 190 bay almost a year ago and I've written about this before but I'm still looking for a solution. The boat has a 115 Yamaha 4 stroke with about 150 hours on it and I just replaced the worn (chipped up) original 13 1/4 x17 prop with an identical factory unit and the boat still plows. WOT is 5900 RPM's and top speed is down to 36 MPH(GPS speed) which I can live but I'm certain the boat would go another 4 or 5 MPH if it would just stay up on plane. My best guess is the bow should be up another 10-12" at WOT. Basically the problem is too much boat in the water and instead of gliding on the rear flat section of the hull it plows like a displacement hull. Trimming the engine doesn't bring the bow up either. The boat is light and the forward fishboxes are empty. I keep the gas tank about 1/2 full to minimize weight and I only have 1 battery and no trolling motor. I installed the 3rd drain plug and keep a concrete block under the trailer jack so it sits as high as possible. I tried a stab plate from Bob's and it made things worse. At this point I'm puzzled and can only think of a couple things that might be causing the problem

#1. An accumulation of water in the inner hull

#2. Engine mounted too low (unlikely)

Do any of you Captains have a suggestion for a fix? Thanks in advance!

[Putershark]

I would check for water in the inner hull and the remote possibility of a prop that is creating too much stern lift... Lift is the one thing that many people forget that the prop also creates and at 5900 RPM it may have too much bite...

I would also look into how you are loading the hull and see if you have too much weight forward of the console ? Also how does it preform when you have less than a 1/2 tank of fuel or the live well is empty?

[beradon]

Hi Dave

Good to hear from you. My boat is as light as a 190 can be. I have 2 anchors, some extra line and 3 life jackets forward of the console-less than 60 pounds and thats it. I have a small tool box with safety equipment in the rear port compartment. The plowing problem is just as bad with an empty live well. You suggested checking for water in the inner hull-How do I check for it? Do I lift the floor panel? Thanks!

I've never let the tank go below 1/4 but it doesn't seem to matter whether its 1/4 or a full tank-It gets up on plane and then it settles into the plowing position

[Putershark]

Hey buddy, you need to stop over and see how I have mine loaded then! Ha-Ha..

As far as checking for water in the inner hull is quite easy! When you go to drill out the hole for installing the drain, the water will start to drain out Then when it is done peeing out water, then install the drain plug for I feel that all of them need it anyway Look in the 190 mods photo section and you will see how I have mine done which is how the factory should do all 190's in my opinion

[beradon]

I installed the 3rd drain about 6 months ago and it always drips after a day on the water. Is it possible that a passage is cloggedup and water is trapped somewhere up front. The boat feels so bow heavy that Its not a matter of 50 or 100 pounds but several hundred pounds. I don't use the seat on the forward casting platform but if the boat planed properly I don't think a 200 pound man would cause it to plow. I'm puzzled. Its less than a year old and I'm out of things to try so I guess I should take it to my dealer. Unfortunately they're not on the water so testing is going to be a PITA

[Putershark]

I do not think so, but I do have an idea...

• Take the boat and raise the engine up.
• Then run the jack stand all the way down.
• Then place one of your standard automotive jack stands in the front of the trailer and lower the trailer onto it.
• Then place some wood or blocks under the trailer jack stand again and run the front of the boat up even higher. Once that is done go back and extend the automotive jack stand to hold it in place. By the way, I never let my trailer "rest" on the trailer mounted jack stand and always have a truck rated one in place when at rest

What we are looking to do is raise up the bow much higher then normal and see if you can get some of the water that may be laying in the keel to migrate to the stern and out the drain I would also be interested in knowing what hole your engine is mounted in?

Let us know how you make out Brother

[NCangler]

I would definitely get my dealer involved if it is less than a year old. And they need to meet you somewhere that you can put it on the water with them so they can see what is happening.

[beradon]

I've kept the trailer tongue elevated high ever since I added the 3rd drain because it continually drips. A slow but steady drip which puzzles the heck out of me. Why doesn't it ever stop? If there is a large quantity of water somewhere under the deck shouldn't it just drain out and stop dripping ? Could the flotation material be saturated? I hate mysterious problems and of course my dealer does too but I need this solved. Not long ago I was getting ready to take the boat out and I depressed the rocker switch to raise the engine and heard a sharp cracking sound and saw a puff of white smoke-The insulation melted off of the wire that grounds the sacrificing anode to the engine-The wire was too hot to even touch. The mechanic at the dealership was baffled and essentially said its impossible and couldn't happen, but it did?? Another mystery with no answer??

I'll be using the boat this Friday & Saturday but I'll take to the dealer Monday. Thanks to putershark and NCangler for your suggestions

[BarryB]

Hi Beradon,

Just for personal information, why not trailer the boat to a truck weigh station. Ask if you could get the boat (while on the trailer, with full fuel, etc.) weighed. You could then use the factory specs of hull weight + engine weight + full tank of fuel (a bit over 6lbs per gallon) + trailer and see if you are within the weigh station weight. (say that three times fast)

The engine should be mounted so that the anti-cavitation plate is in alignment with the bottom of the boat.

Do you trim up the engine at WOT?

[trasbeck]

For what it's worth...

My 2002 190 is equipped with a 115 Yamaha four stroke. My best prop is a 17 pitch with a bit of cup that the prop guy says makes it closer to 18 pitch. The boat will hit 40 mph when lightly loaded and hit the rev limiter, which I think is aroun 6200 rpm. I also have a Bob's plate.

A couple years ago i took it to a certified scale and it weighed 3498 pounds.. with a half tank of fuel and no extra gear (I was on my way to winter storage). i don't know where this figure falls...high or low for the average 190...but that's what my boat, motor, and trailer weigh.

Hope this is of some help...