Re: Will this boat pull a skier
Sure, your boat will pull a skier, but I would recommend that you use a "ski bridle." It's a heavy polypropylene rope with a pair of hooks and a couple of floats to keep it out of the prop. Connected to the tow eyes on the transom, it should serve to get your tow point as low as possible, which is essential on a smaller craft such as yours. Don't even think about using a "tow pylon,"... too high a center of gravity, and too small a boat, you'd just be courting trouble.
Other respondents are absolutely correct about two things: 1. An experienced slalom skier (especially a "big" one) can cause your boat to become erratic. This can be a particularly unnerving (if not downright dangerous) experience, especially if you're at WOT. (You'll be looking for your seat cushion for several days!
) And 2. The trim tab (also called the zinc anode) serves a dual purpose. It works as a sacrificial piece of metal to offset corrosive electrolysis that can affect the lower unit, particularly if it is exposed to salt water. And its other purpose is to counteract "torque steer," which is an inescapable by-product of the propeller's resistance to the water. It essentially serves much like the tail rotor does on a helicopter, though on a greatly lesser scale. Just remember to move the trailing edge of the tab in the direction that the craft is yawing, in your case, to starboard.
I may be getting more technical than necessary, but there is another factor to take into consideration here, and that is the "trim angle" of the motor. By that, I am referring to the horizontal axis of the propeller shaft, which should be nearly parallel to the water's surface when underway. This would apply to 99% of the outboards in the U.S., where, when viewed from the stern, the propeller rotates in a clockwise direction in forward gear. If the lower unit is trimmed in excessively (towards the transom) the right hand portion of the propeller will experience increased resistance, relative to the left side, resulting in both the craft and steering wheel pulling to the right. The opposite holds true for the reverse situation. Ideally, you would want your motor trimmed out slightly for most applications, in which case the rear of the trim tab should turned slightly to the left for neutral steering pressure.
Don't even listen to someone who wants to talk to you about "jack-plates," or increasing the mounting height of the motor above the transom. You haven't got enough horses for that issue to even come into play.
By the way, the "plastic thing" you refer to on the lower unit is a hydrofoil stabilizer. They are sold under the names of Doel-Fin, Sting-Ray, and others. Manufacturers claim they increase fuel economy, performance, and top-end speed, but stop just short of endorsing them as a cure for cancer.
It will, however, help your boat get on plane much faster, especially when pulling a skier.
Finally, start out carefully, keep in mind that you're
not in the water ski show at Busch Gardens, and have fun!
Master Chief Anderson, U.S.N., Retired
