chine walk (help)

[captain chris]

hello all, i just got a 07 hydrosteam voyager xt w/merc 225 sport xs,running a trophy plus 25 pitch. every thing is still set to factory spec. i was told running this set up i would get 80-85 mph out of this boat the way it came from the factory. my problem is getting though the chine walk at 70 mph. i tried playing w/ trim no help. i am not new to boating, just these speeds. the tug m/v miss pamela only goes 14 knots / my bay boat toped out at 60 mph. so any help i could get would be great. thanks capt. chris (stuck at 70 4 now)

[trashy]

I'm not familiar with your particular hull, but I know what you are talking about as far as getting through the chine walk. I went through the exact same thing when I bought my first high performance boat. Here is how I learned to drive my boat.

The first thing that I was told was "seat time" and practice.

I started out limiting the rpm on the motor (say 5000) and worked with the trim while running until I was comfortable. Then I would increase rpms a couple hundred at a time (go to 5200, then maybe 5500) while doing the same thing (working the trim). One thing that I was told, and found out about real quick is NOT to jump off the throttle real quick when it started to walk. Instead, just ease off the throttle just a bit and trim down just a bit until you gain control. Also, the "standard" correction when it wants to start walking is just a slight "chop" on the steering to counter which ever way the hull wants to lean (usually you want to "chop" to the left). By doing this several times over time I was able to achieve top speed.

Your hull may act a little different, and this is just a real basic example of how to learn to drive it. The whole key is to practice, get some seat time, and don't try to over do it right away.

There are a few good articles that discuss chine walk on the internet. Do a search and you may find some more helpful tips.

Good luck and be safe!

[captain chris]

thanks for the advice trashy your right about the seat time mabe i need to practice some more for a little while, thanks again

[dynobo]

EXACTLY what Trashy said. Seat time is 95% of figuring it out. The biggest mistake people make is trying to do it in one day. Just enjoy driving it and as you get more comfortable with it you will get better at it. Just like riding a bicycle.

[hsbob]

i dont think your going to get to that 85 number, with your stock motor. im getting 74 with my tempest and a 200xs & 1988 xt voyager. [1:87 ratio]. its been up to 78+ with a 28 tempest [work over]. you need to get the prop shaft nearly even with the pad to eliminate the chime walk. wait for pyro to chime in. hes been there done it with a vega

[Hydrophobic guy]

Sport XS has a lower gear 1.62:1. Take your time getting used to the boat and drive it as much as possible. Counter the chine walk with slight corrections against it. And play with the set up in small incriments.

[Forkin' Crazy]

So I assume you have solid motor mounts and the steering has been adjusted to have no slack?

[captain chris]

yes i have solid motor mounts and no slack in the steering

[Reddawgzulu]

Like "trashy" said, you have to begin with seat time. The Factory always offer a "BS" story as a part of their sales strategy. Eventualy you will find that you will need to make adjustments here and there, change this and that. So my advice is, take your time, talk to the pros (Pyro is damn good on here), make your adjustments and eventually you will find that sweet spot.
Good luck!
J

[SFL STREAM]

hey capt chris, I have an 07 Venom, and an 07 Voyager, which i run a 250 on, I run my venom in the low 90's with a 200 xs, and trashy is right, seat time is crucial..., i imagine Jim set your boat up with a foot throttle and trim on the helm, which is the way to run this boat, the thing is, you have to also get that trim up so that the boat lifts up off of those sponsons, and get the boat on the pad, once the turbulace is off the back end from the sponsons, you should start to feel more comfy. PM me any other questions, you can get the speed, i think high 70's might be it with that prop though, but curious to see some pics of your boat and hear how you're making out with it. Take it slow, boat safley, you'll get it before you know it.