sean.deangelis
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2013
- Messages
- 33
I haven’t been on this site much the last few years but this is the perfect place to pose this question. First off I’m on mobile so apologies in advance for the grammar and typo bloodbath.
I have a 1991 Baja Islander 208 with a 454. This is the worst riding boat I have ever been in let alone owned. Even small inland lake chop (which is exclusively my use of the boat) will rattle the fillings out of your teeth. This boat rides like absolute poop.
If I add even a single 130-ish pound human (girlfriend) to the bow seating area the ride is MARKEDLY improved. It doesn’t matter if there are 2 or 4+ people in area aft of the windshield...add a single 130+ pound person to the bow area and the ride is MUCH better. Not smooth by any means but it keeps the windshield mounts and hardware from aborting mission.
Now...this problem is not because I’m a s#!+ head boat operator who doesn’t know how to slow down. Ive added trim tabs, I can bury the outdrive trim and I’ve swapped the prop to as low a pitch as I dare (21) and still have to be mindful of over reviving. I now can now keep the boat on plane at about 22 mph and it’s a massive improvement in ride quality. It used to be closer to 28mph to stay on plane. But....Anything slower than 22mph and it starts digging a hole and won’t stay on plane.
The bow has a small triangle compartment at the point that will not accommodate even 1 battery. My boat has 2 group 31 batteries, one on each side, back in the engine bay.
So the question for the collective iBoats hive-mind: What are the reasons why I should not relocate the batteries to the starboard and port spaces under the front seats, at the forward most part of the compartments? Obviously I’d secure proper battery boxes there. I can also add vent plates to the vertical portions of the “seating area” (kick plates?) to allow the batteries to gas out so presumable fire danger is lessened, I could even add a 4 inch hose to connect the 2 spaces and a blower to displace the air before startup.
Why should I not do this?
I have a 1991 Baja Islander 208 with a 454. This is the worst riding boat I have ever been in let alone owned. Even small inland lake chop (which is exclusively my use of the boat) will rattle the fillings out of your teeth. This boat rides like absolute poop.
If I add even a single 130-ish pound human (girlfriend) to the bow seating area the ride is MARKEDLY improved. It doesn’t matter if there are 2 or 4+ people in area aft of the windshield...add a single 130+ pound person to the bow area and the ride is MUCH better. Not smooth by any means but it keeps the windshield mounts and hardware from aborting mission.
Now...this problem is not because I’m a s#!+ head boat operator who doesn’t know how to slow down. Ive added trim tabs, I can bury the outdrive trim and I’ve swapped the prop to as low a pitch as I dare (21) and still have to be mindful of over reviving. I now can now keep the boat on plane at about 22 mph and it’s a massive improvement in ride quality. It used to be closer to 28mph to stay on plane. But....Anything slower than 22mph and it starts digging a hole and won’t stay on plane.
The bow has a small triangle compartment at the point that will not accommodate even 1 battery. My boat has 2 group 31 batteries, one on each side, back in the engine bay.
So the question for the collective iBoats hive-mind: What are the reasons why I should not relocate the batteries to the starboard and port spaces under the front seats, at the forward most part of the compartments? Obviously I’d secure proper battery boxes there. I can also add vent plates to the vertical portions of the “seating area” (kick plates?) to allow the batteries to gas out so presumable fire danger is lessened, I could even add a 4 inch hose to connect the 2 spaces and a blower to displace the air before startup.
Why should I not do this?
Last edited by a moderator:
)....
