Boat wont plane

Question
I have a 14' Starcraft boat, and a 9 1/5 evenrude Sportwin outboard. When I'm buy myself, The boat will plane out perfectly, and cruise along. However, if I put just one more person in the boat, it sits heavey in the water and rides like a barge. I don't haul around excessive equipment. Is this just a case of too little motor? Its rated for 35hp. Or should I try changing the prop pitch or other things before buying a new outboard..

Answer
Hi Rick...Thank you for selecting the undersigned to reply to your question.

Starcraft makes several 14' models, from flat bottom to modified V, which makes a difference when it comes to performance, regardless of the amount of horsepower, particularly when you have 2 people onboard.

I suspect one of two situations may exist. First, might you have a long shafted engine, rather than a standard shaft model? While the boat is on a trailer and the engine is in a vertical running position, make certain the cavitation plate is aligned with the bottom of the hull. If it is substantially lower, you have a long shafted engine and need to replace it with a shorter model.

The second possibility is that so long as you have the proper length of shaft, the vertical angle of the engine may require readjustment. Step off to the side and look across the back of the transom. Is the bottom of the shaft farther away from the transom than the top? If so, this will cause the boat to plow or dig in. There's an adjustment on your engine, just below the powerhead, that permits the angle to be brought in closer toward the transom, which is what I suggest you do. Water test. Readjust...till you get the chosen performance. In all likelihood, you'll only need to adjust it 2 times to get the correct setting or preferred angle of the shaft. I suggest you consult your owners manual for further guidance.

Safe Boating
Ron