Can someone help me win this bet???

[BAHILA / PCramer6]

Ok so I took someone out fishing a couple of weeks ago and while I'm running at cruising speed on a plane in the ocean (1-2 ft chop)  we were on a plane but we would get sprayed here and there because of the cross chop.  The guy I took fishing keeps telling me to tilt my outboard up to get it on a plane.  Now I've been boating for 15 yrs and to my knowledge tilting your outboard will not put you on a plane.  I explained to him that at slow speeds you push through water, once you accelerate the bow comes up and the ass of the boat sit down and once you gain speed the boat lifts onto a plane.  He said I'm wrong and while you have speed if you tilt up the motor the boat will go faster and run on a plane better.  We have a $10 bet.   Any comments by Capt's and experienced boaters are welcome.  Thanks

[Reel Time]

 once you get fast enough to plane, your on plane no matter where your motor is tilted.

 now, while on plane tilting your motor up raising the bow will increase your speed, rpms, fuel efficiency, ride, and handleing.

[IrishAyes]

I agree with what Reel Time said. 
When you are on plane your boat will more or less be 'leveled out' (for lack of a better term).  When you are getting on plane, the bow of the boat rises, the stern of the boat 'squats'.  As you pick up speed the front begins to lower and the back begins to lift up.  The boat is actually rising on the water.  When you are on plane and trim the motor up, that causes the bow to rise even further, thus putting less hull in the water.  Therefore, less friction between the hull/water and a faster more efficient ride.

As far as the bet goes:  You are correct in that you were on plane.  He is correct in that the bow would be raised a little further, thus reducing the amount of spray that would come over the gunnel.
Therefore, it depends on what you were betting on as to who is the winner.  Perhaps, both winners?

[Luna Sea 5]

Ok so I took someone out fishing a couple of weeks ago and while I'm running at cruising speed on a plane in the ocean (1-2 ft chop)  we were on a plane but we would get sprayed here and there because of the cross chop.  The guy I took fishing keeps telling me to tilt my outboard up to get it on a plane.  Now I've been boating for 15 yrs and to my knowledge tilting your outboard will not put you on a plane.  I explained to him that at slow speeds you push through water, once you accelerate the bow comes up and the ass of the boat sit down and once you gain speed the boat lifts onto a plane.  He said I'm wrong and while you have speed if you tilt up the motor the boat will go faster and run on a plane better.  We have a $10 bet.   Any comments by Capt's and experienced boaters are welcome.  Thanks

  If your on plane, tilting the engine up will raise your RPM and give you more speed, that is exactly correct.  BUT, if you want to cut the chop better, use your trim tabs and put your bow down so the boat will cut or bulldose through the chop better.

[mboy]

Ok so I took someone out fishing a couple of weeks ago and while I'm running at cruising speed on a plane in the ocean (1-2 ft chop)  we were on a plane but we would get sprayed here and there because of the cross chop.  The guy I took fishing keeps telling me to tilt my outboard up to get it on a plane.  Now I've been boating for 15 yrs and to my knowledge tilting your outboard will not put you on a plane.  I explained to him that at slow speeds you push through water, once you accelerate the bow comes up and the ass of the boat sit down and once you gain speed the boat lifts onto a plane.  He said I'm wrong and while you have speed if you tilt up the motor the boat will go faster and run on a plane better.  We have a $10 bet.   Any comments by Capt's and experienced boaters are welcome.  Thanks

  If your on plane, tilting the engine up will raise your RPM and give you more speed, that is exactly correct.  BUT, if you want to cut the chop better, use your trim tabs and put your bow down so the boat will cut or bulldose through the chop better.

Or trim the endine back down if you don't have trim tabs yet