Repowering 18' Potter

[Bushwacker]

Originally Posted by T-MAN

. . .
I just repowered my '76 18' with the new Yamaha 115 a couple of weeks ago. I did not move batteries under the console and wish I had plus I had put a 40 gallon Moeller which I don't regret. She squats a little but not too bad.

I decided before I did anything else I would try putting 50# bag of sand in the front and it helped. I had a Merc 2004 115 hp and I like this new one a lot better.

Adding ballast is not the best solution. I'd suggest moving the batteries to console and maybe adding 20' of chain to your anchor line, which will dramatically improve holding power of your anchor. And maybe consider adding trim tabs. Any of the Moesly designed SeaCrafts will plane at about 12 mph if balanced right. Other bandaids you could consider to help the stern-heavy condition would be an AV plate fin and a stern lifting 4B prop.