New member and New Stratos owner.

[jim d]

Hello everyone! I am new to this board and I am A New Stratos 201XLE owner. It has the Rude 250HO on it. I drove 1100miles round trip to get my boat. I really like the stratos. styleing,layout, rough water ride ect... I have only had the boat out 3 times it has plenty of speed but it is chime walking very very bad. So bad you can"t drive it at top speed. I thought all you stratos owners might be able to give me a little advice. I have never had another boat do this. I have to keep it trimmed down running 70mph @ 5000rpm to be safe. I have had it 76.3mph just for a sec. and trimed it back in. just chime walking way to much!!!! Prop to pad is 3" and turning a 26 raker2. Thanks Jim.

[Troy250]

Jim, Welcome to the Boards and to the Stratos family. That is one nice boat you have purchased. Use the search tool for Chine Walk and you will find this a much discussed topic. Plenty of good reading on the topic. Most all of us have been there, I know I have. Get some good seat time and you will figure it out.....

[NB Basser]

Hi Jim, welcome.

I had the same problem on my 2009 294XLE w/ 200 HO. I had the motor at 3.5" from prop to pad. I couldn't get the boat past 67 mph without it chine walking badly. It was suggested here to raise the motor up until I got to the sweet spot without losing water pressure. I did that last week, raising the motor to 3", and it made a huge difference. Now I get 71 mph with much less chine walk, but I still have about 300 RPM to play with so I will raise it another 1/4" to see what that does. Some of the issue is obviously my driving time with the boat but it was MUCH more stable with that 1/2" difference. Maybe you can try 2.75" and see if that helps?

I'm surprised that you're running a 26 Raker 2; that's the same prop that I have on my 200 HO. Wouldn't a 250 HP be running a bigger prop?

Good luck.

[currituckbasser]

Welcome Jim! As mentioned before, use the search function & you'll find alot on chine walk.
http://www.bbcboards.net/zerothread?id=390628
This thread is a good read.
On Youtube, there is a video on chine walk as well.

[Sterling]

Congrats on the boat. The best thing you can do is find someone who knows how to drive a boat. Have them go out with you and show you how to drive it. I went two years listening to people tell me seat time, watch the video and I was so mad I hated to take my boat out. So I got hooked up with a guy and dumped him in the water with my boat ( I seriously thought about leaving, hiding the trailer and report it stolen.lol) and we spent two hours on the lake. I love driving my boat today.

[Dan21XRS]

Congrats... What everone else said... Dan

[nmanley]

<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by NB Basser &raquo;</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I'm surprised that you're running a 26 Raker 2; that's the same prop that I have on my 200 HO. Wouldn't a 250 HP be running a bigger prop?

Good luck.</td></tr></table>

Not sure but I bet the 250 has a different gear ratio.

To Jim, Congrats on your new rig. Once you get it fine tuned you'll be able to drive the chine in it but you will probably still have to learn to drive it. Fast comes with some concessions.

[jim d]

Thanks for everyones help.Good fishing & See ya on the water! Jim

[jim d]

About my chine walking problem, someone has suggested to me since i am 6ft 225lbs the boat is heavy to one side causing my problem. I do fish quite a bit by myself, they suggested a 4 blade trophy plus. I know I will lose 2or3mph but do you think it would be more stable? Thanks Jim

[bassknight]

4 blade prop carry a better load. The speed is about the same now between a 3 or 4 blade. You probally need to balance the boat better. Also it could be you need just more seat time. No offense we all do.