Diagnosing Outboard hieght issue.

Hello, first post on here. I have been having problems with my 89 Tracker 1800tf staying on plane. With the tilt tucked all the way down to accelerate the bow rises and once it starts lower and the boat starts to plane out the prop likes to blow out. If it does get up on plane the boat acts like your trimmed up too much and skips across the water. (probably looks hilarious) i leveled the boat off using the bottom of the pad, then leveled the engine using a level on the cavitation plate. These were the results.(see photos) tried to measure from the pad to the ground and prop center but my driveways not conducive. Any input would help, boat has a cmc manual jack plate if that helps. 14-1/4 x 21 prop

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The red level is along bottom of boat? That seems too high. I thought the cavitation plate should be about level with bottom of boat or just a bit higher.

The following article, for example, says that high would be a “sport application”. http://www.boats.com/how-to/the-outboard-expert-boost-speed-with-outboard-engine-height-adjustments/#.Wt5bdMtOmdN

not sure what width jackplate you have, but I’d start dropping it down in 1/2″ increments until it behaves. A 4-bade SS prop will help the bite, too.

HRG

Yup, go out to the lake on a normal day and start dropping the jack plate and playing with the height. May not need to be dropped as far as the cavitation plate but you are too high right now.

Ok, headed to the lake after work tommorow. Will update

I would guess you’re at least an inch too high, maybe 1.5″. It all depends on your hull. The jack plate should be no problem dialing it in.

Agree with the above, so drop the motor down to where the cavitation plate is at or a little below the boat bottom. Why not do that in your driveway and then go to the water? Then your motor to transom angle can be changed if needed, start one pin hole away, should be good. these things are much easier to do on dry ground before you launch.

I’ll be moving it before we head out, but it shouldn’t be too bad adjusting with the jack plate