312 Fastech
 

I moved up to a 312 Fastech this year, I am thinking of trying to sell it. I am not at all happy with the ride. I love everything about the boat, except the ride. I boat in Lake Erie waters, 3's and above the boat gets really squirley on me. Ot seems to jolt side to side very quickly when bouncing in rough water, almost to the point of scaring the crap out of me! Any advice from other 312 owners would be helpful.

Get some 5 blade maximus props,,makes the boat more stable..also jumps on plane easier..my friend has a set of 26p that came off his 312 and it made a huge difference went threw 1/3rd less fuel and the boat stayed on plane at 19 mph @ 2100 rpm's..props are forsale if interested..ill pm you his number and he can tell you more if you want to call him.

I had a 312 and thought it performed very well. We later went to a 382 for the cabin space since we overnighted with 3 kids often. 4 blade Bravos tend to be the best prop for these boats. 5 blades work well but I started busting drives in the 382 with them.

What boat did you have before? Is this your first stepped hull. Even the 312's small single step will fell less "glued" to the water than a straight hull.

Does the boat have hydraulic steering? Kplanes or bennet tabs?

It does not have hydronic steering or K planes. Just tabs. I had a 242 LS before. It just seems super squirley to me.

The step and the lack of hydraulic steering make a big difference, even the bigger tabs would help a little. Does the wheel move around when you are wave hopping or is the wheel solid but the boat moves? Have you checked the gimbal for play? W/O Hydraulic steering if you don't have play in the system yet.......you soon will boating in those conditions often. I assume this is a 454/310hp boat since it doesn't have any of the other upgrades but even at 65mph WOT that boat needs steering help.

I run my pops' 03 312 w/ 6.2s and it feels anything but light on the water. Lots of things you can go over... prop pitch? Direction they turn in or out? Measure your trim stop, make sure it is only raising to the recommended angle while running. Measure the cross bar to confirm it is at recommended specs.

Some improvements he has done to the 312 is add longer bennett tabs and an extra pump/piston. Also Bblades labbed and worked his 26 4 blades.

The props are set pretty optimal for his boat and you can really get a nice hole shot with no blowout and the cup that was put in really lets it be trimmed up nicely with out any uncomfortable feeling. We have had a good results while running the gps with light fuel and a nice chop we saw 68 any day and 70 with a little work.

Too bad you aren't nearby I would tell you bring that rascal to the bay and we can exchange rides to see if we can help you getting her settled.

The fellas helped you with suggestions. Definitely check the other mechanics of it like transom housing like the steering pin for play...

I dont care what people say, stepped formulas with out hydraulic steering are plain funky to drive at speed the stock basic power provides. My 292 would dart around like a gold fish before. 1 billion percent better now that I installed the full hydraulic steering system. The back and fourth rocking you experience when in rougher water is almost always driver induced unless it is a side swell, your over compensating for the 2" of slack in the cable steering and you just dont realize it.

I tend to agree with loose on this, I would say before making any big decisions get some more seat time, maybe see if u can catch another ride on someone elses

I had my 353 out on lake MI this weekend for the air water show... lots of big boats out near navy pier and such, left my drives down and k planes all the way down and road outstanding. My girlfriend freaks out at anything above idle on boats and i couldnt even get her to come off the boat she liked it so much.

FYI i do have full hydro steering as well

I guess the issues is if its worth adding the hydro steering and k planes. Not sure how long I will keep it, I would really like a 37SS.

LOL If you really drove your 353 with the drives and tabs "All the way down" I can't imagine how much water you must have been plowing! :eekdrop:

http://i1091.photobucket.com/albums/...ps2b2d78be.jpg

Lets add we are talking Lake Erie west basin slop....

Matt, put K planes on it and hydraulic steering, both used for around 3-4000.00...I know many of us know how to put it all on with ya....

if the drives are spinning in it will be looser, see what the are doing now, or send me a pic of the back of the boat....

I think the 312 is a tad small for Lake Erie, but also it should do better then you are describing also...

Ok, looked at a FB pic, your spinning out so that's not the issue....

lol... a lot!! But I gotta do what keeps the lil lady happy

My 97 312 is smooth as glass with twin 454mag mpi's running labbed bravo-1 30p 72 mph about 3-4 on the trim an running 1 on tabs. It actually likes some chop. But I do have full hyd. Steering. My labbed 28 p's top out at 70 but throttle response is much quicker in the mid range.

Thank all for your help! All great advice!

I have no experience behind the wheel of a 312, so I can't tell you if there is a big difference between a single step vs a double stepped hull. However, my 292 loves 2-3 chop. Now 3+ I can get bounced around with the best of them just because of the size of the boat. My motors and drives are stock, no hyrdo steering and 12x12 bennetts.

Two things I've found that works for me in those types of seas is to bury the tabs. You'll be able feel them working. Your nose may walk a bit, that is what a deep V does, but the tabs will bring you back keep you from wondering like you mentioned. Plus, with the tabs down you'll keep the drives in the water and will prevent you from launching the boat. You'll still have to drive the boat, it's not going to drive for you but it may help.

This one might sound stupid, but "GO FASTER". I'm not talking hammer down, but if your getting bounced around, try clicking up a notch or two. Your probably not on top of the waves like you should be. So by going faster and riding wave top to wave top, the ride will actually get calmer. Your first instinct is to go slower cause the seas are rough and if your not comfortable at the speed your at why would you want to go faster but it works.

Also, don't think I need to mention it, but angles. In rough seas its all about angles. You want the wind at your front or back, not your sides. Although the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, sometimes in rough seas if you just venture off course to get the best angle, you'll get there quicker and safer.

Great advise bye Split also, Ive found from my 242 to the 271 and now the 303 adding a touch of speed flattens it out

That is one of the best looking 312's I've seen! That paint job is awesome !!!

Thanks,, Mitcher T did the work... Up close blows me and others away on the detail an shadows ect. Upholstery matches paint.. The before and afters are funny... Love all the options on the Formulas and built like tanks,, they are heavy though.

Could only imagine what it looks like up close!! Any pics of before and after? Don't want to hi-jack this thread but would love to see them! Awesome boat !!!!