Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

Last year I had trouble getting the bow up out of the wake and I was considering strakes until I went and got a price from the manufacture. The local voyager dealership suggested adding a setback plate onto the pontoon. He showed me how the new pontoons are getting the motor installed way back behind the main transom.

He suggested getting a plate to move it as far back as possible before I start messing around with strakes. What do y'all think? After looking around, it seems like it makes sense.

David

You can try it, it might give you more leverage to lift the bow, That being said, strakes would give more speed and lift everything a little.

I set my new motor back and it does lift the bow, but my boat is a complete different animal, because the new center log is flat bottomed. It gets on plane so fast, with little rpm.

You can try it, but I'm thinking that with the weight distribution of the center console and furniture floor-plan of your boat it's going to be difficult to obtain any front end lift. But on the other hand put a couple of your plus size friends and a big cooler of beer on the very back all bets are off...

So yall think save a little longer and get the strakes put on?

The plate will also put your prop in cleaner, less turbulent water, too. Depends on the length of the plate on just how much help it gives you. I would go at least 8, if not 10 inches. We used to use stand off boxes on our outdrives for the same reason, it will help. Make sure you use a good Jackplate washer set, such as a pair from Cook Marine, the set back plate will add some stress to the transom, just like a jackplate does, so the washers will help eliminate that pressure on the mounting bolts and maintain a better footprint to keep the transom from cracking around the round washers that are OEM.
Talking of jackplates, for a little more money you can buy a manual jackplate and adjust it to find you sweetspot for speed and economy. I think your gonna get a good bang for the buck from this. I would install a set of lifting strakes when you can afford it. Also, a good fab shop can bend some up and spot weld them on, a heck of a lot cheaper that a dealer will. I would look around. You may be surprised at how cheaply you can get them installed for.
Is your boat underskinned? If not, that's the first project to tackle.

In planning your set back, make sure you have plenty of length for your throttle and steering cables. If you need to replace them, it could add some unexpected expenses.

I have a question,, wouldn't moving the motor back put extra stress on the motor pod ??
I would think strakes would be a better option..

After removing the old motor pod and installing a new center log my 115 was pushed back 2 feet and I just love the way it handles in the turns now. second big plus was the in closer of the old dog house that was converted into storage topped off with a bigger sun deck. even with installing a third log I added 2 new full width floor stringers to fill in the deck were the motor had been and then framed in an all aluminum beaver tail as the new log was 10" longer then the old ones to tie it all in, don't think I would extend an existing motor pod to do the same move. speed gains "not so much" (maybe 3 MPH ) big plus was the maneuverability and handling, she banks in the terns like one of the cool kids.

clrd wrote:I have a question,, wouldn't moving the motor back put extra stress on the motor pod ??
I would think strakes would be a better option..

....yes on the stress!

The sales rep recommended 12", but that seems awfully far. I'll probably look at the 10" jack plate. On the topic of furniture, would it be worth moving the sundeck and everything on that side back?