Help learning to drive safely

[Slimm]

I am not new to boating nor am I new to high horsepower or speed. What I am new to is fast boats. If you look in my pictures you will see the boat I have. I am looking for someone especially someone close to me that can help me learn the safest route to handling my boat as safe as I can.

I love speed and have had several race cars and street cars that did real well. I have been 8.60 in the 1/4 mile if that helps.

What I am after is someone with seat time and experience that can help me understand what my boat is doing and how to react to different situations. I have no problem admitting my inexperience with speed on the water and I refuse to be the guy who gets a fast boat and goes on the water acting like a big shot and gets myself hurt....I feel especially strong about not hurting anyone else. I got the boat to 53 on gps with the old 1500 tower of power and loved it. I have the boat apart right now painting it and about to put a 2003 2.5 200HP on it so I am pretty sure it will be an entirely new animal with the bigger engine and would love to spend some time learning from people that have the experience and don't mind helping me learn.

Plus I am funny as hell, I promise to give ya plenty of stories to tell!

Slimm

[71V153]

Watch out for channel markers ...

[TooStroked]

Slimm,

First of all, welcome to the sickness called high performance boating. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, so you'd better buckle down and plan for the long haul.

As to your questions, let me add a new one before I address your original one. You really want to find somebody (maybe one of us) who can help you rig your new motor (and boat) correctly before you even hit the water. Incorrect rigging can lead to all sorts of wonky handling problems that you're better off not having to deal with from behind the wheel. Chances are, one of us has rigged and / or driven something pretty close to your boat, so we've been there and done that. (Some of us even have the scars to prove it.) BTW, installation of a correct steering system for the speeds you're planning on running is probably the number one thing to worry about right now.

Getting back to your original question, the best advice I can give you is to slowly work your way up in speed and water conditions. Many boats go through "stages" as they gather speed and each stage may require a slightly different driving technique. Getting to know what they are, when (and why) they occur and what to do about them can be taught, but also takes a lot of seat time to become completely comfortable with. Some things like "chine walking" do not occur until higher speeds and doing the wrong thing when it happens can lead to getting wet.

So my advice would be to let us help you rig your boat correctly, then walk you through what can / should happen when you drive it. If you can find one of us near you to ride along and teach you right on the water, you'll be even better off.

Tom

[rkmirage]

:iagree::iagree: Thats great advise. Setup is the key, driving a boat improperly setup is difficult for an experienced pilot, no place for a newbie. Take your time to learn your boat. If it gets squirly don't try to drive through it, slow it down til it settles back in and slowly bring it back up. It takes time and it sounds like you are going about it right. Oh,and welcome to our sickness!!!!

[Madpoodle]

Whacha doing with the old engine?

[Slimm]

Slimm,

First of all, welcome to the sickness called high performance boating. Unfortunately, there is no known cure, so you'd better buckle down and plan for the long haul.

As to your questions, let me add a new one before I address your original one. You really want to find somebody (maybe one of us) who can help you rig your new motor (and boat) correctly before you even hit the water. Incorrect rigging can lead to all sorts of wonky handling problems that you're better off not having to deal with from behind the wheel. Chances are, one of us has rigged and / or driven something pretty close to your boat, so we've been there and done that. (Some of us even have the scars to prove it.) BTW, installation of a correct steering system for the speeds you're planning on running is probably the number one thing to worry about right now.

Getting back to your original question, the best advice I can give you is to slowly work your way up in speed and water conditions. Many boats go through "stages" as they gather speed and each stage may require a slightly different driving technique. Getting to know what they are, when (and why) they occur and what to do about them can be taught, but also takes a lot of seat time to become completely comfortable with. Some things like "chine walking" do not occur until higher speeds and doing the wrong thing when it happens can lead to getting wet.

So my advice would be to let us help you rig your boat correctly, then walk you through what can / should happen when you drive it. If you can find one of us near you to ride along and teach you right on the water, you'll be even better off.

Tom


Thanks Tom for your response, I have upgraded to the SeaStar PRO hydraulic unit from the old single cable that the 1500 had. When I got this boat I went from a 14 foot Jon Boat with a 1954 Johnson 18hp so I took it slow and gradually got used to the boat and the increased power. I plan to do the same with this engine upgrade as well. As I said, I wont be the guy out there that gets someone else hurt because I don't know what the hell I am doing.

Slimm

[Slimm]

:iagree::iagree: Thats great advise. Setup is the key, driving a boat improperly setup is difficult for an experienced pilot, no place for a newbie. Take your time to learn your boat. If it gets squirly don't try to drive through it, slow it down til it settles back in and slowly bring it back up. It takes time and it sounds like you are going about it right. Oh,and welcome to our sickness!!!!



Thanks rkmirage, that is what I have been doing up till now and it has kept me dry and out of the E.R. lol


Slimm

[Slimm]

Whacha doing with the old engine?


I sold the old 1500 that was on the boat along with another complete 1500 I had that was apart getting new rings to a guy in north Wisconsin who has a shop up there and is supposed to be a member here but I didn't get what his username is, I kn ow he has some STVs that I drooled over for a while.


Slimm

[TooStroked]

Thanks Tom for your response, I have upgraded to the SeaStar PRO hydraulic unit from the old single cable that the 1500 had. When I got this boat I went from a 14 foot Jon Boat with a 1954 Johnson 18hp so I took it slow and gradually got used to the boat and the increased power. I plan to do the same with this engine upgrade as well. As I said, I wont be the guy out there that gets someone else hurt because I don't know what the hell I am doing.

Slimm

Slimm,

Wow, you've made the number one most important basic safety improvement (hydraulic steering) that most folks try to skip. Congratulations! And you won't regret it either. Other basic improvements you might want to consider are solid motor mounts, a jack plate and possibly a low water pickup system for your motor.

Speaking of your motor, the Mercury 2.5 / 200 is a great motor to start with. (I ought to know since I have one screwed to the transom of my boat.) There are plenty of proven, reliable modifications you can do to yours that will get you well over 200 HP. Many of our site sponsors offer parts and / or services that will get you pretty much as much power as you're willing to pay for. Based on personal experience though, you might want to consider balancing all out HP with drivability and longevity. Some of the higher HP modifications will decrease one or both of those important areas. For instance, I elected not to go over 6,500 RPM with my motor so I could retain the ease of use that comes with the oil injection system. Had I elected to mix my own stuff, I could have gone pretty crazy with RPMs to gain HP. Of course the power head wouldn't last as long either.

Tom

[Slimm]

Slimm,

Wow, you've made the number one most important basic safety improvement (hydraulic steering) that most folks try to skip. Congratulations! And you won't regret it either. Other basic improvements you might want to consider are solid motor mounts, a jack plate and possibly a low water pickup system for your motor.

Speaking of your motor, the Mercury 2.5 / 200 is a great motor to start with. (I ought to know since I have one screwed to the transom of my boat.) There are plenty of proven, reliable modifications you can do to yours that will get you well over 200 HP. Many of our site sponsors offer parts and / or services that will get you pretty much as much power as you're willing to pay for. Based on personal experience though, you might want to consider balancing all out HP with drivability and longevity. Some of the higher HP modifications will decrease one or both of those important areas. For instance, I elected not to go over 6,500 RPM with my motor so I could retain the ease of use that comes with the oil injection system. Had I elected to mix my own stuff, I could have gone pretty crazy with RPMs to gain HP. Of course the power head wouldn't last as long either.

Tom



Thanks Tom, yes I agree that safety especially steering is number one priority. I have a list of things to order and solid mounts are on that list. I bought the engine with all new internals, seals and bearings from a friend that runs one of the better boat dealerships in my area. I just have to assemble it...which is no big deal. I am planning on making a few mods while it is down that way I wont have to tear into it later on when I get used to the increased power. I had a two piece jack plate from Vance Manufacturing on it before but I think it is rated for max 150 so I am replacing that with a heavier piece, last thing I want or need is an engine coming free from the transom and jumping all over the place. I will drop in some reeds and still thinking on cutting heads but honestly haven't made my mind up on that one yet.


Slimm

[Tinkerer]

I hope your pockets are deep ( sounds like they are ) this disease is very expensive. And it is almost incurable. I have been afflicted with it for 35 years. Proud owner of my first cat as of this summer. ( Daytona 26 )

[Slimm]

I hope your pockets are deep ( sounds like they are ) this disease is very expensive. And it is almost incurable. I have been afflicted with it for 35 years. Proud owner of my first cat as of this summer. ( Daytona 26 )

Hey Tinkerer, actually I pretty much live on a disability income with some odd and end work to fill in the gaps. I got lucky on this situation because I bought the boat super cheap and have made money off it from day one. I had a 40 year old john boat that I had slowly build up to suit me with a casting deck in the front half of the boat and carpet everywhere, painted it up and had a nice dependable engine. Sold it for almost twice what I bought this Cobra for. The Cobra came with a 1978 Merc 115 and I had the opportunity to buy another boat that was a one owner and the original owner had passed away. That second boat had a 1974 1500 on it. I swapped the 1500 onto my Cobra and sold the other boat with my old 115...for double what I paid.

Then I came across another 74 1500 that was in excellent shape for $100....had been sitting for about 25 years in a outboard shop a couple hours from home. I got a new set of rings for it (had a couple sticky ones). I sold the 1500 that was on the boat along with the other engine disassembled as a parts engine for enough to get my steering and a few other odds and ends....so as it stands right now, with all the parts I have bought (including new carpet and gauges and all the primer and pain needed) I have a total of about $500 in the boat. So far so good.

I can say I have never had the enjoyment I get out of working on boat engines and other things with them...I love it.


Slimm

[rkmirage]

Hey Tinkerer, actually I pretty much live on a disability income with some odd and end work to fill in the gaps. I got lucky on this situation because I bought the boat super cheap and have made money off it from day one. I had a 40 year old john boat that I had slowly build up to suit me with a casting deck in the front half of the boat and carpet everywhere, painted it up and had a nice dependable engine. Sold it for almost twice what I bought this Cobra for. The Cobra came with a 1978 Merc 115 and I had the opportunity to buy another boat that was a one owner and the original owner had passed away. That second boat had a 1974 1500 on it. I swapped the 1500 onto my Cobra and sold the other boat with my old 115...for double what I paid.

Then I came across another 74 1500 that was in excellent shape for $100....had been sitting for about 25 years in a outboard shop a couple hours from home. I got a new set of rings for it (had a couple sticky ones). I sold the 1500 that was on the boat along with the other engine disassembled as a parts engine for enough to get my steering and a few other odds and ends....so as it stands right now, with all the parts I have bought (including new carpet and gauges and all the primer and pain needed) I have a total of about $500 in the boat. So far so good.

I can say I have never had the enjoyment I get out of working on boat engines and other things with them...I love it.


SlimmI love it! Great way to do it! It's easy to just write a check if you can but doing it your way will give you a MUCH better appreciation when you work your way up to what you want!

[Tinkerer]

congrats - keep doing what you love.