On Wed, 9 Jul 2003 08:25:28 -0400, "JG"
wrote:

I have a 1968 14ft fiberglass Thundercraft Sprint runabout which is
outfitted with a '68 Merc 35hp shortshaft outboard & a new 3 blade 13p prop.

I had put stabilizer fins on the motor to help it plane and it actually
slowed the boat down & made things worse. After removing them I regained
some speed but the weirdest thing happens (hence the reason why I tried the
stabilizer fins to begin with). When you initially hit the throttle the boat
rises and gets on plane then once top speed is reached the nose dives and
the boat looses plane and starts plowing the water. I have the motor angled
as far as possible on the mount bracket to lift the front end up but it
still does not get the boat on plane at top speed. Perhaps I am missing
something here? Maybe this has something to do with why the stabilizer fins
would not work with my setup?
Any help would be appreciated.

Please remove the fifty-five from my address if responding via email.
Thanks!
Jason.


JG- where is the anti-cavitation plate on the engine, compared to the
bottom of the transom. ...is the "flat plate" above the prop higher
or lower than the bottom of the boat?

The short shaft may be your problem.
noah

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