Guys just curious if its just my boat or do others have this problem, how much water (deep) does it take you guys on a hard bottom to get up with a load, I guess I just have to much boat, I have an 18 x 54 extreme gator tail tiller handle stock 35 gator tail with front and rear decks and hydro-turf, I've tried all different trim pin holes 2 people all their gear it takes a good 12-15 inches if not more to get on plane, add another person and it gets worse, once it gets up runs real good, hunt in real hard sandy bottom lake. any comments would be helpful to hear

Hard bottom is hard to get up on! But I would think u could get on pad that deep! But if u can dig a trench as in backing up ab a boat length should be good to get on pad just my .02!!

Put em on the bow

And also sometimes turning the motor one way a little bit helps

I take off in 5-6" over a hard bottom with a three man load no problem....

But then again, I have a real motor

^ nice avatar lol

I've got a big boat 1956 and run a hard bottom with a stage 2 35GTR and I haven't experienced the difficulty that you are. My thought is if you can't get up in a foot of water there is a problem but.....

"Stock"....theres your problem. You need a motor with some stones......mod it.

Sounds like a bad prop, but you can "step" it left and right the help it get up by turning left and right but staying straight, or do a small circle to help it. And yes, more power definitely helps the hole shot and how fast you get up on plane.

With me another guy n a dog plus hunting stuff it seems about 8" is needed to get on step with a hard bottom. 12-15" should be popped up on step in no time!