Turning the boat

[BuzzStPoint]

How much can you turn a boat at WOT/cruising?

Seems when I get the boat on plane, then back off a bit. I can't seem to turn the boat very much. I can turn the wheel about 1/2 turn and boat will seem to list to one side or the other.. Usually if I need to turn majorly I have to slow to just coming out of plane then I can turn..

Is is safe to turn more at Speed?

55hp Chrysler on a 1962 Glastron Skiflite, (runabout style boat)

 

[seabob4]

Re: Turning the boat

When you turn a boat at higher speeds, the boat will lean into the turn until the chine starts working it's magic, gives that side upward force, and she just comes around. Used to turn so that someone on that side could just dip their hand in the water...

It's best to back off a bit, trim in, before attempting a hardover...

 

[Subliminal]

Re: Turning the boat

I can usually turn my boat pretty hard. Not jetboat hard, but hard enough I can feel the boat kind of 'slide out' on me. Not sure if I've tried it at WOT, but below 40...

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: Turning the boat

Pulling the tube I turn pretty darn hard at speed. It can get interesting if I'm in someone else's wake and we start doing the chine walk.

One thing is for sure....you can turn that boat harder than you are right now.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Turning the boat

Yeah right now, when I'm on the river going to the fishing hole, I follow the channel. You have to navigate the curves of the river and I have to plan way ahead of the curve and make real long curves.

I'll try this weekend to see if I can get the chine to work for me.. I think I'm just too nervous to crank the wheel more..

I know when I'm not on plane I've cranked the wheel and the boat really responds and turns then.

 

[carlh]

Re: Turning the boat

Is the wheel hard to turn? If so maybe your are not trimmed right.

 

[roncoop75]

Re: Turning the boat

You don't have a hydrofoil do you?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Turning the boat

Full speed turns are determined by a few factors

Hull design
water conditions
driver experience
motor capability
current boat load

I have power T&T and depending on the conditions ...... I tend to trim down a bit on a full tilt turn.

I do know my hull will turn fast however, one freak wave or miscalculation could lead to a flip.

The safety is in the hands of the operator.

 

[wakeondude]

Re: Turning the boat

Sorry but what's "chine"?

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Turning the boat

Learn slowly and if you know someone with experience, get them to teach you. High speed boat handling can have a deadly learning curve. I could spin mine at WOT without any problems other than scaring everyone on board to death.

Done wrong it would flip instead. When you start chine walking you can slow down or add more throttle and push through it until it settles on the pad. If you catch a freak wake at those speeds you may be airborne. You also have to watch much farther out for obstructions or other wakes as you will be closing on them much faster. When I used to do hardovers in my HPV-160 the aft corner would be about a foot or more under the plane of the water and if I lost power it would swamp instantly. It would also throw about a 4-5 foot wake that I could jerk the tubes over the top of and toss anybody under 300#. It would be similar to side sliding a car while keeping it up on 2 wheels.

Learn from someone else first, then go out and practice. Let me know when you break 100mph in the 1/4. My Glastron would only run around 70. Some of those Allison Crafts in Arkansas are way faster.

BTW- those Glastron pics aren't any of my boats.

 

[carlh]

Re: Turning the boat

Description of chines from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_building

Chines - are long, longitudinal strips on hydroplaning hulls that deflect downwards the spray that is produced by the hull when it travels at speed in the water. The term also refers to distinct changes in angle of the hull sections, where the bottom blends into the sides of a flat bottomed skiff, for instance. A hull may have 2 or more chines to allow an approximation of a round bottomed shape with flat panels. It also refers to the longitudinal members inside the hull which support the edges of these panels.

 

[wingmastr23]

Re: Turning the boat

Is the wheel hard to turn? If so maybe your are not trimmed right.

That is what I was thinking - if the wheel is hard to turn, trim down a little bit.

 

[wakeondude]

Re: Turning the boat

Thanks for the explanation. So from this picture the two horizontal lines on the hull are actually called chines. Thanks again

Sorry op, not trying to hi-jack

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Turning the boat

Just the one(s) below the waterline. I understood the intermediate ones to be referred to as lifting strakes (depending on how they project from the hull) There should also be a smallish flat triangle right at the aft center and that is what is referred to as the pad.

 

[carlh]

Re: Turning the boat

That is what I was thinking - if the wheel is hard to turn, trim down a little bit.

May need to trim up though - I always thought hard steering was a result of being trimmed too low? Best way I can describe how I trim is start all the way down and keep lifting until the steering gets easier and the engine revs a few hundred rpm more. Too high and you porpoise and I can't say if steering is easier or harder when trimmed too high.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Turning the boat

Nope, the wheel seems to be the same tension as normal. I have a pulley steering.

And no auto tilt and trim. I just have 4 pin holes to set the motor to.
My motor is set the 3 hole out from the transom side.

Only other person I know with a boat in my area is my brother. He's got a bass style boat and I've seen him on the water. I'll do the almost full speed spin.. Looks like the boat will do a 180 on a pole. He'll make his boat slide on the water.

I think I'll just slow down till I feel more comfortable.