Boat Set-Up Tips

[johnsonm50]

Another thing to look at is that your thrust bracket pivots in line with your steering pin. If not your tilt could change as you turn. It might be too slight to be of concern but one of my motors was tilting out in a turn from it being off center front to back.

[mdaspit]

Another thing to look at is that your thrust bracket pivots in line with your steering pin. If not your tilt could change as you turn. It might be too slight to be of concern but one of my motors was tilting out in a turn from it being off center front to back.

Not quite sure about this...
By steering pin you mean the point on the clamp bracket where the motor pivots?

And if so, if the thrust bracket is placed in the center of the transom, and the motor is clamped on in the center also, would that take care of it?

[mdaspit]

Ok, since you guys are in the mood, I have a question...

I've noticed in photographs, especially in shots from Region 10, of CSH's...
boats coming out of a turn all aired out... Also, recently in a thread for boats for sale, are 2 pictures of the Orange Revolution boat.

One shot with the boat and the driver with the back couple feet in the water, and one with the original driver with no boat in the water.

The back couple feet in the water is where my boat runs now, at its best.

I am assuming that less of the boat in the water is a very good thing for speed, yeah?

I read somewhere, guys refering to boats in two ways, 1.Tail draggers 2.Prop riders.

Is it set up that's getting these boats out of the water so nicely?
Or, is it just good photographers waiting for just the right moment.

I read once about the "controversial" practice in ASH of extreme tuck...
Is that happening in CSH?

[johnsonm50]

[QUOTE=mdaspit;175008]Not quite sure about this...
By steering pin you mean the point on the clamp bracket where the motor pivots?

And if so, if the thrust bracket is placed in the center of the transom, and the motor is clamped on in the center also, would that take care of it?

This was a RaT motor I put together that I used a BTM 'A' thrust bracket for. The 1st attempt at making the seat was behind the behind the C/L of the steering pin so when turning the motor would tilt out. Re-setting it forward solved this. It was centered side to side. In other words when the motor turns the pivot point of the seat & saddle need to match the pivot point of the motors steer pin. The thrust brackets sold for specific motors have this worked out but if your making a mod or something..

[blueskyracer]

Boy Mark you really open the door for a lot of different opinions on this one. Like the saying in Days of Thunder "Lose is Fast" applies to boat racing to. The less boat touching the water is going to be a faster set up depending on water and wind conditions. Alot depends on the tuck of the engine, prop and where the driver is positioned and a major factor is boat design. Some boats have more lift in them than others.

The three boats we have had are a Dawecraft, Sorenson and MRC. Dawecraft is very fast in rough water. Sorenson is very stable for beginners but not as fast and I would say MRC is our fastest and very lose but not as forgiving in the wind. You just move a little forward on the windy days.

[johnsonm50]

Boy Mark you really open the door for a lot of different opinions on this one. Like the saying in Days of Thunder "Lose is Fast" applies to boat racing to. The less boat touching the water is going to be a faster set up depending on water and wind conditions. Alot depends on the tuck of the engine, prop and where the driver is positioned and a major factor is boat design. Some boats have more lift in them than others.

The three boats we have had are a Dawecraft, Sorenson and MRC. Dawecraft is very fast in rough water. Sorenson is very stable for beginners but not as fast and I would say MRC is our fastest and very lose but not as forgiving in the wind. You just move a little forward on the windy days.

In my limited experience set up is critical to the point where boats can be designed for 'you'. Driver position counts too but things can happen too quick to react. Sometimes there's area on course that gets a little hairy & you lift more, once passed you know its coming & can be ready or see a gust on the surface. The feeling of being 'loose' is great but ya know all along it can go off. Knock on wood.. only several almost gone swimming moments.

[mdaspit]

These are the shots I mean.
Same boat, same lift...

And if it is prop, what needs to change to get it "more loose"?

I guess what I should ask is what needs to change to the set up to get the first photo to look like the second.

[seanp3]

These are the shots I mean.
Same boat, same lift...

And if it is prop, what needs to change to get it "more loose"?

I guess what I should ask is what needs to change to the set up to get the first photo to look like the second.

First, that boat when Guedo drove it only weight approx. 365lbs. John is quite small. Second, I'm sure he just went over a roller. The boat did not run consistantly "aired-out" the way the photo shows. It is not typical of the way she rode.

In reference to how much tuck you're running - just keep in mind the more you tuck your motor the more loose the back end of the boat will be, and the more handling issues you will have. Make sure you are running SAFE. You have several other boats out there you will be running next to. Plus, I also experience cooling issues with too much tuck. If you're not cooling check your tuck.

[Aussie Steve]

Agreed with Sean , air is more fun in testing than with 12 other boats and the fun goes out the door and it turns into a handful , I learned the hard way running to much tuck and with the prop hard against the transom with to many boats and flipped ... Not fun !!!!
On a side note it did take lots of testing and lots of listing out of measurement / heights / temps / feet above sea level / humidity ...ect

[mdaspit]

Don't worry guys, I'm too **** old to get too loose, I appreciate the advice.

But, what do you mean your "prop hard against the transom"?

[1100-one]

Set up

Your never to old to get loose in a boat lol. I seen Howard Anderson and many others in their 70's running as if they were in their 20s and had the boat on the edge.

The phrase on prop against the transom is tucked in as far as it can get.

[mdaspit]

"Im no Howard Anderson"

Your never to old to get loose in a boat lol. I seen Howard Anderson and many others in their 70's running as if they were in their 20s and had the boat on the edge.

The phrase on prop against the transom is tucked in as far as it can get.

That is a TON of tuck! At least on my boat it would be.

"I'm no Howard Anderson"

[mdaspit]

Bottom Contouring

Ok, here's another question...

I read in a post someone mentioned "Bottom Contouring"
What is that?

[1100-one]

Set up

Totally agree that would be alot of tuck on alot of boats. I used to mess with mine until I went to far and me and the water became good friends lol
Yeah not to many racers I know of raced as many years as Howard has done.

[Dave M]

Kiss

Lets keep the boat building and bottom configurations on the boat building threads.

One common theme I have seen on this thread so far in just about each teaching post is consistencey. Measure your height and angle in the same place EVERY time. Like I mentioned in the first post, pick two spots and keep it there whenever you measure. This holds true for any boat. Remember, the same spot for each boat. You may measure different on another boat in your stable, and that is fine, just do it the same each time.

For smaller boats, such as J - A - B Hydro, I have found these boats like level to be consistent. Now this is different than what most B&H owners will say. That is a different hull than I have experience with.

Here is a tip for you hydro fantics. This might sting a bit. If you can't race your boat at a set-up of level and level, the boat is not optimal for you in that class. This is more for laydown hydros than kneelers.

Here is another tip for hydros - The more you can tuck it under the faster you will go. But there is a point to which you need to realize won't work in race conditions.

And here is the Tip of the Day - Everyone looks fast testing.