Help!!! I cant get up on plane

moondance · Post by **moondance** » Wed May 06, 2009 9:51 pm

I moved my recently purchased Trojan 30 from Winthrop Ma. to Warwick Ri. this weekend. I had to fill up 3 times in 200 miles.
My top speed was only 15 at 3800rpm. Clearly something is out of wack.
It plowed like a torpedo the whole way.
Any suggestions?

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:00 pm

haul out and clean the bottom and running gear. also could the trim tabs be stuck down all the way ?

wet wonder · Post by **wet wonder** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:02 pm

Break out the timing light and check the timing.

moondance · Post by **moondance** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:12 pm

I just went in. Bottom is spotless as well as the running gear. Prior owner said trim tabs are in fixed position but he never had a broblem getting up on plane. I was on this boat last year and have to vouch for that.
I'll check the timing and see if that helps at all.
Thank you very much for the quick responses guys!

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:20 pm

if you were taching at 3800 I doubt the timing has anything to do with it,you should be crankin at that rpm, are both your engines doing that?
are you nose heavy, stupid question but bilge water???? sounds strange, are your transmissions engaged, meaning, any slippage ? dragging anything, last year with my old boat I had a similar problem, getting back to my marina for 45 min, when I got there, there was a log stuck under my boat, near the outdrive, I didnt see it till I got there the next day
I feel my current boat has a problem with getting up on plane, but Im always reluctant to push my ford 302's past 2700, until I can trust them fully, I just purchased the boat and have not hauled it yet. Alot of advice here was given to me regarding hauling and cleaning the bottom, but you mention your bottom is fine,
so not sure, it can only be a few things, Im sure youll get the problem,
either not enough power, slipping trans,, or your dragging something, overloaded??? how much weight were you carrying
doubtfull your trim tabs are causing this, they would have to be in the extreme down position and even then, you would overcome most of that, but double check, ya never know

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:22 pm

Its not the timing . your getting 3800rpm so the engines are turning up . I asume both engines are ? with a clean bottom and turng 3800 you should be mid 20s at least with out tabs if the where all the way down it could cause the boat to plow badly and slow you down . how loaded was the boat ?

moondance · Post by **moondance** » Wed May 06, 2009 10:33 pm

I had a crew of 5 for the delivery. Not much gear. I'm starting to lean toward the tranny engagement issue. The cables did seem a bit stiff.
Thank God for this forum!
Thanks to all of you. Lots of good advice

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu May 07, 2009 6:55 am

Has anything been done to the boat sence last year whem it ran well ?

this is a twin engine ?? or is a single engine and what engines ?

what was the total fuel used in 200 miles ?

Dan Faith · Post by **Dan Faith** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:51 am

Your description of plowing tells a lot. For the nose to be plowing says loading in the bow, or trim tabs. Lack of power or drag you should be bow high and not be able to get on plane. In rough waves I trim nose down to reduce the bow slapping it doesn't take much trim tab to get to that configuration not even close to full tab down.

moondance · Post by **moondance** » Thu May 07, 2009 1:07 pm

I used 275 gallons total. CRAZY!!!.
Solved the problem this morning. tranny cables. Wasn't getting full engagement. Luckilly didn't cause any damage.
Thanks for all the help guys

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Thu May 07, 2009 5:33 pm

mmmm interesting, I thought the transmissions were either engaged or not engaged, its not like a clutch, how were they not "fully" engaged, just curious,
thanks

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu May 07, 2009 7:42 pm

guglielmo6160 wrote:mmmm interesting, I thought the transmissions were either engaged or not engaged, its not like a clutch, how were they not "fully" engaged, just curious,
thanks

I agree

If they were half engaged and sliping they would have burnt up in 2 mins. I would be pretty hard to get it between engaged and not ,and both of them ?? ( if twins )

and if sliping your RPM would have been a lot higher

moondance · Post by **moondance** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:16 pm

Scratch the last post! New trannies coming tomorrow.

guglielmo6160 · Post by **guglielmo6160** » Thu May 07, 2009 9:34 pm

WOW,, what are the chances of both trans going at the same time thats gotta suck

prowlersfish · Post by **prowlersfish** » Thu May 07, 2009 10:00 pm

Moon Dance something's not right here , both trans ? same time ?
were the props pulled and reinstalled recently ? and maybe put on the wrong side and instead of changing them they just reversed the shift cables ? that would cause problems like you may have . velvit drives dont that well to this

Make sure when you put the boat in forward gear the leavers move forward on the gear box

I have seen this a few times