Trim Tabs or pods or neither.
Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2021 12:03 pm
Hello all,
this is my first post regarding my first boat and I'm looking for a little advice. I was recently gifted a Mirrocraft 16ft aluminum semi v hull with a 15hp mercury tiller 4 stroke. over the last few months I been getting comfortable taking it out on the Florida gulf. Im to the point now where im noticing things that i don't quite like and would really like to see about a solution.
first I'm much heavier than id like to be at 230lbs. the fuel tank is in the stern and the battery is maybe 4 feet in front of the stern. 98% of the time im going out into shallow water fishing by myself. its not the ideal boat for what i do but its sentimental and its not going anywhere anytime soon. my problem is with all the weight in the back it does take time to plane but it really only planes at 3/4 to wide open throttle. I don't want to move the battery forward because the gulf gets choppy with no waring and id prefer to not have it bouncing around at the stern and the same goes for the fuel tank.
Ive read a lot of good about both the float pods and Trim tabs but every 3rd or so thing I read says that it would be a waste of time and money for me to install either of them on such a small boat with such a small motor. so Im here to get some actual aluminum boater opinions.
with calm water and no wind Im able to hit 21 MPH with only myself and maybe 50lbs of gear. Im not to worried about improving top speed or even decreasing it to much if I can find a way to plane better at lower speeds. Some of my favorite spots are fairly shallow depending on the tide and are about a mile or so to get into. right now i either have to get a running start and up on plane at WOT to get there which is dangerous or troll all the way there, which takes a lot of battery power. That being said i wonder as well if a manual crank Jack plate would be a good idea too or would the weight be to much for the supposed benefits?
any way I understand trim tabs and pods have different purposes but would either one help me with what im looking for?
I appreciate the knowledge and assistance.
thanks
-Mark
this is my first post regarding my first boat and I'm looking for a little advice. I was recently gifted a Mirrocraft 16ft aluminum semi v hull with a 15hp mercury tiller 4 stroke. over the last few months I been getting comfortable taking it out on the Florida gulf. Im to the point now where im noticing things that i don't quite like and would really like to see about a solution.
first I'm much heavier than id like to be at 230lbs. the fuel tank is in the stern and the battery is maybe 4 feet in front of the stern. 98% of the time im going out into shallow water fishing by myself. its not the ideal boat for what i do but its sentimental and its not going anywhere anytime soon. my problem is with all the weight in the back it does take time to plane but it really only planes at 3/4 to wide open throttle. I don't want to move the battery forward because the gulf gets choppy with no waring and id prefer to not have it bouncing around at the stern and the same goes for the fuel tank.
Ive read a lot of good about both the float pods and Trim tabs but every 3rd or so thing I read says that it would be a waste of time and money for me to install either of them on such a small boat with such a small motor. so Im here to get some actual aluminum boater opinions.
with calm water and no wind Im able to hit 21 MPH with only myself and maybe 50lbs of gear. Im not to worried about improving top speed or even decreasing it to much if I can find a way to plane better at lower speeds. Some of my favorite spots are fairly shallow depending on the tide and are about a mile or so to get into. right now i either have to get a running start and up on plane at WOT to get there which is dangerous or troll all the way there, which takes a lot of battery power. That being said i wonder as well if a manual crank Jack plate would be a good idea too or would the weight be to much for the supposed benefits?
any way I understand trim tabs and pods have different purposes but would either one help me with what im looking for?
I appreciate the knowledge and assistance.
thanks
-Mark