Champion Newbie: what am i doing wrong??

I just perchased and am breaking in a 183 CX (150 Yamaha). And I have a question regarding how it performs when running about 3500-4000 rpm. I'll preface my question by stating this is the first boat i have driven (with any length of time) with power trim and the highest hp boat i've driven.

When im running about 4000rpm and ive trimmed up and on the pad going into a turn I make the turn fine but when i straighten out coming out of the turn im throwing a 10ft rooster tail (rpms go up) and im not on the pad anymore. I trim back down and i get a "jerk" and the rpms drop and i pick up speed and i have to trim the motor back up to get on the pad. Is this normal? Am I doing something wrong?

How many rpms should i be turning to be able to trim up to run on the pad.... Might be a dumb question, but I'll ask it anyway. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/roll.gif

Sounds like you are cavitating while turning. You may want to trim motor down a little before going into the turn and that should stop you from cavitating. The jerk is from the prop getting the bite back causing your rpms to drop again.

when you come out of the turn just get back on the gas and the boat should lift right back on the pad. shouldnt fall off the pad ?????????????? my 187 never come off with a tempest prop! let me know if i can help. doug

Congratulations on your 183!! Welcome to the Champion family!!

I agree with James...trim down a hair... Your prop is coming too far out of the water, losing bite momentarily as you come out of the turn...which causes you to drop off pad.

What is your prop to pad measurement?

Welcome. When I get ready to turn I trim down give it a little gas to maintain speed,finish,trim back up. The best way to learn is seat time and there is no other way to put it. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/bows.gif <TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jbonsall93 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Sounds like you are cavitating while turning. You may want to trim motor down a little before going into the turn and that should stop you from cavitating. The jerk is from the prop getting the bite back causing your rpms to drop again.</TD></TR></TABLE>

what is your water press when your in the turn....sounds like your motor is too high and its cavitating some....i can run into a turn as high as i dare to try it speed wise and i dont get none of that but i also keep on the gas pretty good and just work the trim mainly instead of letting off the gas and not trimming down i keep the gas down and trim the motor down some so it dont bow hook

I've had that problem before as well. When I turn in my 180 I lose grip on my prop so when I straighten out I'm throwing a huge roostertail. Trim down until you feel it catch and then trim back up. Or do as luke does and go trim down before you go into the turn and then trim back up after you straighten out. Best advice I can give.

Thanks everyone for the help/advice. To answer one question regarding the water pressure... I dont have a water pressure guage... Guess I need to get one. I do not know (or completely understand) the prop:pad ratio. Seen it posted before but havent paid too much attention. I wasnt going to start playing with the jack plate until i was finished breaking in the motor. But the jack plate is all the way down.

I'll ask another newbie question... how do i know when im on the pad? I think another problem is I might be trimmed too high for the speed im running.

Where did you get the boat from with the jackplate set all the way down, and what king of RPM'S are you getting while running

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mpdunne79 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks everyone for the help/advice. To answer one question regarding the water pressure... I dont have a water pressure guage... Guess I need to get one. I do not know (or completely understand) the prop:pad ratio. Seen it posted before but havent paid too much attention. I wasnt going to start playing with the jack plate until i was finished breaking in the motor. But the jack plate is all the way down.

I'll ask another newbie question... how do i know when im on the pad? I think another problem is I might be trimmed too high for the speed im running.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Here is a great link that explains how to measure pad to shaft height measurement.

http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=65514

Yes I would suggest a water pressure guage on any boat with a JP. I ran a 183 in some HARD turns and never slipped. I've been known to white knuckle " newbies" http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/pimp2.gif

To be fair I've got about 11 years of seat time in them though.

After you get a water pressure guage find someone with driving experience and spend an afternoon with them dialing your rig in, I bet you learn a TON of information and make a new friend. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif

I'll ask another newbie question... how do i know when im on the pad? I think another problem is I might be trimmed too high for the speed im running.[/QUOTE]


to answer this question IMHO If you are trimmrd to high you should lose RPM's and speed . I think that most boats get up on the pad at slower speed than one might think

if your on the pad you will "feel" the boat lift up on the pad and it will just feel kind of "loose" not really any other easy way to explain it other than that really

if you think your trimmed up to high watch your speed and RPMs when your moving the trim up and down.....mine dont like full trim....it gets a ton of lift that way but has a tendancy to chinewalk and not as fast but if i trim down jsut a tad it will pick up speed and the walk gets a lot easier to control

not really any easy way to explain it jsut takes seat time and experimentation http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif