motor well

[Ted Rulfs]

The rocker in my fourteen foot skif causes the bow to point to the sun with me and a motor at the stern. A well for a small outboard might level things off. Construction should be simple. Is there a formula, do's or dont's for positioning?

[Tom Lathrop]

Not enough information. Is it supposed to be a planing boat? How much rocker is there? What is the beam? How big and heavy is the motor? How heavy are you? How fast do you expect the boat to be?

Anyway, a well would be way down my list of cures.

[Aramas]

A well won't change the boat's attitude. You'll have to either slow down or put weight forward.

The traditional cure is a tiller extension for the outboard, usually used standing in the middle of the boat.

I once had a lifeboat with a seagull on it and it would have taken water over the stern if I sat in the back, so I lashed the seagull and sat on the forward thwart and steered by leaning smile.gif

Even modern outboard 'tinnies' have the same tendency, albeit less pronounced. Sitting a crew member on the bow deck with their legs hanging over the front flattens them out and makes them go smile.gif

[ 01-03-2004, 09:33 PM: Message edited by: Aramas ]

[mmd]

Buy a couple of those collapsable water jugs that they have at the camping section of the local hardware store. They weigh about 25 - 30 lbs when full, and stow in the bow quite nicely. When you have a passenger to sit up forrard, or you're done for the day, drain 'em & toss 'em in the forepeak until needed again.

[Ian McColgin]

I was skeptical of it, but helped a friend install those side fins on his 15 hp outboard. The skiff - about your size - still wouldn't actually plane as we normally think of it, forward half clear of the water. It did get up on top of the water and ran a bit faster at a nicely level attitude and almost no wake.

Retrofitted motor wells are generally useful at displacement speeds, usually preclude planing, and are most useful if the boat's general duty requires that the motor and prop be protected from impact. Like a yard boat or certain fisheries.

Other boats with wells are designed so either because the stern is a bit tight, like some dories, or for a unique performance reason - like the motor surf dories that are launched off the beach in Oregon.

[whb]

Ted

I have exactly the same problem with my aluminum fishing boat.

Three things that I have done that help.

1) If movable put the fuel take as far forward as it will reach.

2) Try raising the motor. If the prop is too low in the water it creates a rotational force rather than just a forward force.

3) Have a buddy sit in the bow as suggested above.

4) I keep meaning to get one of those tiller extension things but just never seem to get around to it.

Howard

[Mike Vogdes]

I would trim the boat as best you can and maybe add a "Dolfin" to the cavitation plate on the motor, it will also eliminate porposing and maybe give you a little speed to boot. If all else fails have a look at this.
http://www.devlinboat.com/homebuiltvogdes.htm
I built this boat a few years ago and it proved to be a nice little skiff. Maybe this aplication will work for you.

[Big Red]

Not like I have any idea what I am talking about, BUT, could you put one of those outboard extension thingies on? They look like those fold up outboard brackets but a little bigger. If you shifted the thrust further aft, would that solve the problem? It would in effect lengthen the boat right? :confused: