ZX 21 .....rough water ride, need help!

[NNYBassangler]

Ok, I have a 2012 ZX21 with a 250 SHO, four batteries and one power pole on the back. I fished a tournament on the St Lawrence yesterday and got absolutely fed up with the handling of this boat. I have always thought it pounded in the waves a little bit but I watched other guys with shorter rigs run right through this stuff at 35-40 mph. At 20 mph I was pounding waves so hard I had to slow down even more and just take it. The day before I was in a two foot chop running 65 with no issues whatsoever.

Now, maybe where I was it was a little rougher and I was going with the waves so that does make a little difference. Waves were three to four feet....I know you cant run too fast in that but there has to be some way of driving through that without pounding too had, especially when I am seeing guys with 19 footers running it and getting tossed around a little but not bad in any way. What can I do? Do I need to get more nerve and just drive faster? I tried trimming up a bit and running but went airborne so I backed off of that. Do I need more bow weight? I pulled most of my heavy stuff (plastics) to the back for more lift to help stop porposing.

I need suggestions. Can anyone help? I will get the number of dots on JP and prop pitch when I get out to the garage later. Thanks guys.

[johnpec]

You may want to trim all the way down and pick up the speed a little. The ideal trim and speed should be judged on water situation. 3-4 footers I don't believe anyone boat will be comfortable. In situations like that, which happens often on Toledo Bend, I raise my Atlas up a little higer than normal and trim all the way down. This allows the boat to run level and cut the waves without stabbing one. If you trim up you are absorbing all of the impact.

[NNYBassangler]

Not looking for comfortable.....just safe and without tearing up my boat. Like said I saw 19 footers running well in them.....rough but tolerable. As soon as I tried to get up and run I got slammed a couple times and decided it wasn't good. Maybe I needed more speed I dunno.....

[jrg1128]

This Saturday we had all of 2 footers some were probably 3. I had to keep my motor trimmed all the way down and I have found that 36-40 mph is the best handling in rough water like that. I am running an FX20. I didn't get beat up either. If I am trimmed all the way down and go 20 mph I get the crap beat out of me, but anywhere around 40 and it handles great. I think you just need to pick up your speed a little.

[ALMOSES]

Even in Salt water, the commonality is to keep the bow down and plow through the ruff stuff. You will still have a bumpy ride, it just wont be AS bumpy. good luck.

[NNYBassangler]

Thanks for the info. Maybe I was trying to trim up too much. Considering adding a hydraulic JP. My home water is the st Lawrence and lake Ontario so I am no stranger to rough water but need to be able to run it better. BTW.....two footers handle great any more and it gets dicey. I was just worried about stuffing it if I went to fast.

So the general consensus is speed up I take it?

[Randy T]

More speed = more momentum/ punch to go through.

[utinator]

Skeeters naturally have a lot of bow-lift. You need to trim down, not up. Trimming up will send you airborne. Trimming down will keep you level.

Also, going faster will close the gap between waves. It's kinda like going slow across smaller waves. With smaller waves, your boat reaches across them. You don't bounce around when you can reach across them. If you are going with the waves at a set speed for a long distance, you should notice that it gets rougher the farther you go. If you speed up when it starts to get rough, it will feel smoother again. This only works up to a point. Eventually, you just gotta say, "We're gonna a bigger boat".

[BassFishin Electronics]

I have a ZX20 and I think it handles great in rough water. Just keep it trimmed all the way down and you should be good. Anytime you're going with the waves it's going to be a rough ride and it's going to pound. Especially 3-4 footers.

[rolltide164]

I have a zx21 and I find that if I trim down and stay around 40 I can go in some pretty rough stuff.....I'm impressed with the way it rides. It just gets to a point sometimes where no bassboat is good in the conditions.

[Meleagris1]

I agree that trimming up in rough water is your problem. I have a 20i and keep it trimmed down and just drive the boat. I fish the St.Lawrence and Ontario as well. I haven't driven the ZX but I am sure it is similar to the FX and I. I usually put the jackplate down a bit in rough water jus to make sure I keep the LU in the water and keep water pressure up.

[NNYBassangler]

Was on the big lake yesterday in some 3-4 footers. Trimmed it down and drove like hell......that's the ticket. Nice and smooth......well given the conditions it was smooth comparably. Handled great. Just a little trim up and it get rough. Didn't realize how minute of a difference in trim makes a huge difference in handling.

[Neilslure]

I usually run 40-50 with trim under 1/2. Dont think my boat will run 20 in anything without bouncing like crazy.

[Larry.C]

The other fix it is put a four blade on it and trim down, raise your jack plate up about 3/4 inch from bottom try it. It helped my FX20 in rough water. I,ve been where you were [as far as water goes] . The draw back to this is you loose a bit of top end for smooth days.

[wilbur311]

You may want to trim all the way down and pick up the speed a little. The ideal trim and speed should be judged on water situation. 3-4 footers I don't believe anyone boat will be comfortable. In situations like that, which happens often on Toledo Bend, I raise my Atlas up a little higer than normal and trim all the way down. This allows the boat to run level and cut the waves without stabbing one. If you trim up you are absorbing all of the impact.

Hey Johnpec I have the same ZX20 with a 250 SHO and a atlas jack plate. What do you normally set your jack plate at? I'm just can't seem to find that sweet spot.

[johnpec]

Hey Johnpec I have the same ZX20 with a 250 SHO and a atlas jack plate. What do you normally set your jack plate at? I'm just can't seem to find that sweet spot.

Normal conditions as per the dial to get on step I lower almost all the way 3-4. Best top end with a little chop is set at 10. Rough water I adjust to 7 and trim pretty much all the way down and run 30-40. I'm sure every boat will be different, but should be pretty close. I also run a very light load.

[PowerFish]

Let the keel cut the waves, get up and go, good advice here...