What size boat is it? Where is your fuel tank located? Is it a centre connie or how far forward is the steering position? What type of hull and what shape is the forward half? Is it a sharp entry bow or blunt?

 Lots of questions but no answers .

But I wasn't after any info, just mentioning by moving my batteries up forward I have a much improved ride. If you are interested check out my previous posts on the subject. But its a Baron outrider. The motor has been replaced by a bigger unit (not by me) and its arse heavy.

Interesting. 

I think I have the opposite problem.  4.8 centre console, only place to put the batteries is inside the console- running a cranking battery plus 2 100ah deep cycles.  I find I have to trim out to the attached photo angle to get the trim gauge in its preferred spot and for the boat to perform.

Thinking of raising the outboard a hole or two to try and get more motor out of the water and weight onto the transom to get the bow up.  This will be good also for getting the cav plate up to the water surface at WOT.  Currently running a 15p BRP Viper SS prop that is fairly large (13 7/8") in diameter at 5000rpm trimmed out.  Thinking of looking at a 4 blade propeller in a smaller 13 1/4" diameter.  I know adding another blade brings revs down but lifting the motor and reducing diamter should increase some revs too.  Would be nice to stay with 15p and hitting around the 5200rpm mark but I may end up having to try the 13p.  I put a 4 blade prop on my old boat and lifted the motor on it at the time and it did wonders for top end speed, handling and getting revs where they needed to be.  Plus for this boat out in the ocean, the fuel economy trolling and cruising would be better as well.

Thoughts?

Yes looks like you have the opposite problem to me. Rather than props, I would be looking at the weight and balance issue. You had a post also about not getting the RPM that you used to, is that sorted or is it still an issue? I am to understand a bow heavy boat is dangerous, better to be sightly stern heavy. Questions, is it possible you have water trapped in the hull?, what weight do you have up in the bow, anchors etc, and wy can't you put your batteries in the stern transom.

Idealy when crusing the keel should be near parallel with the surface. If you are running your motor trimmed way out, some of the motor energy is being used to lift the bow up, rather than to push you along.  Raising the motor is an issue I read about quite abit from over in the States, and you are bang on the money about having the cavitation plate at the water surface. But i think rasing the motor is more a performance issue i.e. the prop pushing more directly behind the transom, and would not have a big effect on the boat trim.

When the boat is at rest, is the bow still down?. If you don't have water trapped in the hull, moving weight from the bow to the transom will have the most effect. No silly bow fuel tanks etc, is this boat a rebuild, i.e. a runabout converted to a centre console?

Hi mate

Yes I think the revs issue is a bit of both- the new fuel filter seems to have helped a bit but I think its a weight problem.  My console has the 3 batteries in it- thats the most far back I can put them.  The hatches at the transom either side house a live bait tank on one side and the other holds all the fuel filter, battery isolator, deckwash pump and the conduit where the cables run from console to the motor.  No room there for one of the batteries- even the small cranker. An no way in hell I want anything further up towards the bow.  Going to can the livewell idea inside the front deck as well, poor thing will be riding bow down pretty majorly.

I had it raised today one hole, will try to take it for a spin tomorrow arvo if the wind doesnt whip up geo bay too much.  Hoping to get the revs up a whisker out of it and I will be happy.  Also if I can improve the way it rides by it then all well and good.  I suppose, the only thing to try after that would be a foil (dont like them) or trim tabs ($$$).  Performance now is fine really I just like running two strokes at the upper end of thier rev range.  Can always drop a size in prop to get the revs up.

Good luck.

 Hi guys

Interesting post. I'm doing a refurb on my baron sportsman at the moment and am considering making some similar changes. Ive got a 160l approx tank running from the back of the boat up to about midship where you sit and dual batteries in the stern. She rides well but I have to trim the motor right down and still bangs more then I would like, however without having ridden in another baron I don't know how much banging is normal. If I could get the bow down just a bit more I have a feeling it would ride that much better. was considering when fitting her out again which will be in the next week or two, to move the batteries up front somewhere. However I don't want to go the other way and make her too nose heavy and since it's getting all brand new wiring throughout would rather get it right first time. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Sounds like the same problem. I havn't been in another Baron either, and I was lead to believe they were one of the best old boats around. Our speed has been limited to about 9knots or so, and then she would go on the plane and be hitting 23 plus. Then we really got bashed around. If i pulled the throttle back a touch, she would bog down to 9 knots again. After moving the batteries forward to where the foot rests are, and putting our anchor in the cabin (I normaly keep the anchor at the rear as its too hard to get forward to set it), The ride completly changed, and had available a new range of speeds between the 9 and 23knots, and its been the most comfortable ride we've had in her yet.

Everyone will advise fitting trim tabs, but I'm a believer in getting the weight and balance correct before adding extras that create drag and take power from the motor (thatll stir them up!). Probably the best way to get the bow down would be to fit a bow spit, and an anchor winch. With the anchor that far forward it will have the most effect.

I am assuming you have a Sportsman, and have the outboard mounted on the transom?. Anyway if I can help with any ideas etc please ask.

 Yeh I have a sportsman, about a 2000 model 130 2 stroke johno on the back. I don't know if it would make much difference but I found out after buying it that it is a longer leg than what is supposed to be on it (25" I think) so I have had the transom raised. I have heard this is a good thing though.