First test drive - boat won't plane first off, i want to say thanks to the people on this board - without you guys, i wouldn't have even gotten to the point where a test drive was possible. the boat is a 1988 cobia 17 foot center console, with a 1988-ish force 50 motor.. Boat is a 2000 rinker 242 fiesta vee with a mercruiser 350 mag mpi. outdrive is a bravo 3 with 24p props. boat seems hard to get on plane with just two people and even tougher with more.. I have a crown line 4.3 mercruiser. my boat won't go more than 10 mph and never plane off. starts great doesn't miss at all. just won't get to top speed or anywhere close..
Re: my boat wont plane out and reach rpms if you have a spun hub, take it to a prop shop to repair. you need a spare anyway, so you might as well take a new one along with you to the lake and enjoy the day if this is your problem. i am always suspect of the prop hub diagnosis when the engine won't rev higher.. I have a 1993 17' tracker nitro bass boat with a 1993 115 hp evenrude on the back. when the live wells are full and i have two people (including myself) in the boat i can't get the boat up on plane.. If there was a way to operate the motor while sitting in the middle of the boat, you might get it to plane. on a 12 footer, 5 hp isn't going to get you enough speed to counteract the bow rise of the weight of motor and operator in the stern. _____.
