521 Sits Low in Rear. Add floatation?

[bigboyztoyz]

I have a 2005 ranger 521 with 250HPDI. I installed 10" Bobs hydraulic and 36 volt trolling motor and 4 bank charger. The boat sits very low in the rear now. I have read a few articles on people stuffing basket balls, beach balls, swim noodles, boat bumpers and other misc. crap in the jack plate to help. The problem I see is these are people with manual jack plates, as mine is hyd. I am worried such items would interfere with the movement of the plate. Talked with Ranger on the matter and there answer was to move more weight forward. I have every piece of tackle I can fit in the boat stuffed into the front compartments and nothing in the rear.(one empty for co-angler use and the other for life vests and rain-gear.

Any suggestions, ideas or previous experiences would be helpful.

[GhostComanche]

..............replied in General forum..........................RR

[FEARTHETURTLE210]

first problem was installing a 10 inch jp on a 6 in jp requirement. Would have never done that. I had a 521 and my jp was Bobs 6 inch.(ranger warranty) Shifting that weight that much farther back is probably pulling your rear even lower. Mine didnt sit too low in rear and i had a 4 batteries in my bilge. I would have to say its the JP causing it unless you have a leak in transom and water is sitting in your rear and the flotation has absorbed alot of water.

[chris c]

I have an 07 521 with the same problem as you. I don't think there really is anything you can do. I tried the basketball deal, didn't really help. Guys, Ranger reccomended 10" plates for these boats, not 6"....that is why I have a 10" plate on my boat from factory. I am running an Atlas plate and 2 power poles, 36v TM with 4 batteries, and the rear sits very low.

[bass.man65]

I would have to ask why you would put a 10'' plate on there when a 6 will do. There is nothing to gain by putting a 10'' plate on that hull.

[bigboyztoyz]

6 will do yea but when it is recommended from ranger directly that the 10" will perform the best on that model. Im not trying to fight about 6 vs the better 10 just trying to get a little better floatation

[rzone]

Here is another solution:

http://www.lithionicsbattery.com/marine.html

Dropping 200+ LB in batteries from the boat should lift the back end up and gain you some top end while at it. Granted it is NOT cheap, but more likely to work than the basketball (or blow up dolls as suggested on the other forum).

[rtinplnc]

I think you need to check what Ranger states the max weight for load in this boat is. It's probably less than 1000 - 1200 lbs max. Add up what you've added to this boat including yourself, batteries, charges, power poles, etc. You've probably overloaded the boat.

Reducing weight in the boat or moving it more to the center or front of the boat would certainly help.

[FEARTHETURTLE210]

your wrong on the 10 in plate. I had a 07 521 and the recommended JP was 6 inches. I asked Ranger if I could put a 8 or 10 and back then it would have voided my warranty. In the warranty they sent me it clearly stated 6 inch JP on the 521 10 inch on a Z21, any other size would void the warranty. If Ranger changed there tune its a joke. These 521's do sit low in rear but to me setting the engine back 4inches has some effect along with the extra weight in bilge area. All you can do is lighten the load or check to make sure your rear transom area is not absorbed or trapping water.

[chris c]

He was told by Ranger that a 10" plate is reccomended, and I was told by Ranger that a 10" plate was reccomended when I ordered my boat. My boat is an 07 521 that I ordered in April 2006. It had a 10" Slidemaster installed AT THE FACTORY...do you think they are going to put a plate on a boat at the factory that voids the hull warranty? I think not.

Chris

[FEARTHETURTLE210]

chris, my 07 was brand new also and i was told from Ranger that only a 6in jp was allowed. I have my warranty in writing and a copy of Rangers response in writing that if I put a 8/10 in jp on my hull it would void transom/hull warranty. I sold my 07 the following yr and got a boat with a 10. Seems Ranger will tell anyone what they want to hear to buy a boat. I was told only the Z series could put a 8/10 inch. Seems alittle strange to me but hey at this point it doesnt matter.

[Javelin387]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by FEARTHETURTLE210 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">chris, my 07 was brand new also and i was told from Ranger that only a 6in jp was allowed. I have my warranty in writing and a copy of Rangers response in writing that if I put a 8/10 in jp on my hull it would void transom/hull warranty. I sold my 07 the following yr and got a boat with a 10. Seems Ranger will tell anyone what they want to hear to buy a boat. I was told only the Z series could put a 8/10 inch. Seems alittle strange to me but hey at this point it doesnt matter.</td></tr></table>

I would like to know what Ranger has to say. I have a 198 vx and when I called Ranger they recommended a 10" for this boat. I got a good deal on a 8" so i boat an 8", now I am nervous for what you guys are saying. Hopefully Ranger Rodney will let us know what Ranger is saying officially.

[bass-action]

I have a 2001 520vx, Ranger recommended if your hull is out of warranty use an 8" plate, said it would perform better than a 6".

[Fletch60]

I just ordered a 2012 Z521 w/250 ProXS and the exact same boat was ordered for a tournament angler sponsored out of the same dealership.
They both will have the T&H "Atlas" 10 jack plate. http://www.thmarine.com/product.cfm?PRID=213
I'm going to contact them and see what they have to say.

[FEARTHETURTLE210]

Fletch, he asked about a 521VX boat not a Z521 boat. The Z series has always been a 8/10 JP on this series, the questioning was on the 521VX model.

[Fletch60]

Thanks FEARTHETURTLE210,
I am confident that my Ranger dealer will install the proper equipment.
T&H Hydraulic 10" Atlas.

[Tom Rollins]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by FEARTHETURTLE210 &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">Fletch, he asked about a 521VX boat not a Z521 boat. The Z series has always been a 8/10 JP on this series, the questioning was on the 521VX model.</td></tr></table>

[ericm]

To start with, adding a basketball or similar device in the jack plate will not accomplish anything. Running some quick numbers shows the volume of a typical basketball to be +/-0.31CF which in using the standard bouyancy equation shows a net upward force of 20# if fully submerged. Obviously, this isn't going to make any difference a 2000# rig.

I really hope that your rear foam hasn't become saturated. If this happens, you could be holding extensive weight in trapped water within the foam. Are you the original owner?

When you say it sits low, what are you comparing it to? It may just appear low, but actually be alright? Have you compared it to other 521's? The 500's do sit lower in the rear than the wider Z-boats.

.

[briansgi]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by bigboyztoyz &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">I have a 2005 ranger 521 with 250HPDI. I installed 10" Bobs hydraulic and 36 volt trolling motor and 4 bank charger. The boat sits very low in the rear now. I have read a few articles on people stuffing basket balls, beach balls, swim noodles, boat bumpers and other misc. crap in the jack plate to help. The problem I see is these are people with manual jack plates, as mine is hyd. I am worried such items would interfere with the movement of the plate. Talked with Ranger on the matter and there answer was to move more weight forward. I have every piece of tackle I can fit in the boat stuffed into the front compartments and nothing in the rear.(one empty for co-angler use and the other for life vests and rain-gear.

Any suggestions, ideas or previous experiences would be helpful.</td></tr></table>

Please post a pic of boat sitting in the water. It may not be as bad as you are thinking.

[js521]

I have a 2004 521VX. I talked to the tech at Ranger while on a tour about installing a Jack Plate on my boat. I specifically asked the question about the hull warranty. He said 6 inch was the limit on the 521VX. He said he would not worry about the boat, but that is the warranty policy. jim