On Mon, 22 Nov 2004 22:27:31 GMT, "Eisboch"
wrote:


Harry Krause wrote in message
news:1101130176.uzrdBXuEidsC/CCUbMhMLQ@teranews...

When, exactly, is a boat on plane and how can you tell, precisely, when
this happens?

It certainly is easy enough to tell in small boat, but it's not always
so easy to tell on a larger one. My Parker, for example, breaks onto
plane at around 17-19 mph, but seems to remain on plane down to about 13
mph...in that the bow is still raised a bit, the wake still is fairly
flat, and if there is any chop, the spray is tossed off in the usual
manner. But that exact moment of being on or off plane seems difficult
to determine...


I don't know what the exact definition of being on plane is. In my mind,
it's when the boat speed is sufficient to "climb" up and over the bow wake
and the hull section that meets the water shifts significantly aft. I'd be
interested in other, more accurate definitions. On my boats, it's more of a
"feel" thing.

I don't think there is an exact definition in nautical terms, but if I
had to guess, it probably means "to glide", in this case, "to glide
across the surface". Which would mean that the hull has to be
sufficiently lifted to properly "glide".

On my Ranger, I have zero bow lift - once the boat is powered up and
hits about 2800 or so, it just....um....goes. RPMs come up, speed
increases quickly and I'm "gliding". Actually at full speed, I have
to trim the engine in to get it to turn - it won't turn otherwise.
:)

The Contender is a little different. I go get bow lift, but I
actively trim the engines on take off which reduces bow lift and when
I do it right (and I'm pretty good at it now), the boat just kind of
zooms up and we're off to the Race.

Get it - off to the Race?

Never mind.

Anyway, that's my opinion on the definition - to glide across a
surface with minimal effort.

Later,

Tom