Arkydave
Registered User
Posts: 9
(6/2/04 7:06 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del All Any X18 owners here???
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I just got a X18 about two months ago with a XR6 150 Mercury. I have almost burned the first tank, with double oil. It runs good although I haven't checked it with a GPS but I think it will do close to 65mph. My question is, my boat doesn't seem to be as stable in the water as I had hoped. Has anyone else noticed this? My last boat was a 98 Champion 191 Elite with a 200 Merc and the Xpress doesn't seem to be as stable, or nowhere close. My partner weighs about 245 so this could be a factor. I love the boat but thought with the wide beam it would be a little more stable.......Thanks

Groman
Posts: 124
(6/2/04 8:59 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Any X18 owners here???
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Don't have mine yet, but I suspect it will be a little less stable than an equal size fiberglass rig, let alone a 19 ft Champ. Someone correct me if I am wrong, but I think because the heavier and larger Champion displaced more water it was more stable than your lighter Xpress.

Edited by: Groman at: 6/2/04 9:00 pm

BigWoody21
Posts: 200
(6/2/04 9:04 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Any X18 owners here???
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Arkydave ------ We need some info. 1.) Do you have a jackplate on your transom. 2) How high is the motor sitting on the transom? (Measure the height from the center of the bullet ( lower unit) to the BOTTOM center (pad) of your transom.) 3) What RPMS is the tach reading @ 65mph? 4) What pitch is the prop is on the motor? 5) Is your steering hydraulic? --- Try & find some info & we'll go from there. See if your dealer can provide some info on the undesirable ride that you are experiencing. JR probably has some solution & correct something I have overlooked. Post back & let us know. ---------- Cal

Edited by: BigWoody21 at: 6/2/04 9:50 pm

Groman
Posts: 125
(6/2/04 9:20 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Any X18 owners here???
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My bad, I "assumed" he was talking about the boat at rest. I need to stop that, cause we all know what happens when you assume.

Arkydave
Registered User
Posts: 12
(6/2/04 10:41 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Boat
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Groman, you are correct, I was referring to the boat at rest, like while fishing.......

jr225ho
Posts: 524
(6/2/04 10:57 pm)
Reply | Edit | Del Re: Any X18 owners here???
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Groman got it. An Xpress is a lighter boat and therefor has to displace less water when at rest. Its like when you push a beach ball down in the water. The first inch is easy because in that first inch of the ball you are only displacing a few cubic inches of water. The second inch is a little harder because there is about 5 times the cubic inches in it. And so on as you push the beach ball down. So a boat that floats higher in the water is more susceptible to weight transfer. Its a trade off. A heavier boat is more stable at rest but a lighter boat drafts less water (and gets on pad quicker with less horsepower). In my opinion its a trade off in out favor. Its easier to weight a boat down than it is the lighten it up. Try keeping the livewells and gas tank full.