How difficult is it to flip this boat?

[Franknstein]

Hi My name is Ryan, I am from Johannesburg, SOuth Africa.
I just bought this boat, and have been out on the freshwater dam twice already. Had a lot of fun so far.

I have had boats in my family for years, and am fairly experienced from my youth with skiing and boat control.

What I'd like to know is if anyone here as ever heard of or seen a boat such as this flip over in the water... Why I ask is it doesn't seem as stable as my father's other speedboats he had (larger hulls)...

What would happen if I hit top speed in this (67KM/h), and just spun the steering full lock? I've done some mucking about where you spin the wheel one way, then quickly to the other, but sometimes it feels a little hairy as the boat tips at quite an angle.

Any stories? Tips? Words of warning?
The motor is a 1980 DT85 Suzuki.

Thanks

 

[QC]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

I have found that they feel like they are going over mostly in the direction of prop rotation. My guess is that is a very shallow vee, and she will slide instead of flip. Could be kinda violent as strakes and the chine catch on and off, but I am guessing she won't go over. Especially in that 40 MPH range. . . .

I had a similarly sized runabout with a 140 I/O, similar top speed. I used to go full speed and then back out of the throttle as I turned her hard over at the same time and then jump back on the throttle. You might try that to get a feel for it first. It was fun with mine although I ended up ripping out lag bolted motor mounts . . .

 

[Bondo]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

What would happen if I hit top speed in this (67KM/h), and just spun the steering full lock?

Ayuh,.......

My Guess is,.....
You'll be going for a 'ell of a Ride,+ the landing may Not be Pretty.........

In other words,....... It sounds like a Real Dumb@$$ed move..........

 

[rndn]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Buy a jet ski for those kinds of moves. Even if it doesn't flip you could still hurt yourself, boat, passenger, or another boater in the area.

 

[Franknstein]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

I am not planning on doing that, I am just interested in the handling characteristics of such a boat. I wanted to know if anyone has ever heard of such an event... I am not going to go out this weekend and terrorise the local boaters... lol

 

[roscoe]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Sure, you can flip that boat.
Especially if it is not set up correctly, and/or you hit a wave or get slapped by a gust of wind while turning it.

Perhaps you should look at the motor mounting height to make sure it is mounted high enough, and set the trim propperly.

 

[Paul DuLaney]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Make sure you have your kill switch(lanyard) hooked on,had my Taho scooting side ways and caught a very small wave.Scared the ever living you know what out of me.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Well, If you really know what you are doing and really want to, then it is not difficult at all to flip it. But you really need to want it.

A couple of sharp wakes, a little alcohol, (preferably in a so-called indestructible teen-ager)-----and over she goes. Nature's way of getting rid of the chaff.

Under normal conditions, with a normally careful human pilot, that very pretty hull should be able to keep the wet side down. At 40 or so, that hull will be relatively stable.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

cool boat

 

[cbavier]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Common Sense is Good Sense. Anything will flip if the right givens are there. Or maybe I should say the wrong Givens are present. Another way to say it is "A little sense is better than no sense at all".
I once thought after many years sailing you could not flip a sail Boat until one day I found myself in the water. It happened so fast I didn't even have time to react. I not only flipped it but turtled it too.

 

[daniel2229]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

No regstration numbers or sticker on that really neat looking rig. How do that do that in South Africa?

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Oh yeah! What will probably happen if you turn to lock at 67 KPH? if you turn to the left, she will probably dig in, then bounce and skitter sideways while rocking the hull. You will be slammed against the gunwale and most likely bruise your right elbow a good bit. If you keep up the turn, as she crosses her own wake, she will get real unstable and bouncy--possibly enough to throw people out of the boat. Since the boat can not turn as well to the right, the effects will not be quite as bad, but still objectionable. It is not a wise maneuver to attempt--especially with passengers.

By the way, the boat in my avatar is going about 60KPH-40 MPH. And I have put her into hard turns at speed.

 

[xxturbowesxx]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

i know a guy who flipped his it was orange about 17 feet and had a ported 2.5 mercury race engine.. he would run around 100mph/160kmph..he owned it like this for 7 years before he flipped it..(hes crazy) i would say you dont have much to worry about unless you act like an idiot but same goes for any boat..

 

[Dhadley]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

Has anyone ever seen a boat that WON'T end up with the top side wet?

 

[oops!]

Re: How difficult is it to flip this boat?

reminds me of a story.

in the north west territories of canada, i was doing a radio station remote brodcast (on location) for force 1 yamaha marine.

they had just introduced the yamaha wave runner.

a mechanic they had there...(lenoard) had a simmelar craft...

he had a really big motor on his....80 mph, 130 kph.

the had rebuilt the hull, 1.5 ins thick, and added deeper strakes.....

i was on the radio doing a cut in at 80 mph, we were racing cars on the road next to the lake....(great fun)... the told me to hook one arm around the outside of the gunnel.........he went from straight to lock.......the boat skipped and bounced across the water as the hull caught then bounced again.

just about killed me.....got bounced around. durn near snapped my neck and spine, i lost the hand held radio outta my hand trying to hang on.

to the listeners...they heard a UGH...and then dead air. i listend to the logger tape later...it sounded like we died.

he had a specally built craft. was an experianced boater.......it can be done.

and iffen i ever saw some one doing it....id call the cops !

cheers
oops