I recently purchased a 17 carolina skiff with a 60 Johnson and it porpoises really bad if I don’t leave it trimmed all the way down. There are 2 batteries and a 12 gallon tank at the back and one battery, anchor and other assorted stuff under the front deck. Would adding a fin to the motor help this problem? Or would something else be better?
It will help a lot to add a fin.
big dog
I crabbed out of a 24 dlx for 4 years. They don’t put much glass on the bottom of the boat and after about a year mine started taking a little wear from goin on the trailer and on oyster banks and whatever else. The bottom of the boat drooped or warped some and it never rode right again. The older it got the worse it got. I had to keep it below 30mph or it would porpoise really bad. I have a DLV now and it is a better boat so you may want to check the bottom.
I’ve heard these smart tabs work great if your boat didn’t come with them. Use the website to determine which ones you need. http://www.carolinaskiff.com/skiff-smarttabs.html. You can probably find the ones you need on amazon. I might be adding these to my j16 soon.
“They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
-Benjamin Franklin
Malibu Stealth 12
94 J16 Carolina Skiff/2004 yamaha 25
Sounds like you need more lift on the transom, although I’m far from an expert on this.
The fin may or may not help you out. It’s cheaper than the smart tabs, but my suspicion is that you will like the smart tabs more. They are definitely going to be more effective.
There are some other things to consider here though that might help you out. I am not sure what the max HP of your boat is, but I can’t see a 60hp being too small. Seems to me that it should have the muscle to plane out just fine. So I’d rule out the first question, “do I have enough power to push the boat up on step”.
Second, you may not have the right prop. I’d ask around a few of the repair places, such as Chris V’s shop, and see if you have the right prop. You may have a prop that’s too high/low in pitch.
Third, do you perhaps have a motor with too long/short of a foot? In other words, does the lower unit sit properly underneath the hull? I’m not familiar with your setup or hull design, but even a quick glance from someone with a little experience can tell you if your motor is sitting too low/too high.
Fourth, is your hull warped, as suggested above?
I really think you should be able to get your boat on plane with it properly set up without having to install trim tabs or hydrofoil fins.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
The boat is rated for a 60hp and jumps up on plane quick and runs good trimmed all the way down and even gets a little over 35mph but if I try to trim up any it starts to porpoise and that is what I was wondering about. The motor is the right length shaft for the boat.
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
I’m also wondering is maybe I need more weight up front because I have 2 batteries and a gas tank in the back and the boat has a side console and 2 seats on the bench on the back. All that is in the front is a battery, anchor and other small things.
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
OK that’s what I thought, I couldn’t see a 17ft skiff needing anymore gonad than 60hp.
Maybe weight just isn’t balanced properly like you suggested. Remove all the weight that you can from it and take it out one day for a pleasure cruise, see how it behaves. Add more weight to the rear, try a little more. It seems to me like your transom weight would be the problem, if it’s weight distribution that’s the issue.
I would, though, get the prop’s pitch verified.
… The Cross of Christ is the anvil upon which the hammer of evil wore itself out.
I will have to check the prop pitch tomorrow. Who should I talk to to get it verified?
17 Carolina Skiff
60 Johnson
My 17ft carolina skiff had a 70 yamaha 2 stroke. It stayed trimmed down all the way all the time or it would wander all over, especially over 30mph. If you look closely, there isnt much boat in the water at that speed.
It was warped on the bottom after only a year, but it handled funny since it was new.
I put weight up front and it just made it harder to plane.
do yourself a favor and buy the ugly-behind hydrofoil and install it. You will be happy you did.
Key West 2300cc Mercury 225 optimax “Fish Tale”