I've got a quick question for all you guys.  I've got a 17ft bass tracker with a 50hp merc.  It runs great but when I first get on the throttle the bow rises and then at full throttle the bow comes back down to about 1 foot off the water running about 30mph.  It doesn't feel as if it is on plane.  The motor also as a "dol-fin" on it. I feel that it just pushes the water instead of getting on top of it.  I have the motor trimed all the way down.  Do I need to trim up the motor to help get the bow up a little.  It just doesn't feel right at full throttle, the bow's height from the water is the same when the boat it just sitting in the water and at full throttle.  Just wondering what you guys think I could do to help get the bow up a little.  Thanks.

Hi, Having the trim all the way down is your problem. The faster you go the more you need to adjust the trim up. I have a 17' Tracker Targa SC at WOT I have my trim set just inside the positive side of trim. Just in case your not familar with trim settings there's negative trim (DOWN), neutral (LEVEL) and positive (UP). My guess is that you have power trim try moving the trim up a little at a time until you get the desired results your boat will let you know when it's to far up as it's telling you it's to far down.

Chow

The Pa Angler

When you have the trim all the way down, you will not get any bow lift. You are pushing water with the hull instead of floating the bow. Start with the trim all the way down, and then as the boat begins the roll over to plane, start giving the trim a few bumps until the the front begins to "float". You will also pick up a few more MPH after trimming up. You will know when it is right the steering will become "neutral". You may have to trim close to all the way up to achieve top speed, or it may only be half way. Each boat is different in this respect.

Thanks for the help. I will have to give that a shot when I go out next.