Finally put the boat in for my first time

[rango]

theres a small fin that hangs down behind the prop on the cavitation plate with an adjustment bolt you can loosen to rotate the fin to the left or right to compensate for the pulling your boat is doing. adjust it by trial and error till your boat tracks straight and true.

[Jerry Blake]

This trim tab helps compensates for the motors torque by turning the motor and it's a bit confusing at first as to which way to move it.

If you turn it towards the boats right it will push the motor to the left, which helps turn the boat to the left (reducess the pull to the right) and visa versa.

Ideally, you want the steering to be neutral - not pulling in either direction - when you're at cruising speed, which will leave you with some pull to one side during take-off.

If you change your prop you may have to re-adjust the trim tab. The steeper the pitch or deeper the cup on a prop the more torque it will produce.

You can affect the boats attitude in the water somewhat by adjusting this trim tab but if you're trying to make the boat stay level in the water from left to right when you have a greater load on one side you will have a lot of pull on the stearing wheel while cruising (unless you have power-steering).

If you boat by yourself alont try to move as much weight to the left side of the boat as possible to help balance the load. The boat will probably still list to the drivers side but you'll get used to it.

[Darryl Morris]

Hey Seeker, sounds like you did very well and probably got home and either colapsed or was so strung out you couldn't sit down for a while. That's the way it was for me. Keep that edge though.

My first boat was a Grumann too just like Fishingpox. Still have it. Every dent has a special memory. Took it out the other day and it was like driving a water go-cart. Had alot of fun.

Shellback, don't feel bad about that transomsaver. I did the same thing, but mine only rested on the trailer's roller and held secure to the motor with a bungie. So, it launched okay. About 200 or so yards away from the ramp and at about 35-40 mph I hear this loud thump. Hmmm, wander what that was. Oh well, and moved on, fished for the day. Didn't realize what it was until I trailered the boat. What a sinking feeling and the saver is laying on the bottom in about 40 foot of water just of the Cranfield ramp on Lake Norfork. Luckily, got no damage to the lower unit or prop.

Hey Tool, if you've only left your plug out once you're doing great. I've left mine out so many times I've lost count. I've even written in permanent marker on my transom "Check Plug Stupid". It's helped some. I do have a good bilge pump.

And here's the biggest of all. Earlier this year I was down in central AR fishing with Jerry. I was staying at a resort in Hot Springs and we trailered to Lake Greeson, some 30-40 minutes away. When we got there I couldn't find my keys to the boat. Found them laying on the back bumper of my truck just where I left them after hooking the boat up that morning. Don't ask me how. All I know is my guardian angel gets paid overtime plus hazardous duty pay.

[PIGINTHEPIGPEN]

seeker...sounds to me like you did pretty darn good for the first time out on your own....shellback had some good advice...get a routine down when you prep the boat for launch and stick to it..I have forgotton to put the plug back in the boat twice and both times someone started talking to me while I was getting the boat ready to launch and that was the one step I forgot...remembered in time both times but it sure gives you a scare when the first hint of trouble appears (water coming up thru the drain by the drivers seat). Just take your time and go thru a small checklist when readying to launch and I do a quick walk around the boat just before driving away at the end of the day...good luck..you sure are gonna enjoy that new toy!!!!!

When I back my truck up to the boat before I put the trailor on the hitch. I stop what I'm doing and go back to srew the plug in. Works for me evrytime

[CrappieKrazy]

Write yourself out a checklist for loading, unloading and starting. After a few trips to the lake you'll be able to throw it away. PS. I loaned my boat to a buddy one weekend( Not a good idea I know ) He towed 120 miles to a lake he wanted to fish, when he got in the water he couldn't get it started. After paddling back to the ramp he loaded it up (Not easy to do with no engine ) and brought it back to me. He told me the battery was dead. I walked over, put the shifter in the neutral and fired it up. I don't need to describe the look on his face. Next time I wrote out a list for him to follow.

[crappieseeker]

The boat only tilts when I am in idle speed or moving slow, when I plane off at a faster speed, it levels out just right. I guess its just my weight being on one side. Thanks everyone and after listening to what some of you have done, I feel pretty good right now. If my wife hadnt been there to help me get her in the water though, I'd been swimming after the boat lol.

[Moose1am]

My boat lists to the starboard side all the time. It's because they put the steering console on that side and the livewell is on that side as well. Too much weight on the starboard side.

I took out one of the 6 gal gas tanks from the starboard side to help take some weight off that side of the boat. I try to keep the other 6 gal tank on the Port side as full as possible.

I also try to not fill the live well until I catch some fish. The live well with 10 to 20 gallons of water in it will make the boat list to the starboard side.

It put the tool box up front and on the Port side of the storage compartment which helps somewhat.

Only problem that I have with the listing is when I fish with someone else and we both are sitting in the raised bass fishing seats and lean to the right side. LOL The I about fall out of my seat.

Try to buy a boat that doesn't put the livewell some where in the middle of the boat or all the way across the boat so that the boat is balanced when the livewell is full. Water weights 8lb/gal and these livewells can hold a lot of water.

This trim tab helps compensates for the motors torque by turning the motor and it's a bit confusing at first as to which way to move it.

If you turn it towards the boats right it will push the motor to the left, which helps turn the boat to the left (reducess the pull to the right) and visa versa.

Ideally, you want the steering to be neutral - not pulling in either direction - when you're at cruising speed, which will leave you with some pull to one side during take-off.

If you change your prop you may have to re-adjust the trim tab. The steeper the pitch or deeper the cup on a prop the more torque it will produce.

You can affect the boats attitude in the water somewhat by adjusting this trim tab but if you're trying to make the boat stay level in the water from left to right when you have a greater load on one side you will have a lot of pull on the stearing wheel while cruising (unless you have power-steering).

If you boat by yourself alont try to move as much weight to the left side of the boat as possible to help balance the load. The boat will probably still list to the drivers side but you'll get used to it.

[Barnacle Bill]

Remember to pull the plug if you headed to or from the lake and it starts to rain hard and you have a long way to go. You can take on a lot weight in a hurry in a downpour.

[Ranger375]

Sounds like you are close to being a pro already. I personally love to set out at the boat ramp especially on a weekend and watch the pleasure boaters try to put boat on trailer. I'll almost bet more divorces have started there then anywhere else. It is comical to watch the guy who has really probably had to many beers anyway try to get on the trailer with even just a little wind or wakes from other boats on the main lake. Love it when the guy get mad after a dozen tries and the lady puts it on first try.

With you being new at boat ownership don't hesitate to ask for help. The only foolish question is the one not asked.

Enjoy the new boat and don't get upset with the first little scrape in the paint.

[crappieseeker]

Ranger375 I wanted to ask for help, but I was a little bit embarrased. I bit my tongue and just went about it on my own.