5 1/2 hp Johnson on 14/36 Polar Craft

Just got my first aluminum boat, 14/36 polar craft john boat. It has a 70ish 5 1/2 hp Johnson motor on it. Motor seems to be running great, and looks like it turning lots of water, but moves the boat SLOOOOWWW.

Maybe I'm expecting too much. Is this motor just too small for this boat? What should I expect from this set up? I'm expecting to win any races, but I have a larger fiberglass boat and I actually think the trolling motor on it moves it faster than Johnson is pushing this little guy.

Could a different prop help? or is this combo only gonna move at a snails pace?

May have to adjust the trim if the is an adjustment. Should move it well, but very fast.

Also how deep is the prop? The anti cavitation plate should be close to being even with the bottom of the boat.

Bill may have a point. If it's a long shaft motor(20" vs 16") it will do weird things and not go too fast. If it isn't getting on plane with you alone in the boat, and the shaft length is right, slide forward a little off the back seat and kneel with your butt on the very front of, or just in front of the seat, This moves the weight forward enough to allow the boat to achieve plane. I has worked for me on several smaller jons in the past. I took a 6 gallon milk crate and put a lid on it and mounted a swivel seat to it and placed it right in front of the rear seat. My 14' and 6hp would do about 12 mph. Had the hinge on the front of the crate and used it for tackle and such, and by tilting it forward to get in it, it didn't blow open on the trailer.

Thanks, I'll take a look at how low its setting and try shifting weight around a little. 12 mph I could live with, I'm now where near getting on plane. I'm not exagerating when I say my larger/heavier fiberglass will go faster with its trolling motor, and it just didn't make any sense to me. It does have I think 4 spots for trim adjustment. I tried a couple , lowest / highest and didn't see much difference.

Would a pic help?

The prop seems to be a little bent to me. Could that be part of it? As you can tell I'm a rookie when it comes to boats : ) .

Just watched a couple of youtube vidoes of teh same / similar motor and they were easliy moving twice the speed I achieved. I also saw they created more of a defined wake where as I was just seeing water boil up behind the boat.

In addition to all of the above, another possibility is the rubber bushing in the prop is worn out or slipping badly. An indication of this would be the motor rev's as the throttle is increased, but the boat doesn't gain speed accordingly. You'd need to take the prop to an outboard repair shop to have it replaced. Hope you get your problem resolved soon!

Also if you do in fact have a bent blade that will not only affect performance, it is bad for the seals in the lower unit. A prop shop can make it like new including the hub.

If I can I'll post a pic, it looks bent to me.

Here's a pic of the motor. How does the mounting placement look?

Attachment 92136

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eddie Mullins

Here's a pic of the motor. How does the mounting placement look?

Attachment 92136

---

the motor is too low,get the anti cavitation plate even with the bottom of the boat and i think your problem will be fixed!!!!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by strmwalker

the motor is too low,get the anti cavitation plate even with the bottom of the boat and i think your problem will be fixed!!!!

---

Based on the other replies and what I've been reading, thats what I though too.

Whats the easiest most cost effective way to do this? a jack plate? Don't really like the idea of drilling through the transome for that.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Eddie Mullins

Based on the other replies and what I've been reading, thats what I though too.

Whats the easiest most cost effective way to do this? a jack plate? Don't really like the idea of drilling through the transome for that.

---

jack plate is the best option, now any other way would be above my paygrade so hopefully some of these GURU'S will chime in a give you your better options!!!!!

Since the motor is so light, I have an idea for a clamp on extension I think I'm going to try, at least to see if raising the motor fixes the problem before drilling into the boat and mounting one permanently.

Well I was able to raise it a couple inches, shifted some weight fwd and picked up some speed. She'll fly at a screaming 6 mph LOL .