Hi Folks,

 

Today I took my new jon boat out for a test run.  It is a 14 x 36 green flat bottom jon with a 9.9 Mercury.  The boat doesn't have much weight as there is no raised floor in it.  I took off across the lake and the front end was nose up.  It didn't really plane out.  Then I realized there was about 4 inches of water at my ankles.  I was taking on water from the back.  Headed by the dock and moved the Marine Battery to the front of the boat.  That helped out a lot and enabled me to see what the problem was.  I am not able to set off to the right side like I want too.  Had to set more toward the middle to avoid taking on water.  Went by Menards today and bought two 70 sandbags and placed them at the front.  I am wondering if 140 pounds will be too much with the weight of the battery included.  What do you guys think?  Should I possibly move one of the sandbags toward the middle of the boat?  Or would it be okay to have both sandbags at the front. 

Get rid of the sand  bags!

 

Move your battery to the front & your fuel tank as far forward possible!

 

 

27 minutes ago, Catt said:

Get rid of the sand  bags!

 

Move your battery to the front & your fuel tank as far forward possible!

 

 

I did just that. It helped!  The battery went all the way to the front.  The fuel tank is 3 1/2 gallons and I was able to move it forward a little bit. In spite of doing those things.  The weight distribution is still a little off.   I have two anchormate rigs on the left side of the boat-the front and rear. Then I have a tendency to set to the left side while operating the boat.  There is excess weight to the left side.  So I will have to shift more weight to the right side. 

 

Put your battery & fuel tank on right side.

 

How does it sit when not underway?

 

I'm assuming ya got 3 bench seats?

 

Front, middle, & rear

Have a look at your outboard. There is usually a pin that goes in the mount which sets the angle (trim) of the motor. If it's not in the lowest hole, so that the motor will sit flat to the transom, put it in the lowest hole, otherwise it's like trying to start a boat that's trimmed up and you will just aim at the sky.

@Tim Kelly excellent point ?

 

Always start at the lowest setting & adjust 

 

@Lonnie Clemens you're experiencing the problem of narrow bottom boats.

 

I start with the boat sitting still & level it out from there. If your boat has a middle bench seat move your gas tank in front of it.