Geo Tracker powered boat still want go!

[Glenn Hutchinson]

Some months ago I entered a post here asking for help with my boat, well I got some good suggestions, but most just confirmed my suspicions that my prop was over pitched. Well I'm in the middle of another task. I've moved the operator seat 28" forward and moved the engine 12" to the front to change the weight distribution . I do know I've got a lot to learn about airboats specially when I'm departing from the norm as radically as I'm doing. If anyone here has installed a fan motor on a 16' jon boat , and have any idea's I'd like to here them. 16' Polar craft ,Geo Tracker 1.6 liter and 56x38 Arrow prop

 

[Olf Art]

Glen, that little Tracker 3 cylinder will have plenty of power for what you're wanting to mount it on. They're great little engines.

One thing that will hurt you though is that the bottom of your Polar Craft has ridges in it (originally there to stiffen the bottom of the hull).
That's going to mess with the way your boat will turn with an air rudder.

The other thing that troubles me a little is that this hull may be too narrow to carry that amount of weight as high as you'll need to.
The weight of the engine, combined with the chine effect of the bottom is going to make it very tippy. Be careful.

 

[Glenn Hutchinson]

I believe thoes ridges on the bottom seem to help the boat track strait , and since I'm using ( stop sign) rudders they help. The width of the boat 48" in the bottom is a concern, hince the short prop. This boat is used mostly to fish shallow creeks and rivers and usually runs just above an idle, although at times I need to cover longer distances thus the need for more preformance. I'm aware of the stability problem and avoid any sudden turns while at full throttle. Arrow Prop has contacted me and offered to try to lower the pitch a few inches for a nominal charge, but I'm not finished tricking with the engine yet. Too I wasn't going to ship my prop off during the summer months. This engine is a 4 cyl ,I think the 3 cyl was only 1 liter, or maybe a 1.2 Thanks