Improve Boat Handling

Product Description

Handling issues with your ski boat.

This information has been compiled from the experience gained by R&M Precision Marine in its many aspects of boating competition over many years with inboard type boats.
Firstly look at type and location of the tow point.
Many boats opt to have the rope fixing at the rear for price and convenience sake.
This is not the ideal point as boats turn by pivoting at the centre of the hull and to turn the boat it has to allow the rear to swing out and take a wider arc than the bow of the boat this is helped by the fitting of a fin underneath.
This often can be helped by fitting a second fin either in front or behind the existing fin.
These fins help the boat to hold a straight line when required. Tournament tow boats often use three fins to assist them to hold the boat from being pulled offline by a slalom skier.
In addition they also locate the ski pole in the centre of the boat to obtain the best possible handling.
This position should be considered for optimised results.
Outboard powered boats in many cases use a bridle hook-up to also clone the load towards the centre line.
This bridle method will also assist better turning where the rear toe point exists on a centre mount inboard ski boat.
Skiers, board rider etc. should be instructed to either stay behind the boat or go to the outside of the wash to assist the boat when turning.
If the skier went to the inside of the wash it is possible to prevent the boat to safely turn.
The rotation direction of the propeller will also play a major part in good turning.
A dog clutch driven boat driving of the harmonic balance end has a right hand rotation prop therefore it will have better turning to the right than the left.
The apposite applies to an inboard boat that has a soft clutch or auto fnr. drive system and using a left hand rotation prop will turn better to the left.
Some clinker style flat bottom boats will sometime refuse to turn left if there is any wave action coming from that direction however it can be greatly assisted by fitting side spray rails to the outside of the hull at floor level.
The rear cavitation plate adjustment can alter the turning characteristic to a certain degree however this is for the more experienced.
The next aspect of good performance is the shape and type of rudder design being used.
A larger rudder blade can assist in turning the water to improve boat behaviour on the corners however this can also cause the boat to become twitchy in a straight line.
The position of extra people in the boat can cause different characteristics of handling.
Again occupants seated in the central of the boat is normally the best for turning and- ride.
Propeller selection plays a major part in handling.
The use of a four bladed propeller will give gains in starting away, less slowing down with heavy loads and better turning as there is less water slippage from the four blades over the common three blade option.
There is not any gain in top boat speed over two or three blade props.
Naturally hull design play a major part in all aspects of boat behaviour.

All the information put here is the beliefs of Bob at R&M Precision Marine in Hamilton Vic.