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My new puma ftd is really hard to.turn to.the left.and chinewalks.bad over 70. What.can.cause.this.and.what.can.I.do.to.correct.it.?
Im no expert but it sounds like you may have her trimmed up to high maybe and as far as the chine seat time is the only thing gonna fix that. You have to get the right timing of very small turns to the left to counter the rotation of the prop to the right.
It is either trimmed too high or the engine is too high on the jack plate, or both. Dont over trim a BCB hull, keep it tucked and use bumps on the trim. Some brands you trim to the top folks seem to feel. Though on a BCB model you only need steps in the trim.
I agree with cull none and BCB. The torque (hard to turn left) probably means you have the outboard set too high. I assume you have a manual jack plate, try lowering it 1/4″ at a time till the torque is gone.As far as chine walk, that is seat time and outboard setup. Is this a new boat to you – your first high speed boat? It took me about 3 months of driving and adjusting the outboard height before I was able to control it. Now it comes natural and I almost have to make it chine.
Whats a.rough approximation to.where.the motor.should.be.set.and.where.should.the.trim.be.on.the.trim.gauge thanks.
It may help to know if your running a manual plate or a hydraulic Jackplate. If running the manual plate a good starting point, and i believe they generally leave the factory set here, would be to have the inner plate and outer plate flush with each other. If hydraulic, thats gonna take some tinkering with to find what works best for you. As far as trim setting, as mentioned, with the Beede gauges, and assuming it is calibrated correctly, when trimmed out and running max rpm, it will generally be between the 3/4 down and half way mark. You shouldnt be able to trim above the half way mark when on plane, as the motor wont let you. Run 3/4 trim until you get your seat time then begin to play with the trim (and /or HYD plate settings if you have that), you want to feel the hull release (lift) from the water and give you that loose, yet controllable feeling, once there you can play with trim and throttle to find your own comfort range. Pay attention to water pressure. As others said though it sounds as if your either over trimming, or the JP is too High, Or a little bit of both. Your main goal will be to not ever worry about your trim angle, it will be all by how the boat feels to you, the boat will tell you everything you need to know and if your set up correctly. Last edited by JSLAW on September 22nd, 2012, 10:57 am, edited 2 times in total.
May I suggest you not go by the trim gauge. Feel should be the guidance you need. As BCB says, something is wrong with your height. Jason also has some good suggestions regarding the jack plate. What prop are you running as well would be helpful to know. Some props do better with less trim such as the fury.Hope this helps and welcome to the family.Carky
I have a manual Jackplate and havent adjusted it at all. I am going thru suggestions here to try to get an idea of what is going on with it. The boat has a 26 fury on it as I trim up the speed increases but my water pressure doesnt fall so those two tale tale signs would objectivly (not knowing how the cat runs) lead to believe that its not overtrimming on other boats. That said, its not other boats the boat runs strong and is a solid ride. I never hit the rev limitor on it when I was noticing the problems with turning the stearing wheel Last edited by grimmjsg on September 22nd, 2012, 11:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.
water pressure will not b a factor as u have a low water pickup on that motor. Fury props like a “low” ride. I run a 26f and only trim 1/2 to 5/8 or so, now by feel. Loose speed and performance if up too high. Be happy to go out with u one day/afternoon and help if u like. like they said, seat time is what you need. Will also add this: Whatever preconceptions you have about running another brand boat for the most part will not help. Bought a T boat and couldnt control for about a month. then eventually would run smooth and easy. Came to BCB and tried to drive my P11 like my T boat and almost hooked the first week out. 2 months is what it took me of mostly river runnin. Long straights then worked into turnin. Chine WILL go away in time. You got a monster of a machine and not much in water at 70mph or faster so small things make big differences. Enjoy the orientation, it will come!
Just curious, folks. Ive run bass boats since the earl 1970s. Ive had several Cats and have wrung them out pretty good. Ive never had chine walk in a Cat that is set up properly. Having said that; is it possible that chine walking is more driver related than boat related? Are people making minor unnecessay wheel movements and not noticing it? Ive ridden with many folks who I thought were being too “handsy” with the wheel.
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