High speed manevering?

[jedimaster]

Ok with a single engine bowrider, 17 foot inboard 140hp. SHould you trim up or down a bit when cornering? I find when making Full speed sweeping(not sharp corners, The tail end feels like it slips out a bit.
I think this is partly due to the 17pitch prop, but I am stuck with this one for tubing and water skiing.
I think my top end would be better with a 21 as I thin kthe normal is a 19.
But I am talking about just keeping the 17 on.

I find if I trim up a little(bow down), and then turn it seems to bite a bit better. Is that the normal way of doing it without just throttling back.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: High speed manevering?

you have to figure out what works with your boat, the load, what you're towing. they are all different.

 

[blouderback]

Re: High speed manevering?

I generally trim down when making a tight turn. It keeps the prop from "blowing out".

 

[ziggy]

Re: High speed manevering?

ya sure can't argue with the statement thier all different.

the 2 boats i've had both needed trim down into turns from high speed runs. i don't think it would be the prop. others may know better though. if yer sliding thru the turn, yer hull is loseing contact with the water. i'd consider that an unstable condition and askin for trouble in a turn. sure is fun though. but the boat will turn better when the hulls hooked to the water and not sliding across the top of it. generaly, trimin down, or slowing down into a turn from high speed run to me is the right answer.....

I find if I trim up a little(bow down)

i think ya mean trim down. i hope....bow down would be correct though...

another thought is when watchin boat races. from memory it seems they throttle down prior to a turn....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: High speed manevering?

when the tail starts to slip it's called a power slide, hitting a wave in a power slide can be very dangerous. Know your boat. here's and article

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=188757&highlight=first+accident+this+year

 

[Scout Sport Fish]

Re: High speed manevering?

Yeah, you really need learn your boat and figure out what it likes. Generally I trim down so the prop dosent cavitate.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: High speed manevering?

Jedi, Generally, the pitch of the prop will have little effect on the "bite" of the prop, and the slide of the hull.

On high performance modified-vee hulls, sometimes (not very often) sliding does occur. It certainly means that you are "on top of the water" which is good for performance. It is unusual for a boat like yours to do this. I would adapt my driving style to accomodate, and consider it an unusual benefit.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: High speed manevering?

Jedi, Trimming in will lessen the sliding effect, because it will lessen your speed, and put more of the boat in the water.

 

[jedimaster]

Re: High speed manevering?

Thanks guys,
Yah I only really play around with it like that at high speed, when the water is dead calm. If I flip the boat and live my wife will kill me.

I found it odd that the I was high enough out of the water that I could slide around corners like that. but it does seem to rid up out of the water.
It sure makes a speed difference as soon as I trim the bow into the water even a slight bit.

It seems to hook up fine as long as I trim it.

So would you say then that I am getting good performance out of the hull and motor if I can slide around like that on corners?
It doesn't do that when I have more than one or two passengers.

 

[wvit1001]

Re: High speed manevering?

I'd say if your sliding around like that you should have your life jacket on and your engine shut off clipped to your belt. The boats not going to flip but it will hook up hard enough to throw you out and your thinking you can hold on is only fooling yourself. When the boat is moving 40 mph and suddenly stops your body will still be moving at 40 mph.

 

[jedimaster]

Re: High speed manevering?

too true.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: High speed manevering?

yes when mine is trimmed to the optimum speed, i have a heck of a time cornering.. and mine is a very deep v hull.