How to Get Your Boat on Plane (Three Mistakes Boaters Make and How to Fix Them)

Boaters often make three common mistakes when trying to get their boat to go on plane. In our experience at Bridge Marina, we find that boaters may not check that they have sufficient depth, they don’t trim properly, and they proceed to plane too slowly.

We’ve put together a quick video that demonstrates both the correct – and incorrect – way to get your boat up on plane, aboard a Bridge Marina Boating Club fleet boat in Sandy Hook Bay, New Jersey. Check out our how-to boating video on YouTube below.

In our video, we discuss the importance of water depth, trim, and throttle when it comes to properly getting your boat up on plane.

Know Your Depth

Before you go to plane, always make sure you have sufficient water depth.

Trim Correctly

We find that boaters often don’t trim correctly – make sure you put the trim all the way down (after checking your water depth) before accelerating.

Accelerate Smoothly and More Aggressively

If you proceed too slowly, your boat may lean backward, making it difficult to see and navigate – not good!  To get your boat up on plane correctly, put the trim all the way down, and go to plane more aggressively with your throttle, so your bow doesn’t rise.  This way, your boat will plane off and you’ll have a great field of vision. That’s good!

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On-Water, Hands-On Training

At Bridge Marina, we also offer on-water, hands-on training on Lake Hopatcong and in Highlands, New Jersey.  Sign up for our on-water training, and you’ll be out on a beautiful Bridge Marina boat, learning to boat with a professional instructor!  Small group or one-on-one training courses are available, designed for boating beginners, as well as more advanced boaters.  Learn more and sign up here.