I purchased a boat last year with the help of my dad and bro. I expected pops to be the brains as I knew 0 on buying a boat, long story short we got screwed (PM if you want to know the dealer). Anyways, we can get on the water and fish but we are having problems getting the boat outta the hole. We literally have to have 1 person sit/lay at the front of the boat to keep it from riding at a 45 degree angle (the boat will lower once it is out of the hole and the person in front can sit back with driver). at the same time we have to almost fight the steering wheel to the left to keep the boat from heading right.

What kinda problem does this sound like? we have a nitro 482 with 90 Optimax...stainless steal prop and i believe it is a 19 degree pitch (unsure). I have been told that maybe the prop is to big for the boat and someone else said it sounded like the motor was shifted lefg/right and is not mounted in the center...please send me some info if got a clue.

what kind of RPM's you turning?

also you might get more of a response from the boats and motors section. just fyi...

are you using the trim correctly?
There is a little fin on the motor by the prop that you can adjust for the steering. It has a bolt you can loosen. If you turn it to the left it will make it go left more.

Does the tilt/trim work on the motor? It needs to be all the way down to get the boat to plane. You might also need to adjust the steering anode.


It looks like this.

Boat is rated for a 150hp and you have a 90hp. I would suggest that is your problem with little or no solution. I just don't think you have enough motor for a 1350# hull.

Trim down, adjust that tab...

http://bbcboards.zeroforum.com/zeroforum?id=40

go here

Even though you are under powered Your 90 should plane the boat out. Maybe a transom wedge?
I don't think the steering tab is the problem. This really has nothing to do with the boat getting on plane.

lots of good info for only a couple of hours...thanks for the info and keep it coming...i dont know the RPM off the top of my head but i will go home and check it out or remember next time i am on the lake

i normally have the trim all the way down no matter what (except at launch)...is this an error on my part?

Start with your trim all the way down. once you get on plane start trimming up and you'll feel the steering to get easier. Go too high and it'll start wanting to go the other way. You want to trim high enough you can take your hands off the wheel without fear of it shooting one way or the other.

When you have troubles getting out of the hole and up on plane how many people are in the boat? Has it done it with just you alone in the boat? Mine has this problem if I have more than 2 in the boat. Just doesn't have enough power to weight ratio.

There are many things that need to be checked. In my opinion the boat probably needs more power more RPM's and it needs to blueprinted prop/RPM/weight ect.Also are the live wells full of water when you try to get on plane? How many in the boat?
Lots of things to check out but do one at a time otherwise you will changing things that may not need changing.
Good luck.

There might be a shipping pin still set in the motor bracket that prohibit your motor from being trimmed in all the way.

if you go fishing out at lake fork take it to J & J Marine. my boat was having problems like yours and they fixed my hot foot which was out of adjustment and tuned it up now it runs better then ever. they are honest and fair priced. i have never been as impressed with a marine co. as i was with them. i also had some corrision on lower part of boatmotor and prop probably from salt since i bought the boat used dont know for sure but they also sanded all that down painted so it looks brand new.

Steering wise, if the person before you skimped on the motor like they did, I'm going to say the boat probably has cable steering on it and that is why you are having to fight the wheel. A trim tab might help, but it will never drive like a boat with hydraulic steering.

Not getting on plane, you are probably fighting a losing battle because of the lack of horsepower. Find somebody to help you set it up. Steve's Custom Props over on Lake Fork is highly recommended around here. I would also say don't put much more gas in the boat than you are going to use in a day, close the live well unless you are going to use it, and leave tackle you aren't going to use at home. Cutting down the weight will help.

I have heard of people having luck putting planing fins on the lower unit of the motor.

http://www.basspro.com/webapp/wcs/stores...0002000_200-2-7

I still believe you will be fighting a losing battle with a boat as underpowered as this one, but a fin similar to the one above might be worth a try.

sounds like its not trimmed down all the way, it may be down a little but is it ALL THE WAY DOWN?