Got my new Trick 21 this weekend.

[H2O Guy]

So I picked this boat up from Vegas last week, had one of my guys deliver it to my place on Friday. Put it in the water Friday night and in the first 20 minutes hated it. Only had it up to 55.

Started playing with it more on Saturday and got it up to 77. Sunday 88. I read on here that it takes some time to get the feel for running this type of boat. I know I have along ways to go but just over the weekend im starting to feel much more comfortable in this thing.

Im kinda new to perf boating, had a sidewinder way back ran 60, and a Vegas many years ago that I could never get the nearve up to get it past 70. Thought I would give the faster boats a try once again.

Just a few question for those guys in the "know" or those who have boats like this:

1) When I start out of the hole I have one sponson in the water longer than the other until I grab enough air to lift the other. Is this normal?

2) Im getting lots of porpoising when I accelerate. After Im up on the water, say 25 - 30 and start going for top end, the 40 - 70 is rough. is this normal? Any thoughts?

3) When Im running up in the 75+ range I cant steer the boat. I literally am fighting to pull it left as it wants to pull to the right slightly.

I know there are many variable here, boat set up, water conditions etc, any thoughts or idea on how to overcome these issues are greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.

MB

[lowlifeAE21]

1) When I start out of the hole I have one sponson in the water longer than the other until I grab enough air to lift the other. Is this normal?

The boat will always lean to a side untill it gets on plan.

2) Im getting lots of porpoising when I accelerate. After Im up on the water, say 25 - 30 and start going for top end, the 40 - 70 is rough. is this normal? Any thoughts?

trim up and jack up the motor till the boat airs out then it will just sit flat and ready to go!!

3) When Im running up in the 75+ range I cant steer the boat. I literally am fighting to pull it left as it wants to pull to the right slightly.

its will always want to pull right a bit but yours shounds a bit worse. are you going to west lake GTG this weekend??

I know there are many variable here, boat set up, water conditions etc, any thoughts or idea on how to overcome these issues are greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.

MB[/QUOTE]

[H2O Guy]

Thanks for the tips. What / where is West Lake ?

MB

[lowlifeAE21]

sent you a pm

[at100plus]

1) When I start out of the hole I have one sponson in the water longer than the other until I grab enough air to lift the other. Is this normal?

YES. If you get uncomfortable with the slow speed lean, just steer the other way (leaning right steer left) and it will flatten. You can make little corrections to keep the boat flat. When I first got mine I found it unnerving when I tried to make a U turn in sloppy swelly water at slow speed (25 - 30) felt like a swell would just push it over.

2) Im getting lots of porpoising when I accelerate. After Im up on the water, say 25 - 30 and start going for top end, the 40 - 70 is rough. is this normal? Any thoughts?

It porpoises because it is a short boat for a catamarin. It can't pack air well at those speed particularly in calm water. That boat likes chop. Trim it up higher if you want to air it out at slower speeds but you probably won't get it to stop porpoising unless there is a headwind or some chop. Best to avoid those speeds in calm water. A little trick is to veer off to the right a bit trim up and accelerate as you veer then jerk the wheel back to the left (on course) so that you disturb the air in the tunnel and burb it out the back. This will be easier if you have more power. I've had 21s with both 2.5 and 3 liters and I think they are no fun without the torque of a 3 liter.

3) When Im running up in the 75+ range I cant steer the boat. I literally am fighting to pull it left as it wants to pull to the right slightly.

I hope you are running a 3 liter and a Sportmaster with hydraulic steering. If not I'd strongly suggest it. CLEs and other lower units break easily on single engine cats. These boats are very hard on lower units and skegs. Keep a close eye on the condition of you lower unit and skeg for cracks.

I know there are many variable here, boat set up, water conditions etc, any thoughts or idea on how to overcome these issues are greatly appreciated.

Thanks much.

MB

Good luck

[H2O Guy]

at100plus

Im running a 300XS with Hydraulic steering, but still almost impossible to turn with speed over 75. So this is not normal for this set up??

Im going to try some of the other suggestions you made, thanks.

Are you running the same boat, or similar?

MB

[at100plus]

I've had two 21 Skaters one with a Pro Max 300

You don't want to turn too hard in that boat at speed, or at least not without using your head. It's not an IOGP boat, but you should be able to turn it. It will certainly be much harder, the higher it's jacked up. Do you have a hydraulic jack?

[H2O Guy]

Yes, I have hyd lift.

I find when turning it is best to keep some air under the boat so it doesnt settle back down on one sponson.


I've had two 21 Skaters one with a Pro Max 300

You don't want to turn too hard in that boat at speed, or at least not without using your head. It's not an IOGP boat, but you should be able to turn it. It will certainly be much harder, the higher it's jacked up. Do you have a hydraulic jack?

[FrenchPhil]

Most (all?) tunnels are hard to turn at speed anyways, changing course implies lowering speed to change the air in the tunnel.

[beer30]

Planing can get better if you go to a 4 blade prop.:) Chuck

[racerx]

Put twins on it,,better handling,better take off,and a hole lot better accelleration....

[olmo40]

I agree with the prop idea , a nice 4 Blade Hydromotive ??

[WILDMAN]

I always tell people, don't ever buy a boat without test driving it. Full tunnels have alot of unpleasant quirks.

[RNM018]

What gearcase have you got ? With a single you need the swept skeg with a torque tamer built in . If you have a straight skeg , you can have a torque tamer added to it and that will help .

Rich Martin 018

[H2O Guy]

Planing can get better if you go to a 4 blade prop.:) Chuck

There is a 4 blade on it now. Was a 32 , now trying a 30.


I always tell people, don't ever buy a boat without test driving it. Full tunnels have alot of unpleasant quirks.

You are dead right, wish you had of told me this....:) Guess I could have called...... I do like the boat, just likely need some seat time and possibly some tweeks to get it where I want it.


What gearcase have you got ? With a single you need the swept skeg with a torque tamer built in . If you have a straight skeg , you can have a torque tamer added to it and that will help .

Sorry ,I dont know what I have. How do I identify this? Thanks.

Rich Martin 018

[H2O Guy]

Put twins on it,,better handling,better take off,and a hole lot better accelleration....
Do people put twins on this boat? I have only seend the one trick 21 with twins and I think it was a factory boat?

I think I will try to get the boat close to where I want it before I spend any more $$ on this one.

MB

[H2O Guy]

One more quick question for those viewing this thread......

When first taking off I have lots of slip where the boat RPM increase but not propelling the boat at the same rate, is this normal.

With the 32 P 4 blade prop I took three other people out in the boat and i had to get the guys in the back to move forward to get on plain. The 30 P 4 blade is the same but not as bad??

I have this slipping with both props.

MB

[WILDMAN]

One more quick question for those viewing this thread......

When first taking off I have lots of slip where the boat RPM increase but not propelling the boat at the same rate, is this normal.

With the 32 P 4 blade prop I took three other people out in the boat and i had to get the guys in the back to move forward to get on plain. The 30 P 4 blade is the same but not as bad??

I have this slipping with both props.

MB

That's normal on that boat. If you have a hyd jackplate, you'll need to put it full down to get on plane. You should have test driven a 21 Liberator! I have four in stock. I use a Drag Four prop. They have good top end and get on plane pretty well.

[bulletbob]

As far as putting twins on that hull. The hull needs to be built for twins with extra knees to support the weight on the transom. Jeff built the one hull with twins, but the 21 ft. hull is not built to be balanced with twins.

[at100plus]

What kinda prop?

I suggest a semi cleaver.

I had a Spinelli DR4 30 that ran great and planed very well too.

My favorite prop was a Performance Propellers 3 blade 30. My boat ran average 93 with two aboard with that prop, ran 97 with just me and planed great all the time. 4 good sized adults in that boat will always suck, it'll slow the boat down to low to mid 80s and will be much harder to plane.

If you get the right prop and setup and just a few good hours of seat time you'll wonder why the little quirks ever bothered you trust me. Especially if you operate in choppy waters.

I tried alot of boats and the 21 Skater was the smallest most economical single engine 90+ boat for rough bays lakes and rivers that I could find.

It should be really econonomical with the 300XS! I'd love to have that setup.

[specboatops]

What kinda prop?

I suggest a semi cleaver.

I had a Spinelli DR4 30 that ran great and planed very well too.

My favorite prop was a Performance Propellers 3 blade 30. My boat ran average 93 with two aboard with that prop, ran 97 with just me and planed great all the time. 4 good sized adults in that boat will always suck, it'll slow the boat down to low to mid 80s and will be much harder to plane.

If you get the right prop and setup and just a few good hours of seat time you'll wonder why the little quirks ever bothered you trust me. Especially if you operate in choppy waters.

I tried alot of boats and the 21 Skater was the smallest most economical single engine 90+ boat for rough bays lakes and rivers that I could find.

It should be really econonomical with the 300XS! I'd love to have that setup.

..I like your Signature line :thumbsup::thumbsup:;)

Chris

[H2O Guy]

What kinda prop?

I suggest a semi cleaver.

I had a Spinelli DR4 30 that ran great and planed very well too.

My favorite prop was a Performance Propellers 3 blade 30. My boat ran average 93 with two aboard with that prop, ran 97 with just me and planed great all the time. 4 good sized adults in that boat will always suck, it'll slow the boat down to low to mid 80s and will be much harder to plane.

If you get the right prop and setup and just a few good hours of seat time you'll wonder why the little quirks ever bothered you trust me. Especially if you operate in choppy waters.

I tried alot of boats and the 21 Skater was the smallest most economical single engine 90+ boat for rough bays lakes and rivers that I could find.

It should be really econonomical with the 300XS! I'd love to have that setup.

The 32 is a merc prop, dont have the numbers with me at the office. The 30 has no numbers on it at all. The previous owner just sent it with the boat and since the 32 had issues pulling four adults I just tried the 30.

Will check again for numbers and post if I can find some on the 30.

Where is a good place to purchase props for this set up?

Thanks
MB

[bulletbob]

That 21' boat isn't big enough, in my opinion to carry four people. I drove one of Jeffs boats earlier this year and was really impressed. I had never driven a 21 true tunnel before. A experienced friend told me to accelerate in a gradual arc to help the boat pack air. The hopping starts as the hull tries to free itself from the water. A quick snatch of the wheel around 50 mph freed the hull up. From on plane it was a rocketship. It was equiped with a 300xs also. The boat loves rough water. Flat water will make it hop. I hope you workout the prop situation and enjoy the boat. Good luck. Bob

[Lost In Space]

A 28 Drag-4 from performance props is a good all around choice. Will put you just over 90mph and works easy to get the hull up and going even with added weight. Although I did order a Mercury Pro-ET which I should be trying this weekend. It's takes a lot of time to figure the hull out which I presume is like my 21 Skater.

[Trick Powerboats]

Mercury Pro ET's (standard finish) are by far the best props for my boats, we've tried them all.

If you want better hole shot, step down in pitch. There is no magic wand to wave over the props to make one wheel do everything. If you wanna go fast use a 32, if you wanna haul a load, use a 28.

With seat time you will figure the boat out. I personally water tested this boat (and every other boat) prior to delivery to the original owner. The boat ran 101mph in breakin mode with a 32 Pro ET. The boat should top out between 104-106 mph if you have the balls for it.

I'm rarely on the forum so if you need help call me.

Jeff

[H2O Guy]

Here is a pic of the prop that came with the boat.

http://i31.tinypic.com/30neo7q.jpg

It is a Merc Racing, 32P with the numbers " 8M0006018" IS this a "PRO ET"?

Jeff , calling you soon . Thanks.

[Trick Powerboats]

Yep, Thats a Pro ET.

[at100plus]

Looks like it could use some thinning. Is that an out of the box prop?

Jeff, have you tried the Performance Propellers on your boats? I really really liked them especially if I told them what I was turning and sent it back for the free rework.

I agree, a 28 4 blade for heavier loads or acceleration and a 32 3 blade for top speed. I think the semi cleaver like the Performance Propellers would be a better choice for the top speed prop. Last I checked they were a pretty good price too brand new was about $600 a few years ago with a free rework.

Don't give up on that boat, you'll love it once you get the hang of it.

[DOUBLE T]

Be careful with the trim. To much trim can be hazardous and make you purpose even more. You want the stern to break free from the water. Bow lift with to much trim will just make it worse. Trim down, hammer down, hold on!!!:thumbsup:

[Lost In Space]

Performance Propellers was $700 last year which is the same as a Pro-ET from Jaco's

[H2O Guy]

Jeff, thanks for taking the time to speak with me yesterday. Looking forward to "learning " how to run this boat.

MB

[bulletbob]

MB, Keep us posted on how you like the boat as you get more seat time. You have a rocketship there that will eat some rough water. Jeff is a good guy. Bob

[lowlifeAE21]

H2O guy are you coming to west lake this saturday??

[fastcat300]

h2o, do yourself a favor and sell that pro et, while its still in 1 peice.If your going to carry alot of weight the performance prop, like wildman said is probally the best bang for the buck,28- pitch and will last forever, if you run that e.t. hard you will break a blade.

[H2O Guy]

H2O guy are you coming to west lake this saturday??

No I cant make it. My oldest son is skating with a Junior team for a hockey tryout, I should be there.

Im sure it will be a blast, look forward to seeign some pics.

Thanks MB

[H2O Guy]

h2o, do yourself a favor and sell that pro et, while its still in 1 peice.If your going to carry alot of weight the performance prop, like wildman said is probally the best bang for the buck,28- pitch and will last forever, if you run that e.t. hard you will break a blade.
Where is a good place to get one of these??

Thanks
MB

[WILDMAN]

I sell them. They are $650 without hub. You can use your old hub. Here's a video from today running a 32 Drag four. No hopping here!



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