Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

Three Cleavers? What about the Beav? Give those to your wife for her mixmaster.

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

dude, boating is supposed to be fun, not an ordeal....

you have the wrong props for that boat; 3 blade cleavers are surface props for top end speed...THEY ALL CAVITATE UPON TAKEOFF.....let me say that again....THEY ALL CAVITATE UPON TAKEOFF.....you should have 4 blade Bravos, and probably a little more pitch....if you stay with the cleavers; live with the planing; but here's how it works:

tabs down, drives in, throttle to 3k-3.5k hold it for a bit until the props bite; then bring up the tabs slowly and start trimming the drives as you go...that's the way they work....good luck

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

Pat...
I have a 84 10m fountain that came with 630 Gale Banks turbo engines with speedmaster II drives. I had the same problem at first. I had to run the tabs all the way down and drives in. Then bring engines to 3000 and when the props started to break loose pull back on the sticks and let the wave push me, then hit the throttles again. I had to do this several times to get on plane.
Later on I cut on the cavatation plates so I could run larger diameter props. I also went to a long (6 inch.) hub prop. If you go to big on diameter you will have trouble getting the rpm's up into the power range with the turbos.
I do have a pair of 15x25 and 15x26 short hub props if you want to try them.
The long hub and larger diameter is what worked for me.

Steve

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

I run IV's with 3 blade cleavers surfaced and they are a trip! It is a time consuming ordeal. Like Tonto says, try the tabs half way down or so, drives all the way in, try to bring the motors up to the max rpm before either one cavitates. Hold the sticks there and watch the tachs. You should eventually see one side drop 100-200 rpm, slowly bring the r's back up equal with the other and the other will drop in a little bit, do the same deal. You will end up walking the boat up. Once you get hull speed up and it tries to push the nose down you may get a little more aggressive. Nailing the sticks normally doesn't work. Sometimes you can do a large circle to the right or left and hold it and it helps. Takes patience and practice. Once you get a feel for the process then experiment with the tabs. Definetly four blades help a bunch. A band aid is to have a good prop shop add cup. Good luck.

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

Here is the latest update. I replaced 2 rocker arms in the motor this week and put the boat in the water at Metro Beach tonight. I finally got the boat up on plane by walking it up slooooowly. Tabs all the way up, drives tucked in, 2500 rpm, let the boat catch up, 2700 for a few seconds, then all of the sudden the bow came down and it picked up speed. What a PITA. I got it up to about 50 at 3700, then I heard something pop, so now out come the spark plugs to check compression. Here is a picture of us at the launch ramp at Metro Beach. Thanks to everyone for your suggestions.

Pat Hughes

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

Nice!!! Any other pics?

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

The pop could be from moisture in the dist. If it has not been run in a while I bet it is wet. Man, this sucks, I just ease mine out and it is up in seconds.

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

Mitch, mine is always up before I ease it in, not ease it out. :D

Pat, very nice boat, and glad you are getting the knack of it. I hope the pop is something simple, as stated above.

Re: Please help me figure out how to drive my boat and get it on plane
 

Nice looking scarab!