Here is the FULL GUIDE on how to adjust your TRIM to max your John Boat's top speed and performance: ua-cam.com/video/PYldlDtkZrI/v-deo.html The 10 Things: 00:10 - Trim 00:39 - Prop Pitch 01:12 - Jon Boat Weight Distribution 02:10 - Large Gas Tank and Total Weight 02:43 - Gas Lines 03:04 - Fuel Filter 03:12 - Crappy Gas 03:28 - Bad Air Flow 03:42 - Motor HP Rating 03:56 - ????????? BEST ONE 04:41 - 3 BONUS ITEMS [Hydrofoil, Float Pods, Spark Plug] My setup: 2019 Mercury/Tohatsu [same motor] 6hp 4-stroke Outboard 1984 Coleman Crawdad 12" Flat Bottom Jon Boat For million $$$ sponsorships (or just wanna chat) hit me up at skinnyriveroutdoors@gmail.com
I've enjoyed a few of your videos finding them quite interesting and informative. I have a '68 Aluma Craft F7-14 foot semi-V that I truly enjoy. I'm almost 80 and this little boat at 260 lbs is still easily handled by me on and off the lakes and reservoirs I frequent. I thoroughly enjoyed your video on trim and happy to have viewed '10 things.' It solidified my position on 3 gallon tank verses internal tank and a gallon on the side. I ran 6 & 15 horse two strokes for years, constant carb/tune up issues. Not being mechanically inclined I lined a few pocketbooks as mine grew thinner. Last fall I bought a 5hp Merc 4 stroke, thank you stimulus check, and love it. It's very economical on gas, very quiet and will quite unlikely ever be run pedal to the medal. I enjoy slow go and being able to hear myself think as well as the bird chirping. Thanks for sharing your experiences. They've certainly answered some of my curiosities and you are excellent explaining your reasoning(s).
I appreciate the view! It sounds like you have a great setup. That combo of the 5hp 4stroke and the 14’ is perfect. Keep me updated and let me know if you have any questions as that 5hp is basically the same motor as my 6hp.
Yep , water temperature in the James River here in Virginia is at 55 degrees (air temp. 67) … perfect time to be out on the water … don’t forget your pfd (cause the state water patrol is out and about) !!!
And thanks for the tips, im happy you touched upon non ethanol gas. I use VP fuels and the performance is night and day, startup on first pull no hesitation oh and no more fucking with the carb every season.
I'm all electric right now but possibly next year looking to hit some bigger resivours where gas will be needed. Great info, hittin the like to store this.
My 14' flatbottom w/Evinrude 25 hp set at the 2nd trim notch hits 22 mph loaded with a full 6 gal tank, fishing gear, 2 batteries, foot control mounted front trolling motor, fish finder, safety gear, seats, anchor, ice chest with ice and water and my 260# self
Had to buy a new tank this year bc the gas cap fell apart on my old one, too old to find a replacement, so bought a new tank from Cabelas. Even though my old gray fuel line was not suffering that brown crude breakdown in the inside, I replaced the fuel lines with fuel hose from NAPA.
That sounds like a good setup. Is it planing well? From talking to other people planing position is the most important thing with inflatables. Main things there is trim position and putting more weight upfront (leaning forward to plane). Also lower pitch prop can give more acceleration power to plane but could hurt top speed
Hey I love your videos. Where do you get the carb upgrade, Amazon? Can you send me the link? I have a 2006 Mercury 4 hp that I like to squeeze a little bit more power out of it.
I would check this one out. Not 100% it fits your year but check it out www.readysetboat.com/mercury-4hp-to-6hp-upgrade-kit-carburetor-and-propeller.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwnei0BhB-EiwAA2xuBgXxlxJbnOYS7Uu6pDtsv_ciU3pT6NMqoaF_Y5r2ybZMHZzbvO3oORoCe-gQAvD_BwE
I told one of my son's to mount a transducer on our little 14 foot boat and I didn't think much about it until he slept in and I took the boat out in the morning and wow.he had mounted the transducer under the boat about a foot from the back of the transom, I noticed that the engine was running at a higher RPM and it acted like a pad on one of my Old pad Bass boat's.i believe it went a third faster,that transducer was for a Old hummingbird it was about the size of a hockey puck.
lol 😂 was the transducer literally on the bottom of the boat?? Yeah I bet you are right… my boat kind of creates a suction with the water causing drag, it probably helped break that up lowering drag or like you said a pad that makes the bottom of the boat flatter and it was riding on that like a pad
@@Skinnyriver yes I sit on the right side and it was right under me,it did pull the wire off the transducer but it ran like it had a engine twice the horsepower, I took it off because I was afraid it would tear a hole in the bottom of the boat, 😂
great video thanks! i'm new to boating i have a 5hp nissan 2 stroke on a 13' aluminum boat, wondering about cavitation or ventilation? is the motor too deep? to shallow? where do i measure from etc. and possible fixes would be appreciated!
I’m not an expert but Ventilation is when there is turbulence from the boat that gets to the prop and it loses grip. This usually happens when the prop is too close to the top of the water. Cavitation is more complicated, sometimes it happens when there is damage to the prop and it creates vacuum “bubbles” in the water that collapse and cause damage tot he prop and lower performance. Here is a good explanation www.godownsize.com/why-do-boats-cavitate-explained/ I think key is to have prop at proper position and trim and make sure prop edges are not jagged and damaged
Hello, is it worth installing a Hydrofoil Easterner on a tohatsu 6hp 4t? Does it reduce the engine speed? Thanks in advance for the answer! I AM FROM ROMANIA and I like your tutorials.
If your boat will not plane out, a hydrofoil is a good idea. It will lower your top speed, but will help your boat plane better. If your boat planes well, then a hydrofoil will not really help much
@@Skinnyriver thank you !! I put my son in the front of the boat and it planned out in about 15 seconds and went 21mph… scared hell outta both of us…😂😂😂. Also would the lowest position also mean getting the propeller closet to the boat? I’m a brand boater so I’m still learning…. Also Tip #12 , if the water is real choppy and has waves 3 ft tall and rolling…. Leave that dam 10ft Jon boat on the trailor 😂😂 I wanted to go boating, not flying.
Ha ha yeah, check out this video about trim positions if you get a free 5 mins. ua-cam.com/video/PYldlDtkZrI/v-deo.html Position 1 is the lowest position closest to the boat. The higher the position the more it pushes the front of the boat UP which is not what you need if you can’t plane out.
I think the 4hp is the one with available upgrade. I don’t have experience with the 4HP and the upgrade. But Honestly I would still get the 6hp. You have to buy the kit and I think a new prop. It really comes down to the price difference. Plus resale will be better with a true 6hp
I think most are rated for 5hp. But…. :) check out the Crawdad Modification Facebook group. I know there are some people on there that have or tried an 8. They would be able to tell you how it does.
Yeah I know, I plan to clamp a 2x12 to raise it this spring to see if there is a difference. Then maybe a legit Jack plate at some point if I can tell a difference
Ya, I’ve got a really nice 87 Evinrude 15. Not only is it fast but it only weighs 75#. I think a new 15 four stroke is #108. I see so many guys who buy a 14’ fishing boat with 10 horse who spend a lot money on floors, big batteries, storage etc. They take the boat out for it’s first run and the boat just plows water. Sad, good intentions big disappointment.
@@kentyler966 yep you know things are going backwards when my 50 year old 25 johnson weighs 20-30 pounds less than a new 15 4 stroke merc, the new 25s weigh about 70 pounds more
I gave my 1965 evinrude 9.5 2 stroke to my brother and bought a new tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke. He’s 2mph slower than me, but my fuel efficiency is unbelievable.
Yeah, I can get 24 mpg with my 6hp 4-stroke. It’s crazy it’s better than my truck. I actually did a vid testing mpg ua-cam.com/video/2qUKlFgNyNg/v-deo.html
ha ha sorry. The 8hps are awesome though. The 2 cylinders balance each other out so it’s super quite with very little vibration. Just heavier because of the extra cylinder. You can tell a huge difference 6hp to 8hp. Much more than a 4hp to 6hp. But my dream is a 25hp on a 16’. Maybe one year I’ll get there.
Yeah, My cavi plate is 1” lower than the bottom of my transom. I thought about making a Jack plate but it’s probably not worth the $$ for my small setup. I can get 18mph now a Jack plate may get me 20. I may put a 1” block on my transom to get the motor up 1” just to see if it makes a difference
Here is the FULL GUIDE on how to adjust your TRIM to max your John Boat's top speed and performance: ua-cam.com/video/PYldlDtkZrI/v-deo.html
The 10 Things:
00:10 - Trim
00:39 - Prop Pitch
01:12 - Jon Boat Weight Distribution
02:10 - Large Gas Tank and Total Weight
02:43 - Gas Lines
03:04 - Fuel Filter
03:12 - Crappy Gas
03:28 - Bad Air Flow
03:42 - Motor HP Rating
03:56 - ????????? BEST ONE
04:41 - 3 BONUS ITEMS [Hydrofoil, Float Pods, Spark Plug]
My setup:
2019 Mercury/Tohatsu [same motor] 6hp 4-stroke Outboard
1984 Coleman Crawdad 12" Flat Bottom Jon Boat
For million $$$ sponsorships (or just wanna chat) hit me up at skinnyriveroutdoors@gmail.com
I've enjoyed a few of your videos finding them quite interesting and informative. I have a '68 Aluma Craft F7-14 foot semi-V that I truly enjoy. I'm almost 80 and this little boat at 260 lbs is still easily handled by me on and off the lakes and reservoirs I frequent. I thoroughly enjoyed your video on trim and happy to have viewed '10 things.' It solidified my position on 3 gallon tank verses internal tank and a gallon on the side. I ran 6 & 15 horse two strokes for years, constant carb/tune up issues. Not being mechanically inclined I lined a few pocketbooks as mine grew thinner. Last fall I bought a 5hp Merc 4 stroke, thank you stimulus check, and love it. It's very economical on gas, very quiet and will quite unlikely ever be run pedal to the medal. I enjoy slow go and being able to hear myself think as well as the bird chirping. Thanks for sharing your experiences. They've certainly answered some of my curiosities and you are excellent explaining your reasoning(s).
I appreciate the view! It sounds like you have a great setup. That combo of the 5hp 4stroke and the 14’ is perfect. Keep me updated and let me know if you have any questions as that 5hp is basically the same motor as my 6hp.
Never thought I'd have to worry about speed and performance with a jon boat. Its sole purpose is to get from point A to B and back and to keep me dry.
That’s no fun
Yep , water temperature in the James River here in Virginia is at 55 degrees (air temp. 67) … perfect time to be out on the water … don’t forget your pfd (cause the state water patrol is out and about) !!!
Yeah, and don’t forget to check your boat registration and fishing license lol mine expired and I didn’t remember it… ooops but it worked out
Number 11 make sure anti-cavitation plate is at least level with the bottom edge of the transom don’t wanna drag that motor in the water.
Great point thank you!
Thanks for your video, again another one that actually makes sense, thank you
Thanks again!
I changed my old beat up propeller for a new one. 18% increase in speed. Definitely a happy camper.
Yeah I need to do that, my prop has hit a few rocks :)
And thanks for the tips, im happy you touched upon non ethanol gas. I use VP fuels and the performance is night and day, startup on first pull no hesitation oh and no more fucking with the carb every season.
Thank man, yeah there’s nothing more frustrating than a motor not started and having to trouble shoot it. Non ethanol has really helped me
I'm all electric right now but possibly next year looking to hit some bigger resivours where gas will be needed. Great info, hittin the like to store this.
Awesome! Good to hear from you this year! Let me know if you decide on a gas outboard.
As always great info. Thanks bud😁
Thanks again! Appreciate the view
Cheers dude. Every bit of knowledge helps.
Thanks!!
I got a 4hp mariner pushing 16,000 lbs along the canals in the UK it's slow , but I ain't in a rush.
That’s crazy, love it. If you ever post a video share it with me!
@@Skinnyriver yep for sure I was moving January 21 I may have a clip
ua-cam.com/video/lMU_XXi0WHA/v-deo.html
ua-cam.com/video/uuyMxlIhi9M/v-deo.html
Great ideas and a well done video!
Thanks I appreciate the view!
My 14' flatbottom w/Evinrude 25 hp set at the 2nd trim notch hits 22 mph loaded with a full 6 gal tank, fishing gear, 2 batteries, foot control mounted front trolling motor, fish finder, safety gear, seats, anchor, ice chest with ice and water and my 260# self
Nice that sounds like an awesome setup!
Had to buy a new tank this year bc the gas cap fell apart on my old one, too old to find a replacement, so bought a new tank from Cabelas. Even though my old gray fuel line was not suffering that brown crude breakdown in the inside, I replaced the fuel lines with fuel hose from NAPA.
I’m a hypocrite, I’m telling everyone to change them but I still got those crappy gray ones
@@Skinnyriver LOL, shame on you, LOL. The gray hose was no longer flexible, the NAPA hose, is. Much easier to manage in the boat.
Great tips Houston! Killer video buddy.
Thanks appreciate the support. Really cool UA-cam community here. Really enjoying it!
for higher speed, wear one of those pointy helmets the bicycle racers use......
😂 aerodynamics I bet I could get 50mph if I wore one of those
Great info. Thanks
Any input re: 13 ft inflatable, w/ 9.9 mercury, long shaft
That sounds like a good setup. Is it planing well? From talking to other people planing position is the most important thing with inflatables. Main things there is trim position and putting more weight upfront (leaning forward to plane). Also lower pitch prop can give more acceleration power to plane but could hurt top speed
Your videos are great thank you
I really appreciate it. Thanks!
Brand new prop with the right pitch and transom jack plate
Hey I love your videos. Where do you get the carb upgrade, Amazon? Can you send me the link? I have a 2006 Mercury 4 hp that I like to squeeze a little bit more power out of it.
I would check this one out. Not 100% it fits your year but check it out
www.readysetboat.com/mercury-4hp-to-6hp-upgrade-kit-carburetor-and-propeller.html?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwnei0BhB-EiwAA2xuBgXxlxJbnOYS7Uu6pDtsv_ciU3pT6NMqoaF_Y5r2ybZMHZzbvO3oORoCe-gQAvD_BwE
Great tips. I think if I stop eating so much fish n chips then I won't weigh as much and my boat wouldn't struggle 😅 🙃
Lol yeah I’m the same way but here it’s burgers and pizza
Stop eating fish and chips? Are you crazy?
Just get a bigger motor man! :D
@@pepelapiu2004 famous line from Jaws.....you're gonna need a bigger boat!! Ha ha
I have the same boat and I just got a 5hp for it and can't what to git it out on the water
Heckin good video!!
Lol thanks, can’t catch any fish so have to post boat stuff 😂
I told one of my son's to mount a transducer on our little 14 foot boat and I didn't think much about it until he slept in and I took the boat out in the morning and wow.he had mounted the transducer under the boat about a foot from the back of the transom, I noticed that the engine was running at a higher RPM and it acted like a pad on one of my Old pad Bass boat's.i believe it went a third faster,that transducer was for a Old hummingbird it was about the size of a hockey puck.
lol 😂 was the transducer literally on the bottom of the boat?? Yeah I bet you are right… my boat kind of creates a suction with the water causing drag, it probably helped break that up lowering drag or like you said a pad that makes the bottom of the boat flatter and it was riding on that like a pad
@@Skinnyriver yes I sit on the right side and it was right under me,it did pull the wire off the transducer but it ran like it had a engine twice the horsepower, I took it off because I was afraid it would tear a hole in the bottom of the boat, 😂
great video thanks! i'm new to boating i have a 5hp nissan 2 stroke on a 13' aluminum boat, wondering about cavitation or ventilation? is the motor too deep? to shallow? where do i measure from etc. and possible fixes would be appreciated!
I’m not an expert but Ventilation is when there is turbulence from the boat that gets to the prop and it loses grip. This usually happens when the prop is too close to the top of the water. Cavitation is more complicated, sometimes it happens when there is damage to the prop and it creates vacuum “bubbles” in the water that collapse and cause damage tot he prop and lower performance. Here is a good explanation www.godownsize.com/why-do-boats-cavitate-explained/ I think key is to have prop at proper position and trim and make sure prop edges are not jagged and damaged
@@Skinnyriver Thanks so much! I'll check the prop next.
Hello, is it worth installing a Hydrofoil Easterner on a tohatsu 6hp 4t? Does it reduce the engine speed? Thanks in advance for the answer! I AM FROM ROMANIA and I like your tutorials.
If your boat will not plane out, a hydrofoil is a good idea. It will lower your top speed, but will help your boat plane better. If your boat planes well, then a hydrofoil will not really help much
What is the knob for on the back of the shaft
And last week l replaced the spark plugs on my car and went from 24mpg to 35mpg. It had been 2 years since I did it last.
That’s awesome. I never thought about spark plugs improving MPG but makes perfect sense! Better spark better combustion less gas. Thanks
Great video
Thanks! I appreciate the view
good stuff
I appreciate the support thanks!
to go faster, set your gps speed to kilometers per hour......
That’s an automatic 20% increase!!! #smoking
What app did you use in your trim video to track your speed?
Hey appreciate the view! I just used the free“Spedometer” app in the iPhone App Store and “Record It” iPhone app screen capture to record it
Could a motor be to heavy to plan out? I have a 9.5 ft jon boat with a 9.9 mercury electric start
Yeah, try lowest trim position. Put weight in front. If that doesn’t work you can try a lower pitch prop or a hydrofoil
@@Skinnyriver thank you !! I put my son in the front of the boat and it planned out in about 15 seconds and went 21mph… scared hell outta both of us…😂😂😂. Also would the lowest position also mean getting the propeller closet to the boat? I’m a brand boater so I’m still learning…. Also Tip #12 , if the water is real choppy and has waves 3 ft tall and rolling…. Leave that dam 10ft
Jon boat on the trailor 😂😂 I wanted to go boating, not flying.
Ha ha yeah, check out this video about trim positions if you get a free 5 mins. ua-cam.com/video/PYldlDtkZrI/v-deo.html
Position 1 is the lowest position closest to the boat. The higher the position the more it pushes the front of the boat UP which is not what you need if you can’t plane out.
Should I even waste the money buying the 6hp and just get the 3.5 with the upgrade kit
I think the 4hp is the one with available upgrade. I don’t have experience with the 4HP and the upgrade. But Honestly I would still get the 6hp. You have to buy the kit and I think a new prop. It really comes down to the price difference. Plus resale will be better with a true 6hp
Think the crawdad would holda merc 8hp?
I think most are rated for 5hp. But…. :) check out the Crawdad Modification Facebook group. I know there are some people on there that have or tried an 8. They would be able to tell you how it does.
Do you think 18 hp will be plenty for a 15 ft
Yeah I think an 18 would pair well with a 15’. I think a 25 Hp would be best but an 18 should do really well
Number 12 run a two stroke instead a four stroke
😂true
Went 18mph on a 8ft walkerbay. Transom cracked when I had a friend on
Wow, 18 is smokin on an 8’… hope you can repair that.
I've noticed your cavitation plate is about 2 inches below your hull that is one big reason you're losing horsepower
Yeah I know, I plan to clamp a 2x12 to raise it this spring to see if there is a difference. Then maybe a legit Jack plate at some point if I can tell a difference
What speed app is that?
It’s just called Speedometer App in the apple App Store
If a tree falls in the stream, does it make a sound?
It sure does when you hit it!
The number one thing is they have low horse power!
#1 weight, everything else is secondary. Four strokes are heavy and slow.
Yeah I agree, too bad here in the USA we can’t buy new carb’ed 2-strokes anymore due to EPA regs. Had an 80’s Yamaha 2-stroke, amazing motor!
Ya, I’ve got a really nice 87 Evinrude 15. Not only is it fast but it only weighs 75#. I think a new 15 four stroke is #108. I see so many guys who buy a 14’ fishing boat with 10 horse who spend a lot money on floors, big batteries, storage etc. They take the boat out for it’s first run and the boat just plows water. Sad, good intentions big disappointment.
@@kentyler966 yep you know things are going backwards when my 50 year old 25 johnson weighs 20-30 pounds less than a new 15 4 stroke merc, the new 25s weigh about 70 pounds more
I gave my 1965 evinrude 9.5 2 stroke to my brother and bought a new tohatsu 9.8 4 stroke. He’s 2mph slower than me, but my fuel efficiency is unbelievable.
Yeah, I can get 24 mpg with my 6hp 4-stroke. It’s crazy it’s better than my truck. I actually did a vid testing mpg ua-cam.com/video/2qUKlFgNyNg/v-deo.html
Great video, very informative but!
Is nobody curious about that loud a*s noise in the beginning of the video...?
What the heck was that...!
lol yeah someone trying to scare me away from their fishin spot :)
Can u go from 6hp to 8hp😅
lol no sorry. 6 is a 1 cylinder but an 8 is a 2 cylinder
@@Skinnyriver dammit I thought I was on to something
ha ha sorry. The 8hps are awesome though. The 2 cylinders balance each other out so it’s super quite with very little vibration. Just heavier because of the extra cylinder. You can tell a huge difference 6hp to 8hp. Much more than a 4hp to 6hp. But my dream is a 25hp on a 16’. Maybe one year I’ll get there.
@@Skinnyriver same I getting a six for my birthday I would love to have a 9.9 but don’t wanna spend so much
in get 32 with a 5hp 2stroke on flat bottom ahahahahah
Nice
@@Skinnyriver but im pretty sure its because its a 2 cylinder and 4 strokes are only 1
Yeah I bet you are right. That is flying!!!
You wanna talk about trim bro you hole shaft is way under your boat
Yeah, My cavi plate is 1” lower than the bottom of my transom. I thought about making a Jack plate but it’s probably not worth the $$ for my small setup. I can get 18mph now a Jack plate may get me 20.
I may put a 1” block on my transom to get the motor up 1” just to see if it makes a difference
@@Skinnyriver did it make a difference
@@Skinnyriver couse with my 15hp on my 12ft was getting 20 now I am getting 26.7
Gonna try it soon, I’ll let you know