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What about pumping water into the boat? Mine always sits lower in the water after a rain storm and handles the waves better. Usually don't turn on bilge till i get back to ramp unless i have to.
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You could do like big boats do and have a controllable ballast. Here is a commercial variety but you could build your own system.
https://www.wakemakers.com/wakeboard-ballast/
A buddy of mine bought a couple hundred pounds of bumbell weights and puts them in the bow of his War Eagle when fishing by himself.
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I use 25 lb bar bell (weight lifting) weights. Usually about 150lbs stored under the bow. Removable when someone else is in the boat. Anything flat will work fine. I’m in a 16’ aluminum boat.
My Ranger has an center compartment in the front and I have 4 large sand bags in there that weigh over 200 lbs. Plus that is where I store my chains and ropes. It has been a tremendous help to us. We leave them in all the time.
Get fat like me and your problem is solved. Lol Really, I have 3 group 31 batteries in front of my console in my 18' Stratos for forward weight. I have a front deck extension that extends my front deck to the console. It covers the batteries perfectly. I did it mainly to be able to get my boat on plane easier.
I had a problem with the bow of my boat not going down enough when I had the motor tilted all to way down while under way in rough water. I solved the problem by installing a set of transom wedges between the motor and the transom. They can be found on the internet by googling transom wedges. They are not very expensive.
I am fishing out of a 1872 War Eagle with a 90 4 stroke mercury. We added about 250 lbs of paving edgers under the front seats of the boat. It made a huge difference. The boat plains easier, sits lower in the water, and is not effected by the wind as bad. After we laid the pavers down we took some rubber sheets and put over the top so we could still store tackle boxes and life jackets.
Dang, your electronics gotta weight 200 lbs LOLQuote:
Originally Posted by blueball
I like the idea of moving the trolling motor batteries up front as long as your boat can handle it if you have somebody big with you and it will still take rough water. You have to carry the batteries anyway.
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