chine walking?

bluebonnet2 · February 09, 2013, 07:26:41 AM

good morning,

just a question, whick BRAND of boats has the least amount of "walking"...i used to have a champion 184dc(merc 150) and don't remember any proplems at 65 mph

....i hear legend, ranger, etc....

no flame here pls...

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

OutdoorFrontiers · February 09, 2013, 09:35:23 AM

I've owned or driven boats by Ranger, Triton, Champion, Stratos, ProCraft, Allison, Skeeter, Viper (Legend LE-21 style hull) and they all chine walked to one degree or another. Some were worse than others, but when you're balancing a boat on the pad, they'll all walk some.

There is one high performance fishing boat that I did own that had absolutely ZERO chine walk though. It was as easy to drive at 80 mph as it was at 40 mph, BUT, it isn't a boat that is very popular or easy to get. Nor is it an inexpensive boat to buy.

Look at Lanier Custom Boats. They build a catamaran style hull fishing boat that is superb for rough water and it handles like a dream...

Steve

Mike Cork · February 09, 2013, 09:53:21 AM

I've road in a Cat and they are nice.

I've owned all the Legend series boats and the current Alpha series, you can put your hands in your pockets at WOT with a package boat. Meaning, a 211 Alpha with a 250 on the back will do 74 out of the box with no tweaking. If that's fast enough for you, then it won't chine.

classic242 · February 25, 2013, 03:46:01 PM

Quote from: bluebonnet2 on February 09, 2013, 07:26:41 AM
good morning,

just a question, whick BRAND of boats has the least amount of "walking"...i used to have a champion 184dc(merc 150) and don't remember any proplems at 65 mph ....i hear legend, ranger, etc....

no flame here pls...

good luck,
PURA VIDA,
bluebonnet2

I see I am a little late on this one but most all high performane boats will chine walk if, they are set up to run for top speeds. My Bass Cat will chine walk at around 62 MPH but I can steer it with one hand wide open after I get thru the chine walk which only last about 3 to 4 seconds. I rode in a 20 i class Skeeter with a 250 HPDI Yamaha and with two guys in the boat in very hot weather it was running 72 MPH GPS and you could take your hands off of the steering wheel and it did not even think about chine walking. Just saying !!

OutdoorFrontiers · February 25, 2013, 04:12:46 PM

I rode in a twin 300 hp outboard powered FastCat C20, the forerunner of the Lanier Custom Boats. The guy was testing props and didn't achieve maximum speed, but we did hit 104.3 mph according to his GPS and there was absolutely NO CHINE WALK. My pucker string did pinch button holes in the seat when we crossed a boat wake at that speed, but the boat just walked over it like there were no waves at all!

Lanier, the best handling, rough water high performance boat bar none. And that's not picking at the Ranger, Legend, Skeeter or any other boat company. This is a RACE BOAT designed to be a fishing boat, designed and built by an 8 time world champion powerboat racer and his son, another powerboat racer...

Steve

oldjim · February 25, 2013, 04:46:30 PM

Skeeter boats go one test further in boat handeling by guarantee their boats will pass a 90 deg turn test at full speed. The test is conducted by accelerating the boat to its maximum top-end speed, and then sharply turning the steering wheel 180 degrees with no change in settings. The boat passes the test by completing a 90° change in direction without the driver losing confidence in his ability to maintain control. Doin't try this in your boat unless its a skeeter.
Oldjim

OutdoorFrontiers · February 25, 2013, 08:05:58 PM

LOL oldjim, been there, done that....

Steve

bobsquatch13 · March 07, 2013, 06:31:16 PM

I have owned Champions, Skeeters, Monarch, along with several aluminums and now a Basscat. The best of the bunch (aluminums not fast enough to chine walk) so far has been the Basscat. It will chine walk but is not hard to control as long as you catch it right off. I believe it would be a rare boat that is capable of speeds in excess of 70mph that will not chine walk at all. I have also been in Rangers, Hydrosports, Cajuns, Nitros, Tritons and maybe a few others and the ones with speed will all chine walk.

Bigwrench · March 07, 2013, 06:41:14 PM

My 518svs Does as well usually above 60-65. At first it was extremely scary but after getting some seat time and knowing how to react it doesn't even phase me anymore. Now skipping in turns (only way I know how describe it) still scares the beejeesus outta me ! I'm working on fixing that this year lol.

LSU Skeeter · March 07, 2013, 06:51:47 PM

I have a ZX225 skeeter and at 70 it doesnt walk a bit....it handles the water great....i fish lake Fork 2 times a year and the wind is always blowing there....i have also had a champion and a PRO GATOR with 150 mercury's and they walked just a bit until you filled the livewells up...lol....Good Luck and good fishing

DOUGMCGEEPUMAFTD · March 08, 2013, 06:30:39 PM

Any of the high performance types will walk when wot . Bullets, allys, Bass Cats, Toons etc any of them with a lil potential to run. That being said yes if you run my 250 powered Cat over 80 you have to drive it, Or if you run a Toon or Bullet up on the pad and rollin you will have to drive them. BUT if you slow the 250 powered Cat down to slower speeds 75 or less my wife or 15 year old son can drive it. I can take you for a ride at 75 and feel like you could go to sleep same goes for the other faster brands. I can take you for a ride at 75 in some brands and its walkin all over but thats because its balls out for that boat

Reelaxd · April 22, 2013, 07:47:58 PM

I've only owned two brands of boats one was a Ranger and I now own a Triton, but I have driven many. All boats will chine walk to some point or another, but it's all about learning to drive and getting used to the boat you own.

The Ranger was as stable as a boat can get, you almost had to try to make that boat walk to get it to do any chine walking at all. Very easy to drive and a nice smooth dry ride but it was heavy and a bit slower than some of the other manufacturers.

The Triton I own now is a great boat but you do have to drive it starting around 60 mph especially if you are in it alone. Once you learn to anticipate the start of the walk you are able to avoid it but you definitely have to drive the boat. With two or more people in it the boat is much easier to drive.

trey682 · April 26, 2013, 10:18:29 AM

I have never even heard of the term until now. Love it when I learn something new. I have never experienced this but I will keep an eye out for it now that I know. Maybe I have never had this happen because none of the boats I have owned ever topped the 60mph mark. Not sure I want to go faster than 60 on the water....too scary!

merc1997 · April 26, 2013, 01:20:35 PM

i have driven basscats for eons. i have also set up other brands. if you tinker with the setup, meaning prop and motor height, you can most of the time get them to run at wot without any walking. here is one tip, a hydraulic jack plate makes dialing one in quite quick. i know there will be many disagree with me, but as little as a 1/8" adjustmet in height can make a bucking bronco the easiest driving boat you were ever in. there are some hull designs though that just want to wander around no matter what. i have not ever found a bass cat yet, that i could not get to drive at wot with no hands on the wheel. i have tinkered with bass cat hulls as new as 2010, and nothing bigger than a 225 on them. there is a short video clip that i posted on the basscat thread to demonstrat how one should drive as wot. no hands.

bo