The guy from Loto was driving the boat like a girl.

I chose to spend a bunch of money and do a lot of work to set my boat up so it stopped behaving badly. In the absence of that, an active restraint system such as this may be helpfull.



[ATTACH=CONFIG]559337[/ATTACH]

Hyd all the way to the helm. Guess I should have said Full Hyd..

Everyone has their own comfort zone. I've seen a lot of people first hand as well as in videos who simply don't belong. The majority of these boating accidents I see drivers are clueless and shouldn't be in anything more than a pontoon boat with a 25 hp hanging off the back. There's more than just full hydraulic steering. I hit a dead head in Lake Huron that was submerged and ripped starboard drive completely off running about 85 in my 28' challenger. Not a real good time maintaining control. Got boat back from factory after repair and replacement and factory didn't have shift cable adjusted properly so again just south of grand haven very similar experience when drive popped out of gear at same speed. Chit can happen extremely fast but... Pushing the limits is what most of us do. Safety of others is always a top priority that's why i only bump rub rails with people who I know and like to boat alone so I don't have to hear about somebody bitshing about losing their sunglasses or spilling beer all over themselves.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTysm-XlxKk

Experience.

Dont try to be a hero on the first several attempts and live to fight another day.

Just remember most V bottoms will not chime walk under acceleration because it is carrying the bow and has power on the prop for control. Once the boat get to top speed it can nose over and want to wonder, then you need to learn how to drive. Take your time and hold it in small bursts. Seat time alone is the only way how to learn. Also try as many props as you can, sometimes its amazing how a boat handles for prop to prop.

I hear ya. That's the purpose of my orig post, to find the safest way to expand my abilities.

but look out for the rocks,lol.sorry bb but it was too easy.

I agree with most of what you've stated in your opening post. Careful with tabs, digging them in too far can work against you too. Check where they sit at neutral on the indicators and have a look at them with the boat out of the water, make sure they are aligned the same, even with the bottom of the hull. Tab indicators are not always accurate.

Like people have already said, drive where you feel comfortable and don't worry about other boats and what they're doing. Your boat will be plenty fast and anyone who knows about boats will know that no matter what speed you're doing.

Listen to your brain, not your mates. The number of decisions per minute increase exponentially from 60 to 70, then again from 70 to 80 and so on......

RR