boat moving sloooow....help??

[MichiganBass80]

Hey guy, new here. My dad just picked up his first bass boat (had a SmokerCraft before, sold it years ago though). It is a 2000 Triton TR-21 with a 225 Optimax. Took it out for the first time yesterday and could not get it moving beyond 10-12 mph when we were both in the seats. Between us we are about 550lbs, which is a lot, people capacity for the boat is 775lbs. (if I remember correctly without going out to look, might be 765). We have very little gear, most of which is up front. NOw if one of us moved to the center and sat around the cooler, first compartment area, we could get it moving better, topping out at around 44mph and planing out just fine. when taking off (or attempting to) maybe I am being to cautious and not giving it enough throttle right off the bat? I was told by my uncle (a lot of years in bass boats) and cousin that I should try giving it more, since I was slowly giving it gas. Just thought I would post it here to get any more ideas/opinions on what it could be and what adjustments (jackplate adjustments? or anything else) we could make. Even being new to these types of boats, I would have thought a 20.5 ft boat with a 225hp engine would be able to push us around no problem.

[exx1976]

Coming out of the hole you should just trim all the way down, nail the throttle, and hold on.

[TXguy201]

You need someone who knows how to drive a performance boat to go with you. We could spend a long time trying to tell you about what someone can probably show you in 10 minutes. If your boat is set up correctly, it's a ~70+ mph boat.

Were you trimming up any at all, or were you plowing the bow (with lots of white water coming off the boat up in front of you)?

[MichiganBass80]

Coming out of the hole you should just trim all the way down, nail the throttle, and hold on.

You need someone who knows how to drive a performance boat to go with you. We could spend a long time trying to tell you about what someone can probably show you in 10 minutes. If your boat is set up correctly, it's a ~70+ mph boat.

Were you trimming up any at all, or were you plowing the bow (with lots of white water coming off the boat up in front of you)?

When we did get it going I trimmed all the way down to get it going, once up on plane (or as far as it would get) I started trimming up by just giving it a few short pushes. Probably didn't trim it up far enough once it got going, but when I did trim up I noticed a little increase in speed. We are heading out again in the morning and my uncle who I mentioned in my original post will be out there with his boat and will be able to help us out. I think maybe we were just to catious with it and should have "nailed" the throttle right out of the start to get going. We'll see, thanks for the help, and I'll keep this post updated.

[mdtritn21]

What prop do you have and what is you prop to pad now. Trim down and nail it then bump the trim up. I'd drive it for an hour or two before I opened it up just to get used to driving it then open it up a little at a time. If it's not set up right it will chine walk.

[MichiganBass80]

Its been a while since I originally posted, but we were still trying to figure things out with it. We finally got around to taking it in to a marine service place (today) to see what was wrong with it. Turns out it was the spark plugs. They took em out, and they were horrible, and the guy said they were the wrong ones, like just some cheap ones the guy we bought the boat from must have used. So we changed em out, and he told us to take it out to the lake (only 1/4 mile away from the shop) and see how it worked. My dad waited at the dock with the truck while I took it out. Right away I could tell the difference, just idling I would have to push the throttle down to get it to move slow, now it just wants to take off.
Before, I could only get it around 32-34 mph with just me, and that was giving it all it had. This time I got up to 62 and still had room to go a little faster, but the water was a little rough. It got on plane quick, and moved really good. Even the sound of the engine was a huge difference. Now we just need to get it out and use it a few more times before it gets colder up here in Michigan.

[adamr_41]

[jclark408]

Good news