5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

Can it be that your propellor sucks all the water out from underneath
your boat and you get grounded??

In article . com,
wrote:

I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

Maybe you have weeds stuck around the propeller? When this happens try a
little shot in reverse (to get rid of the weeds if any) and then resume your
acceleration.

wrote in message
ups.com...
I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

wrote in message
ups.com...
I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.


What is your definition of "shallow"?

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

When you accelerate in shallow water, the bow rises, and the skeg of the
outdrive lower unit gets thrust down into the bottom. You're dragging
bottom.

The solution:
find deeper water before accelerating.

Or you can use a trick the flats boats use down here. Cut the wheel hard to
starboard, hit the throttle, and the moment the boat starts to pop on plane,
immediately cut the wheel back to center and continue on your way.



wrote in message
ups.com...
I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

Neat.

In article . net,
"NOYB" wrote:

Cut the wheel hard to
starboard, hit the throttle, and the moment the boat starts to pop on plane,
immediately cut the wheel back to center and continue on your way.

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

Or you can use a trick the flats boats use down here. Cut the wheel hard
to starboard, hit the throttle, and the moment the boat starts to pop on
plane, immediately cut the wheel back to center and continue on your way.


Dem Bones, Dem Bones!

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

The water is a couple feet deep. I can see all of the muck and mud
getting roiled up when I am having the issue. When it is deeper water,
no problem at all. There are no clutches or anything to wear out on an
outdrive are there?


JimH wrote:
wrote in message
ups.com...
I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.


What is your definition of "shallow"?

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

So is the increase in engine RPM without acceleration of the boat
caused by cavitation?


NOYB wrote:
When you accelerate in shallow water, the bow rises, and the skeg of the
outdrive lower unit gets thrust down into the bottom. You're dragging
bottom.

The solution:
find deeper water before accelerating.

Or you can use a trick the flats boats use down here. Cut the wheel hard to
starboard, hit the throttle, and the moment the boat starts to pop on plane,
immediately cut the wheel back to center and continue on your way.



wrote in message
ups.com...
I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.

5.7 Mercruiser Issue In Shallow Water
 

It sounds like your prop is screwing itself into the mud, acting like an
anchor. You need at least 3 1/2 feet to move at dead ahead speed.
Jim
wrote in message
oups.com...
So is the increase in engine RPM without acceleration of the boat
caused by cavitation?


NOYB wrote:
When you accelerate in shallow water, the bow rises, and the skeg of the
outdrive lower unit gets thrust down into the bottom. You're dragging
bottom.

The solution:
find deeper water before accelerating.

Or you can use a trick the flats boats use down here. Cut the wheel hard
to
starboard, hit the throttle, and the moment the boat starts to pop on
plane,
immediately cut the wheel back to center and continue on your way.



wrote in message
ups.com...
I bought a used boat (Four Winns Liberator 211) and I have noticed an
odd behavior. When I am in shallow water and I attempt to accelerate,
the engine revs but the boat does not accelerate like it should. It
feels like the prop is not spinning like it should be for the given
RPM, and then it may or may not catch allowing the boat accelerate
forward. When in deeper water, this never happens. This is only an
issue because I live on a channel and have to go through shallow water
to get to the lakes. Is this normal or any ideas on what might be
wrong? The shallow water is muddy but I don't believe there are any
hard obstructions (rocks, etc.)

Thanks for any help.