driving at speed

lain · 04-05-2006, 08:44 PM

hi

just purchased a ring21 with a evinrude 200 last saturday. Had a great day with pretty calm water cruising at 44knts, went round two of the channel islands, Herm and Sark then back to guernsey.

The thing is I'm not used to driving this type of boat. my old boat was a cuddy cabin wellcraft 23ft nova with inboards. Comparing this boat the ring slams a hell of a lot more than the wellcraft and can become very uncomfortable in even a small swell.

I would like to try and eliminate some of the slamming so i can run in rougher seas, any advice.

Is it my driving or will adding ballast to the front help? if so how much ballast should I add?

Gav · 04-05-2006, 08:58 PM

Unfortunately with these types of powerboats in choppy conditions they tend to slam unless you are flat out and on top of the chop.

I went to Cowes a couple of weeks ago with the Missus in the passenger seat, i couldnt go very fast cus she dont like it, it slammed like a bastud on the way over( hence the missus refusing to come back with me!!) (she came back in one of those RIB thingies!!lol!) the journey back at WOT was luverly, so in short my answer is get up on top and stay there!

Good luck wiv ya new boat and welcome to Boatmad

FrenchPhil · 04-05-2006, 09:04 PM

Yep if your back ain't sore then you weren't going fast enough

Biggest Arms · 04-05-2006, 10:00 PM

So how fast is the Ring ? have you gps'd it yet?

Jon Fuller · 04-05-2006, 10:25 PM

Some ballast up front will help for sure, does it have a bow tank?

Beware though, with the tank full, and driven reasonably hard, the ride will be greatly improved, but the chance of stuffing it (nose diving into a wave) is increased a little.

lain · 05-05-2006, 08:53 AM

it doesnt have a bow tank, and thats something I would do at the end of the summer, but for now I was thinking of stuffing a 25 kilo sand bag up front. I'm not acutally sure what weight is ok for the boat so would appreciate some advice here.

Out of interest how much water do bow tanks take, and where do i get them?

And no I have not maxed it out yet, only got up to 50knts on gps so far and that was in the first 5 minutes, great fun.

Burty · 05-05-2006, 07:26 PM

my bow tank holds around 150 litres

insane_lewis · 06-05-2006, 10:51 AM

hi iain, saw tht ring for sale on boatsandoutboards,
she looks nice! the diff between these boats and the bigger ones is that you constantly need to keep trimming!

so my advice would be find some flat water and mess around wit the trim, then add that to a chop, everyone has there diff driving styles, its about finding one that suits you.

personally mine is trimmed right out with a nice rooster tail whilst travelling FLAT OUT!

karl · 06-05-2006, 11:08 PM

from wot your saying sounds like you were trimed out to much .and for the waters your runing in i would get a bow tank fitted .

lain · 07-05-2006, 07:13 PM

stuffed two sand bags wrapped in coal bags and plastered in duct tape to reinforce them, up front. Handles like a dream now, had some fun in the rough today without being scared for the first time.

I will look at a bow tank for next year. Where exactly do you get them from, and does anyone have any diagrams on how they opperate (fill and empty) thanks.