Helping a Newbie First Boat First Time Driving

[Stewball]

OK folks here is the questions please keep in mind I am VERY new to boating let alone a bass boat:

1996 ZX180 150Merc –fully loaded I am about 250 and friend is about 300. Full tank of gas and oil and 3 batteries, Live Wells empty, small anchor under passenger seat, rest of gear was in front compartments 82 lb thrust trolling motor on the front.

Had her out for the first time Friday on a local lake called Mosquito Lake in Ohio and the weather conditions were good, slight breeze but water was pretty smooth very slight chop.

When I first take off I have to give it quite a bit of throttle to get it to come up on plane with the motor trimmed all the way down. Within a few seconds of it coming up it starts bouncing. I tried putting the trim up more and then back down but couldn’t get the bounce out until I backed off the throttle then the bow started coming up again. I didn’t pay a lot of attention to the gauges except the trim gauge and trying to get it a noon position didn’t work.

I know the best thing to do is get it out and practice but I need a little more knowledge before I try it again. Also I had a LOT of water in the tray taking off and stopping I have to learn to come off the throttle slowly when stopping.
Man there is so much to learn and try and remember. Took 2 tries to get it in the water and 2 tries to get it back on the trailer which I didn’t think was too bad. Luckily there wasn’t a big line of boats trying to get out or come in.

My next problem must be a ground. I was testing the running lights and anchor lights. Running lights worked with no problem anchor light wouldn’t come on. I traced the wires to the harness by the gas tank and then thought maybe I had a fuse problem. Looked at the fuse box and saw what appeared to be a ground wire off the fuse box, plugged it in and the anchor light came on. Thinking everything was OK when I was out Friday and turned on the fish finders the one in the front didn’t want to turn on. Thinking back to the anchor light I unplugged the ground I had plugged in the previous night and the fish finder came on.

Any help any Skeeter owners can offer would be greatly appreciated.

[The Old Man]

Congratulations on getting your first bass boat.

The bouncing or porpoising as it's ususally called is caused by having the motor trimmed up too much for the speed you are running. You need to bump up the trim a little at a time as you increase speed.

It will take a little practice, but you will also have to get a system down for loading and unloading. It get's easier with practice. You will have to make adjustments as you use different ramps because the angle of the ramp will affect how deep you put the trailer for loading and unloading.

There are some pretty good threads that cover both of these topics in the "Novice Boaters" section of this site. Your best bet would be to find someone knowledgable to show you how to run the boat. If you don't know anyone, you could post up in the forum for your area. Odds are there will be someone close by that would be willing to meet up and help you out.

[Rodney Bledsoe]

Congrats on the boat Ned, You are trimming up too fast, you might think about a different prop to get a better hole shot. If you have a jack plate maybe adjustment there could help. But I don't think your model comes stock with one.

[Stewball]

Thanks guys I know I need practice that's for sure. Most of my learning is going to have to come from lake Erie because I am about 3 blocks off of it. I believe the closest open motor lake is about 45 min to an hour away. Will just have to hope for calm days.

The boat came with a stainless steel prop not sure of the pitch and no jack plate.

Since I am totally new to trimming a motor I am sure I was over and under trimming most of the day.

[macinckirk]

don't even starting triming the motor up till you have ALLREADY got on plane and running 35mph or so then start triming up with just little bumps

your allready asking alot from just the weight of you 2 guys, right there is 600lbs plus this and that and etc all this ADDS up FAST

when coming off plane when your azz feels like its hitting buttom just hit the gas alittle then back off again that will get that azz end out of the way of that backwash

[Vrybusy]

My old boat (now my brother's) was similar to yours. Like the others said, work on the trimming of the motor. Sure sounds like you over trimmed it. Also, my old zx185 had a 4 blade prop that worked very well on it. Excellent holeshot and ran about 65mph full load. I had the opportunity to have that boat out on Lake Erie also - but not for very long. That place isnt very kind to smaller boats. Be careful out there. You can get into trouble quickly with those big rollers that seem to blow up in minutes on that place!
Congrats and Good Luck!

[macinckirk]

after thinking about it I don't know whats scarier

me telling you what to do,

or the fact that you don't know jack sh*t about a boat, how to drive a boat, and your going out on erie with that small of a boat to learn

YOU REALLY NEED TO FIND SOMEONE THAT KNOWS WHATTHERE DOING AND WHATS GOING ON TO GO WITH YOU AND TEACH YOU A FEW THINGS BEFORE YOU PUT YOUR LIFE AND SOMEONE ELSE IN HARMS WAY

[Stewball]

Trust me I will NOT be on Erie until I get more comfortable and knowledgable about owning and operating a boat. I can play behind the breakwalls in the mouth of the rivers a little after work. I should have explained this a little better. Once I have more experience my intentions are to go out just 2 or 3 miles from the breakwalls and keep my eyes on the sky and my ear on the marine radio but again I will not be doing this until I have had a LOT more practice. My trial run was on an inland lake and that's where I plan on practicing until I have a lot more experience. Erie might not happen this season it might wait till next season or the end of this season, it just depends on how comfortable I feel. There is NO WAY right now I would go out there.