A sight that frightens even the most experienced boaters is water entering their boat. It is a nightmare to think of their prized weekend toy being dragged from the bottom of the lake because they took on too much water. However, it is possible to stop water from swamping over the transom by using trim tabs to level out the pitch of the boat, sending the bow downward and raising the stern. Some outboard boats such as the Boston Whaler are even designed to take on and drain out water through the transom.
Trim the motor downwards if water is swamping over the transom while you are under way. This will raise the stern of the boat while lowering the bow.
Angle your path such that you drive into the oncoming waves at a slight angle. This will prevent water from coming over the bow, and keeps the transom from being exposed to oncoming waves.
Move the weight in the boat away from the stern and towards the bow. This includes passengers as well as gear, such as anchors, coolers and other heavy gear. Try to keep the boat as balanced as possible.
Make large, slow turns while under power. Stopping short or turning very quickly can send the bow under the surface, followed by the bow rising and the transom dipping. If you must stop short to avoid another boat, a swimmer or a submerged object, quickly throttle back to idle, turn the boat 90 degrees and shift into neutral.
Install splash guards on your transom. These are simple boards that mount with bolts on the existing cut-out-style transom. They prevent water from splashing over the low area of your transom.
