Wedge for spacing motor

[ifishwalleye]

I recently bought a WX2100 Skeeter. For the most part, I am happy with the boat quality and performance. I am having some porpoise issues. I believe it's due to having a front and aft fuel tank. So, basically if the boat isn't balanced quite right, I get porpoise. I talked to a Skeeter dealer and he told me about a wedge that is placed between the transom and the motor that prevents this. He told me it's a 7 degree wedge. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this and if so, did it work. Also if anyone has other ideas. 

Thanks!

[delcecchi]

9 minutes ago, ifishwalleye said:

I recently bought a WX2100 Skeeter. For the most part, I am happy with the boat quality and performance. I am having some porpoise issues. I believe it's due to having a front and aft fuel tank. So, basically if the boat isn't balanced quite right, I get porpoise. I talked to a Skeeter dealer and he told me about a wedge that is placed between the transom and the motor that prevents this. He told me it's a 7 degree wedge. I'm wondering if anyone else has tried this and if so, did it work. Also if anyone has other ideas. 

Thanks!

The wedge thing changes the range of the trim on the motor.  So, if you can't get enough negative trim  (tuck) to get the nose down enough the wedge will help.  If you aren'the trimmed all the way down then it won't. 

Has the hull been checked for hook? 

If you search for skeeter porpoising, there are interesting discussions.

[Surface Tension]

 The wedge will allow you to trim in a bit more.   I'd go with trim tabs.  You could try different props or raise and lower the outboard and that might help but the trim tabs will work. 

[Cliff Wagenbach]

You could also install a Dolphin Tail on the motor. (Quick and easy!)

I had one installed on my Honda 150 and it helped a lot to bring the bow down quickly when I had a full boat of passengers. I did not notice any loss of speed or steering ability either.

Cliff

[Mike89]

used one of them on my boat for over 25 years now and would tell anyone to get one....

[BobT]

Porpoising is the result of having your bow trimmed up too high. One way that I resolved this with my Lund Rebel 16 with the 40hp (no power trim) was to place flat washers between the stern and the top motor mounting bolts to tilt the motor down and force the bow down a bit. It took some experimenting to eventually determine how many washers I needed in my application. I also had Dolphins mounted on the motor which helped but still needed some washers to get it under control.

Edited August 11, 2017 by BobT

[delcecchi]

Washers, the poor man's wedge...  

[Surface Tension]

  I believe the  problem here is a hull with rocker.   At different trim and speed the hull does just that, rocks.   Normally you'd trim in, throttle up and once on plane, throttle back to cruise speed and adjust the trim out.    To be trimmed all in at WOT or even cruising speed would make must hulls plow water at the bow.   In the case with rocker you usually find the porpoise stops when you increase speed.   The fin might be enough to lift the transom up and stabilize it.   Let us know what you do and how it works.