Turning at speed
 

Always a hard one to ask something like this, but as I continue to boat (now 25+ years) and go faster and faster, I want to know what the limits/ signs are before there are problems. Let's cover all the appropriate things. Yes I am the captain and responsible for everyone on board. When I am operating the boat above 7/10ths I am normally by myself or with other speed enthusiasts. I don't want any problems, that is why I ask questions like this. Now with that covered.

Does anyone have a great paper, videos, book about operating a high performance boat. I run multiple twin engine boats, but I really want to understand my 81 Cigarette 33' Limited. In the last 25+ years I have gotten comfortable with top speed, bow height, water conditions, drive trim, and tabs, but I still turn way slow then required. Full disclosure I have a lot more time in my Sea Ray 280 BR (twin 350 60 MPH boat) but has given me a lot of experience with trim/ tab conditions. Every other years is a new event for the Cigarette.

Reggie Fountain had a "delivery video" at one point in time where he was covering drive in, throttle down, turn etc, but I don't remember anything like the boundaries of what is executable. How much drive in, tab position, etc. I know the high performance driving academies are great, but I also know that I haven't attended one in the last 15 years of owning a twin engine boat, so I would love to find books, papers, videos. An help would be appreciated.

My advice is don't do it unless you absolutely have to.

I practiced a lot when I was much younger (20"s) on a smaller and slower boat. (20ft Baja)

I learned that there are so many variables in water conditions, that just when you think you have it figured out, you find out you don't. It can spin, or hop a wave grab and hook etc. Some have even rolled them.

Just watch the offshore race guys. Not easy to do.

I always throttle down and turn slowly, then back on it as you complete the turn. Just much safer.

Dont do it in a TS Gun or Gladiator.............:angry-smiley-038:

Noone knows your boat better than you .. hard to give advice.

Hands down the best advice is to take a Tres Martin class. He's amazing. Tons of experience in every boat imaginable. Part of the course is done in your actual boat with him. The price of admission I'll admit was a hard one to swallow initially, but you would be hard pressed to find any past student that would not agree it was well worth it.

Tres Martin Performance Boat School – Advanced, Hands-on, Skill Based Performance Boat School

I am 100% sure the driving academy's are great, but I am not learning to race. I want to know the signs and signals of when you are pushing to far. I do some HPDE in old corvettes. I know what break fade feels like, under steer, over steer, etc.

I am trying to learn how to push boats safely. When I was 20 I had a 14' tri hull that you could turn hard at full throttle because it was under powered. I am trying to understand what causes boats to roll, spin, stuff in turns. I normally turn with drive all the way in and tab neutral. Is there a certain angle lean that should be avoided? Certain degree of turn angle that should be avoided above 1/2 throttle. Just wondering if there is any good reading, videos or experience. There is so much experience on the forum for restoration just checking for operating and speed. Thanks

Avoid this..............Speedy got a clean bottom


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Clean bottom but drivers seat very stinky.

Once you start Feeling It- you are probably Feeling the water next.

Tres class if you feel like pushing it.

This is exactly what the course teaches…

Very interesting photo. This is the exact thing I am trying to under stand.I know this is a race but why did the second boat roll. Was the second boat just simple cutting to hard after the first boat and the first boats wave rolled him because the hull was cutting and then cut to hard into the first boats wake? I am sure that the course is awesome but I don't have the time and the money to take a course. There a lot of knowledge on this site and I just trying to tap into the experience of fellow operator on in the forum. I have a lot of time on the water, but a novelist when it come to high performance. Any body can push the throttles over on flat water in a strait run. I have got confident there and enjoy that. I just want to get more and more confident related to photo like this. I want to know what the pilot/captain did that caused this so that I don't.

Also I didn't understand the comment on TS Gun and Gladiator. Are they prone to roll?

No expert but step hull not same as strait hull where you bring drives in a little turning. I own 2 step hulls now don't bring drives in as much. As said take the class.

81cig33.......Sean Stinson and Dick Simon went swimming but the boat never rolled / flipped it righted itself with no passengers......my current boat Speed Racer


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Beautiful boat. I hope they were both ok. Did the boat just "bite" to hard in the water and that is what set them swimming? Do you know about how fast they were running. looks like they are 80+ but that is a SWAG only based off how much boat is in the water? These are the kinds of examples that I am trying to understand, which gives me confidence. They were pushing this boat to the line and then the maneuvers were do aggressive. I am 100% certain they are better operators than I am but comparing their boats position vs the other boat that appears to be lower in the water and stable. Am a close or off base? BTW beautiful boat!

This is the best advice you will receive!! Take the Tres Martin Class, I took the class after a scary moment in my first 32 Sunsation. Tres will cover the exact material you are asking about, then he spends time with you in your boat to teach what you learn in class.