High speed handling in hammer
 

So I was out on the lake this weekend in my Hammer, and for fun tried to play with an outlaw I say in the distance. Was too far off to tell if it was a 25 or 29, so I head for it and run parallel (at 40) --- he gets the hint and goes for it.

Well, long story short, turns out it was a 29 with twin engines, and had no trouble brutally kicking my ass...

But, the reason for the post --- as I got up towards 68-70 (speedo) the boat starting bouncing back and forth, port to starboard, pretty violently. I could not bring it back under control so I just let off the throttle.

So, is this the "chine walking" that I keep hearing about? If so, is there anything I can do about it? Will trim tabs fix it?

Thanks!

I had a Hammer a few years ago, fun boat! Does your's have tabs? I put a set of single ram (Bennets if I recall) and it quited the boat down quite a bit.

Don't recall a lot of chine walk. Is your steering tight?

No tabs... just outdrive trim.

To be honest, I couldn't tell you how tight my steering is. Only other boats I've "steered" were 20-35 foot sailboats.

Compared to my car, it steers like $hit. Does that help? ;)

I have trim tabs on my hammer and they do help greatly. I'm still figuring out where she runs the best at, I just recently bought it a few months ago. Right now they are all the way up. I don't have it down to a science yet but I'm finding out where she runs the best, if you don't have trim tabs I'd surely look into getting some because they will help you out a bunch. I do know what your talking about though because at high speed I get the occasional pat on the arm from the wife yelling "OK OK OK" HAHAHA

To clarify, when I said "bouncing" what would have been more correct would have been "rolling" but in a bouncy, quick way. Felt like the boat wanted to lay down on one side or the other and just kept going from laying on the port to laying on the starboard and so on.

OK, so are Bennett's a good bet? If so, what size? Single or Dual? Sporttabs? Are trim indicators helpful at all? And has anybody tried the Bennett auto-trim thing?

Thanks again!

I was at the lake yesterday with Brad Perry from this board ( chck out the picks in readers rides and engine compartments that I posted ) he ran probably 95 plus in not to good water, but he does have external hydralic steering the boat is capable of, I belive about 105, one bad ass boat, makes me want to yank my 502, possible winter project

Hey dloftis

Chine walking is exactly what you are experiencing. Try not to over correct. It just makes it worse. I have a new Hammer as well and did not feel the chine walk was bad at all. I do have tabs, but have been running with them all the way up. If you put it in ever so slight of a turn, it takes up the slack in the steering and you can run level. Have fun.

Hydraulic steering will help you drive through the chine walk, but you will need the system that goes all the way to the helm. I have a similar hull (210 Sport) that runs 95 mph plus and you have to drive the boat in order to keep it rock solid. The corrections required are very small. It will take some seat time to get really good at it. Keep practicing and if you just cannot stop the chine walking go to a full hyd. steering system. My opinion.
If Brad Perry's can go 100 plus the hull is obviously very capable and probably just needs to be driven. Keep practicing and be safe.

Brad's steering is to the helm and I believe it is WPM, Where ya at Brad tell these guys what your hammer feels like:D

IT SCARES THE SHIT OUT OF ME!!!
 

No, really, you HAVE to pick your water with that boat. I wouldn't really call what it does chine walking as much as just rolling back and forth. I've experienced chine walking in boats on glass smooth water that were impossible to get out of (for me). It just kept getting worse and worse until you had to get out of it. It goes against all natural reflexes to steer out of it. Some describe it as the nose of the boat slowly carving ever larger vertical circles in front of the boat. I think what you are experiencing is a small boat in big water. Many say that tabs help in this case. I have it all the time in confused water, but get me in a wind blown empty lake going into or with the wind in 1 to 2' and she is rock steady and fast. Get out on the lake early when other rollers aren't there, wind or not and experiment, to see how the boat behaves. All waves aren't the same.

Brad is correct.
 

Small HP boats are a blast on the right water, but when it gets rough the big boys rule. I still like smaller boats because of the favorable power / weight ratio and their agility. Trying to run with bigger boats on their water can be frustrating. It sure is fun to blow by them if you do happen to catch them in the calm. Keep that in mind and choose your battles wisely. I know, believe me I know, it's hard to hold back sometimes.

Wette Vette
 

Hit the nail on the head.

Thanks again for all the replies!

I know that battle was picked poorly... but I didn't really expect to beat him, just thought it might be fun to try.

This was all on Lake Conroe last weekend. The wind was kickin' up pretty good, 15-25 MPH. Didn't seem like I was in anybody's wake, but looking at the water you sure as hell couldn't tell which way the waves were really going... seemed like they were coming from all directions.

I'll work on it some more. Maybe some upgrades someday, but I want to get a lot more familiar with the boat first.

If any of you (with Hammer helm-time) are in Houston, I'd love to take you out in my boat and get some tips. Beer and gas is on me!

I boat out in conroe also, just about every weekend, if the graphics on the side was the paint spladder (red, grey, black) it might of been me. Of course I usually try to pull over the other Baja guys if I see them out. I saw another 29 out that weekend also, but it had the boss graphics on it.

I am a houston guy, I have a 32 Active Thunder right now, but did have ~30 hours in a Hammer a few years ago, this one just had a blown 502 in it, but it was a lot of fun.

I will be out on the bay and up the San Jacinto river this weekend if you would like to go. There is plenty of smooth water at all times up there, and if you want the rough stuff go out in the bay. One other thing, you can launch where it is mostly fresh water and basically flush the boat out when you take the boat out of the water. So, if you want to get together let me know!

If you want to get in touch, email me at [email protected] I will be back in town on Friday morning hopefully.

Cheers,

Linn

Nasdboy: Well, it was Sunday, I was to the port side of whoever it was... but I don't remember what graphics were on the boat. We'll have to meet up out there sometime though.

Coddigtion: I'm tied up for the next couple of weeks, but I'll email you when I'm a little more free and maybe we can get together.

Thanks again everyone!

This brings something up what are all of the houston guys doing this weekend? Want to meet up sometime?

Can't this weekend, but I will definetly be out next weekend. Also took a few days off for Memorial day, I want to check out Possum Kingdom, or Lake Travis. If any of you guys want to meet up there or next weekend let me know.:D

What is Possum Kingdom? I haven't been to lake travis either. I am gone Memorial Day weekend... Sorry Let me know you have the email address.