Rough water

I inherited my dads 05' Skeeter SX180, unfortunately, we never had the chance to fish togather on his new boat, and I'm totally green to this type of boat. My question...afternoon, windy lake conditions, to me..the boat has a very rough ride. And hard to handle, if not scary at times when the motor is trimed up, 30-35 mph (gps). Best run 47 mph (gps). It seems every bow rider on the lake is a caddy vs. the Skeeter. Just wanted some input / direction on technique, and do other bass boats handle the same ?
Thank you for your time.

First what motor are you running with this rig? Doesn't sound like it is near top speed.

You will have to adjust speed and trim to fit conditions, but in most situations, Skeeter has a very good rough water ride, at least with the ZX hulls they do.

Boat is going to run best with about a 6" chop on the water and 5-10mph wind.

ride into the waves at an angle and dont try to floor it in the rough water.

Engine is Yamaha F115 four stroke. The best top speed run is 47 mph gps, in the morning...no complaints, nice ride. Feels like a normal "ride" on the water. However, as soon as late afternoon hits, there are no more full throttle runs. Maybe it's my lack of experience...in a bass boat. The fav local lake, Lake Nacimiento.
Thanks.

Hi Geno and welcome. first off the boat is a little under powered. with a normal 150 on it ( what they reccommend) it should be in the low to mid 60's. I also forgot while new at the bass boat trim down a little when it is really windy and choppy this will help on the ride on windy days boat wakes follow:
now rough water riding. since the boat is only a 18 ft'r and not bigger it will not take wakes that are spaced far apart well if possible and you are running say up behind a big slow boat you will have a diplacement swell behind the boat in the center when you get up about 5-7 boat lengths from it do a slight angle turn right or left and then gun it do not slow down as that will drop your nose and make for a rougher ride also you will get some chattering and up and down but you are traveling in somewhat the same direction as the wake and then and since the wakes are close together at that point you should scoot right over them.
All this comes with seat time, a bass boat is a totally different boat than any you may have driven before. just get used to getting wet a little at first and as time goes by you will get the hang of it. I used to have a gambler and took it out the first time in 3-4 foot rollers on lake hartwell ( winds were howling at 35-40 MPH) after a major cold front was running at 45-50 mph with cross swells coming from my right out of the major rivers as we headed back to the ramp, did not get wet once in 45 degree weather. It is all a matter of seat time and experience. Good Luck, with the boat,

Thanks for the input. Took the Skeeter out on Labor day with the girlfriend for a picinic & a little fishin'. Kept the trim gauge about between 1/2 & 3/4 up...great ride about 30-35 mph...no reason for any full throttle runs that day. A fishin' buddy of mine always told me to trip all the way "up" and give all she has...Well, it's fast on clean water, but a little hairy when the goin' gets rough. So I have learned that ...NO...the engine doesn't need to be trimmed up like that all the time.
Thanks everyone !!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif

"NO...the engine doesn't need to be trimmed up like that all the time" http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif
Enjoy!

I was on lake naci on that day. Like most lakes it was very crowded. You are not running in windy chop, but the lake was flat tore up with boat wakes in every direction. I have 520 ranger that is known for a pretty goood ride and we did not run wide open either. now that the water is cooling off you will see a lot less boat traffic and you will hone your skills. As far as your boat being under powered, I think that is a great motor for you to learn with. It will run a long time and upkeep should be pretty low. Maybe not the fastest, but very dependable and capable.

dont take this as smarta$$y!!!but it also takes a ''set of''........read ''adreinalin junkie'' to run WFO in water like that!!!!!and it will beat you to death no matter how good the driver is!!!!!!!!man-woman or even a pro

Herbert,
He ain't never rode with "Team Blue Parrot" http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/glasses.gif http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/pimp2.gif

"You are not running in windy chop, but the lake was flat tore up with boat wakes in every direction. "

Copy that, try Lake Powell's verticle walls 1/2 mile wide and every kind of boat one can imagine creating wakes that dome at you from every direction possible! From 6" to over 6', yes FEET! We have a special spot, called Maytag straights! From the south end all get to run it till the cut gets enough water to allow passage.

This 10 miles no fun! Especially if one is heading in for a 3pm scale appointment!

I recommend seat replacement, seat belts and mind altering substances to run it! Well forget the substances, you don't need em, one pass and your mind is indeed altered!

Trim, as mentioned above is your friend. Put the nose into the waves and let the pointy end of the boat separate the waves for you. Speed, well you have to keep your head, and 18' is the smallest that one can normally maintain speed in rough conditions. I have to pull the throttle back when wind driven they hit3-4'. Just can't span the swells any more. Longer boats do much better in such conditions. I've been in wind driven of 6-7' before, it was scary for sure, but boats float, for the most part we stayed dry as well, just gotta go with the flow and relax!

http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/pimp2.gif

is there really anytime to trim upto 3/4 unless you are driving home?

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