Motor leverage vs adding 50lbs

[BMCD]

thought about ballast bags, wondering if that will be a new thing in bass boats. To control lean and add extra weight.

One of the things I do in my Nitro is move weight around in certain windy rough conditions. Love the removable rear bins just for this.

[fishnfireman]

though about ballast bags, wondering if that will be a new thing in bass boats. To control lean and add extra weight.

One of the things I do in my Nitro is move weight around in certain windy rough conditions. Love the removable rear bins just for this.

An old thing in the Allison world. To reach the boats potential it's wise to have her balanced.

[Rebel1]

Try 16ins of setback and lets see what happens.

[chad202]

Try 16ins of setback and lets see what happens.

Guarantee that would work. Just need entirely different jackplate though.

[JOEALLY]

Chad I'm chasing something similar in my Xpress X21 250 SHO.

Our boats are different but the issue is similar, I'm running all lithium and struggling to get mine to run what I think it should. I have a 10" hydro plate and I'm going to add 2" spacers for a test.

I can tell you this, if my partner moves from his seat to the edge of the front deck (approximately 18-24") it is a 2-3 mph difference.

I also know that a 2nd passenger makes a much bigger difference in this boat than my previous Allisons.

I have a #25 bag of lead shot I move around and there is a 1 mph difference between it being the console area floor and the rear storage compartment. I'm going to move it into the bilge area and test again.

Keep me updated with your results.

Joe

[chad202]

Chad I'm chasing something similar in my Xpress X21 250 SHO.

Our boats are different but the issue is similar, I'm running all lithium and struggling to get mine to run what I think it should. I have a 10" hydro plate and I'm going to add 2" spacers for a test.

I can tell you this, if my partner moves from his seat to the edge of the front deck (approximately 18-24") it is a 2-3 mph difference.

I also know that a 2nd passenger makes a much bigger difference in this boat than my previous Allisons.

I have a #25 bag of lead shot I move around and there is a 1 mph difference between it being the console area floor and the rear storage compartment. I'm going to move it into the bilge area and test again.

Keep me updated with your results.

Joe

Will do Joe. I thought I was done with all this stuff when I got a "fishing" boat. lol. Guess it's just in the blood.

[JOEALLY]

Will do Joe. I thought I was done with all this stuff when I got a "fishing" boat. lol. Guess it's just in the blood.

I totally understand, same here.

[chad202]

Joe, today I ran my 24 fury. The best it’s ever ran was 72.9 and temp 60. Today I ran it with the 50lbs in the jackplate and it ran 75. Temp was 65. Don’t know what humidity was in those days but it appears the 50lbs behind the pad worked.

[78Staff]

Just a followup, I pulled the ballast bag out and replaced the sand with lead shot - much smaller package and more "managable" as well. I used sand initially due to the much lower cost, but finally decided to go with the shot. Hell I could probalby put another 50lb's in there if I needed to...

The ballast bag I am using (Clickable Images)




And the lead shot - this is about the cheapest I could find not buying in bulk. You may be able to find it locally cheaper if you have a good reloading supply/range...

[Tim Powell]

Here is a much better ballast solution. We keep these in stock for our Allison and other go fast customers.

https://www.leadwake.com/


Chad you know the answer and your 50lb test proves it. Setback will cure your issues.

[chad202]

That's the one I have Tim. I know setback is the answer, just don't want to spend that money on a new jackplate now. Would rather wait until I'm ready for you to get me a 300R.

[G4bama]

I have a friend that drag races. I have thought about using 2 of his scales to balance my boat. Pull the boat onto the scales and unhook from my truck. You should be able to at least balance the side to side

[78Staff]

Here is a much better ballast solution. We keep these in stock for our Allison and other go fast customers.

https://www.leadwake.com/


Chad you know the answer and your 50lb test proves it. Setback will cure your issues.

As part of your sales pitch, maybe you could tell us why it is better?

The one above you can put 10lb, 20lb, 50lbs, 80lbs, whatever - so it soes have some flexibility. Is it because you use steel shot, or some other reason?

[Lightning 6]

Balancing the boat while on your trailer won’t be very helpful….because your trailer is not balanced (winch, jack, trickstep, etc) and your boat’s balance will be completely different on the water & when under power (driver, hull attitude, fuel shift, co angler, etc).

If anything, use a 4’ level to check lateral balance while in the water and with you sitting at the console with full livewells. That will give you a much more accurate starting point for balancing your gear.

[78Staff]

50lbs ballast weight defintely helped out, along with the 2 36v batteries at aprox 45lbs each on passeger side... def helps offset driver weight ;).

[billnorman1]

I have a slow boat. I converted to Lithiums for the T/M. I have handling issues, not dangerous but interesting, I can turn the boat sharply to Starboard enough I believe the prop will come out of the water if I want.
Anyhow, I am of the opinion side to side balance is very important especially when on pad. I've added about 40 pounds of lead to the Port stern locker and it helps in stability in a straight line. I think I'll add 40 more.

[MCIPinkie]

I'd just go fishing.

[chad202]

I'd just go fishing.

When you've had two Allisons that have both ran well north of 100mph, it's not that simple to just go fishing.

[Thamelau]

IMO, you will yield better results by changing the center of gravity without adding weight. That would utilize the full weight savings potential of the lithium batteries.

Looking at center of gravity changes, moving a 500lb motor back 2" would likely move your center of gravity a fraction of an inch (motor is probably 1/4 of the total weight of the rig, so it should move the center of gravity ~1/4 of the distance you moved the actual motor).

Adding 50 lbs closer to the old center of gravity will likely move the center of gravity less than the motor moving would because the closer the added weight is to the boat's center of gravity, the less impact it has on the center of gravity.

Another positive of increasing setback would be getting your motor into cleaner and deeper water.

[The5thDutton]

We would consider lowering the engine as what you’re really trying to gain is bow lift, or bite. You need to gain more propeller depth to reduce slippage and find more bite. Many today are thinking they took weight off, or added more to the bow and thus are thinking leverage, the real issue is when you added weight at the bow, or removed rear weight with lithium, you lost propeller bite.

You can’t change something in weight on any boat and expect the propeller to function at the same depth. And yes, increasing weight slows boats down no matter where you add weight. Reducing weight gives you more ability to increase speed, hole shot and performance if you make the right adjustments.

BCB

Wouldn't adding prop cup do the same thing (add bite)