Handling in rough water

[kimbro]

We've had our '06 Horizon 200 since July of 2005. We have the 5.0L GXi with the Volvo Penta stern drive.

This is the first boat that we have owned. While the hubby grew up on boats, this is my first. We love the boat but we are having problems trying to figure out how to get the smoothest ride possible in rough water.

We boat in Lakes Mead and Mohave in AZ and NV. When the wind kicks up the waves, sometimes creating white caps, the boat just seems to slam back into the water after riding up the wave. We have tried various angles of approach and various speeds but we haven’t figured out that sweet spot yet.

Any suggestions?

 

[TXJOLE]

Re: Handling in rough water

Believe it or not, these 06's handle rough water better then any small bat i've been in. The boat is only 20' so it can only handle so much rough water. 100 ways to help you with your problem, but its case by case. Like if you are at speed and get into smaller chop trim up to about the double line mark.(never trim above that mark unless trailering or in super shallow water). If you are at speed and get into big swells power down and trim down. When im running in water my boat can't handle at speed I trim down and take the swell at an 45 degree angle. I will take some time but you will get the feel of it. One tip I will give you for a lake of that size, never live shore without your bow cover. If a storm sneaks up on you and the waves get too big that bow cover can save your boat from getting swamped.

 

[kimbro]

Re: Handling in rough water

Thanks for the tips. We usually leave the bow cover in the truck, but I think we'll start putting in the boat.

One our first trip (and probably our last) to Lake Havasu, we got caught in some really high waves. Some were hitting the windshield, some even over the windshield. We spent hours mopping up water from every little nook and cranny in the boat. Not a fun trip.

 

[admiral]

Re: Handling in rough water

Generally, you will find that the boat takes the rough
stuff better with the trim down.
On a calm day, plane up with the trim lowered to it's
lowest setting, get to 3/4 throttle, raise the trim
up a few seconds at a time. You'll feel the boat actually
speed up, without giving it more throttle.
If the water was choppy at this point, you'd be getting
a little rougher of a ride.
Normally, when Elk or Torch Lake get their
3-5 foot waves in the afternoon, we like to set
the 5.0 to 3000 rpm's and we ride real nice on top
of the waves, and the trim is down.