Hey everyone I want to ask advice about my current boat and if you think it would be worth putting some money into having a few things modified. I plan on keeping this boat for a few more years before I can upgrade to a larger boat. It is a 1440 flat bottom xpress with a merc 40/30 tiller without power trim. I bought it as it is currently set up with pods and raised transom.
Overall the boat runs well but does have issues with cavitation in chop where I have the tilt set now. When I set it tilted one notch down it actually cavitates more. Initially when I got the boat they had it set one notch further down and it didn't cavitate but ran very nose down with water splashing over the bow. I think the pods are hurting me as they angle down and end up probably close to 1in below the bottom of the boat. The top of the foot is about 1/2in above the boat bottom as it sits.
So....do you guys think getting the pods changed to level with the boat bottom would help? Should I change the motor position at all? I would love to have a tunnel to protect the foot but everything I read says it won't work well with a flat bottom. I appreciate all suggestions.
Here are the pics.
https://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/jacob_nelson/20130325_191035.jpg
https://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/jacob_nelson/20130325_191057.jpg
https://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/jacob_nelson/20130325_191216.jpg
Overall the boat runs well but does have issues with cavitation in chop where I have the tilt set now. When I set it tilted one notch down it actually cavitates more. Initially when I got the boat they had it set one notch further down and it didn't cavitate but ran very nose down with water splashing over the bow. I think the pods are hurting me as they angle down and end up probably close to 1in below the bottom of the boat. The top of the foot is about 1/2in above the boat bottom as it sits.
So....do you guys think getting the pods changed to level with the boat bottom would help? Should I change the motor position at all? I would love to have a tunnel to protect the foot but everything I read says it won't work well with a flat bottom. I appreciate all suggestions.
Here are the pics.
https://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/jacob_nelson/20130325_191035.jpg
https://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/jacob_nelson/20130325_191057.jpg
https://i567.photobucket.com/albums/ss119/jacob_nelson/20130325_191216.jpg