Is your bait tank overloading your boat's weight capacity?

[Pete D.]

Just wondering guys. My boat is a 20'er. She has a weight capacity of 1200lbs. That is for persons, motor and gear.

Here is my weight layout:

Outboard: 380lbs.

Start battery: 50lbs.

Fuel: 30 gal @ 6lbs/gallon  180lbs.

2 Trolling motor batteries:  120lbs.

Trolling motor: 50lbs.

Fishfinder/electronics battery: 50lbs.

2 people @ 150lbs.       300lbs.

Fishin gear, coolers, cast nets:  50

 This gives me a total weight of #1180 lbs.

Huge 40 gallon bait tank filled ~ 400 lbs.


So, every bit of bait tank on my boat pushes the weight over the limits that much more.

Basically, my bait tank and trolling motor/electronics have really pushed this boat to the limits. Luckily there are no laws preventing overloading, but if there were an accident to occur that story might change. 

I put trim tabs on the boat, and it will plane out great with three people on board and a full bait tank. So, luckily the boat will still perform well. Probably going to downsize bait tanks, or get mine to run at 1/2 capacity during the months other than summer.

Anyone else have this issue, or even dug into it? I know some of you guys are plowing the water like a snow plow with those heavy bait tanks in front of the console. Once on plane Im sure its fine............

[johnr]

Yes I do. I've got a 1300 lb capacity.

366lb engine
300lb 2 passengers + fish dog
180lb of batteries
180lb of fuel if full
50lbs of rods, tackle, ice etc
50lbs of anchors
20lb of aftermarket electronics

That leaves me with 154lbs of spare capacity.

My tank weighs 50 lbs and holds 45 gallons of water total. So about 410 lbs total, putting me 256lbs over my limit.

[Pete D.]

How does she handle when loaded down that badly? Probably fine huh?

What kind of boat and engine??

[johnr]

It is noticeably sluggish and heavy, but still easily manageable.

It's an alumacraft competitor with 90 yamaha.

[Pete D.]

Gotcha. That's a great weight capacity for an aluminum boat and a 90hp. Mine is a 20' fiberglass with 130hp and the weight cap is a measely 1200. Just seems underrated.

As long as she gets on plane and steers well I guess we will be okay for lake fishing. Not sure Id want to be on the bay or big rivers being over the capacity.............

[Brian]

I'm not close to being overloaded, but my bait tank in front of the console does knock ~5 mph off my top end... I can only do 53 when I'm hauling bait

[Pete D.]

Only 53? What do you have an 300hp engine?? What size/type of boat?

My boat tops out at 38mph with a full fuel tank and just me on board. With a full bait tank, all my fishing gear and 3 people on board we can do 36.

One of the things that pushed me from a CC was having to put the tank in front of the console. I hate all that weight up front. I like to have the weight in the stern where it belongs, which is why I got the DC. BaitJunkee had a good solution. He took his seat behind the console out and turned his bait tank into his seat. His boat handles well. Cant even tell the bait tank is on there.

[Brian]

Yes, that was what's called a "humble brag" It's a 26 foot bay boat with a F300.

That extra weight in front of the console puts a lot of the hull in the water at WOT and really slows it down.

[Pete D.]

Jul 14, 2016 5:05:00 GMT -5 Brian said:

Yes, that was what's called a "humble brag" It's a 26 foot bay boat with a F300.

That extra weight in front of the console puts a lot of the hull in the water at WOT and really slows it down.

Yea I could smell the sarcasm in your quote  That sounds like an awesome rig. I think that's what I will have my eyes on in the future.  Pegging that 300 at WOT will smoke almost 30 gallons per hour, so Im sure that you only use that when necessary..................  These big bait tanks definitely change the characteristics of the boats for sure. I have seen some crazy stuff on the lake. Old small bass boats with 4 guys and a 30 gallon bait tank. Struggling to get on plane, like a snow plow. Glad I'm not "in that boat"!!!