Motor height

[Sammiew]

How can you tell if your motor is at the correct height on a pontoon barge?
My 24' Bentley w/90 Optimax seems like it just runs completely flat and acts like it can't lift the nose at all. Feels like it's digging in the water no matter how you try to trim up the motor. Wondering if the motor height is wrong.

[Bamaman]

They say you should be able to see the top of your anticavitation plate through all the splashing water when at a fast throttle run.

Where are you on maximum rpms vs. the published redline? Do you experience any propeller ventilation in a tight turn? Are you propped right?

[Sammiew]

Bamaman, I running around 5400 but I think the max rpm is around 5800 if I am correct. No real prop slipping when making big radius turns but have not really made a real sharp turn at WOT. Didn't know if motor was at a incorrect height it might actually push down on the front of the barge instead of lifting it some. I will try to observe the plate while running to see where it's at. Thanks for the reply.....

[Grandpa]

i run my 115 4 stroke yamaha on a 22 ft Bennington fishing toon trimmed up to the half way mark on the gauge, front end is slightly elevated that way, i usually only run 3500 to 4000 rpm though, 3500 is a nice cruising speed.

[FUZZYDP]

Mines all the way down on 22' w a 115. It lifts loaded or not.

[Joe20Toon]

They say you should be able to see the top of your anticavitation plate through all the splashing water when at a fast throttle run.

Where are you on maximum rpms vs. the published redline? Do you experience any propeller ventilation in a tight turn? Are you propped right?

I agree... At full throttle, look to see if the 'top' plate is visible.