Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

Greetings all. I've been a boater for 15 years, but am a newbie to the Performance Boating world. I've had several express cruisers, and now own a 2002 Carver 346 Motoryacht that I bought new in 2003. My family has grown tired of cruising, and I took a ride in my friends 33 Outlaw and had a ball - it's now time for daddy to buy himself a toy!

So, now I'm interested in getting out of the motoryacht and into the performance boating world.

I live on Lake Ontario (Rochester, NY), and the lake most days throws a 2-3 foot chop....so I need something that can handle some chop.

I received a call from a gentleman that has a 2003 Sonic 35 on Sacandaga Lake in the Albany NY area. I wasn't originally thinking Sonic - I was thinking of the usual suspects (Formula Fast Tech, Fountain Lightening, and Donzi Zx) - as I wanted some cabin in case me and the kids wanted to spend a weekend in the thousand islands, or Toronto, etc. while mom was at the mall.

So I went and test drove this Sonic. It has tremendous dock appeal - looked really sharp. Loved the lines, and the paint job. Appears to be very well maintained - very clean.

When he started up the 500HP's and I heard the growl, I grinned from ear to ear - they sounded fantastic!!! I couldn't hardly wait to see what this beast could do.

When we got out there we were in a 1-2 foot chop cruising at about 53MPH (GPS), and we were porpoising (reminded me of my 1994 Sea Doo SP as we bounced up and down - I got rid of that Sea Doo after 2 seasons and got the GSX limited). Once it would subside, it would start up again.

As we got into flatter water and higher speads (60's) it seemed to subside.

I loved the way it handled - the turns were a far cry from the monstor I've been driving for the past 3 seasons...but I really didn't like the porpoising.

So, my question to the experts is....Is this porpoising due to the driver or the boat? I suppose he could have dropped the tabs and buried the nose and it would have gone away, but I didn't ask him to do that and frankly am surprised that I would have to do that.

Gang, do you all deal with this porpoising thing? Do all your 35's do this? Should I be considering something other than this Sonic?

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

betchya he had the drives trimmed out to the max and tabs all the way up. would probably run more level with moderate trim out; shouldn't need tabs in that small water to keep boat from porpoising IMHO - Jeff

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

Our old Sonic 2001 358 would porpoise if I trimmed the drives out to soon. What I mean by too soon was any time I was below 4000rpm. If I was 4000rpm and above the boat was fine.Yes dropping the tabs alittle would also stop the porpoise for us,but I got used to not trimming the drives out till 4000rpm. It had 500efi's. Our boat didn't need much trim below 4000rpm. We run it on similar type of water as you.If you buy the Sonic wait till you try it in 6-7 footers it's a blast!! We loved our 358 but wanted to go larger so we went to a 2005 386. Hope this helps.
Heres a photo of our 2001 358

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

like they said sounds like its over trimmed for the speed your running put the drives down a smudge and see if it straightens up. My 31 will do the same on flat water...better yet open it up it will lay flat as a pancake. :D

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

These boats aren't even fun until there is 2-3 footers.

Buy it, you won't find a better boat (or a bigger cabin) for the money.

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

We had our 31 on Lake Michigan in 6 foot waves and it did awesome compared to the other boats out there with us. I think it's your driver. They have a much smoother ride compared to the other powerboats we've owned or ridden in.

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

i WILL HAVE TO AGREE WILL EVERYONE, IT WAS THE WAY THE BOAT WAS TRIMMED! I HAVE A 2002 358 AND I TOOK A BUDDY FOR A RIDE (WHICH HE HAS BEEN AROUND BOATS FOR YEARS) AFTER THE RIDE HE SAID I CANT BELIEVE HOW THIS THING HANDLES HE WAS SHOCKED BECAUSE HE WAS EXPECTING IT TO PORPOISE. SONIC WAS KNOW FOR PORPOISE WHEN THEY PUT TWIN ENGINES IN THE OLD 27 SO ALOT OF NON SONIC OWNERS EXPECTED THEM TO PORPOISE. I PERSONALLY LOVE SONIC THEY HAVE GREAT CABINS AND HANDLE THE WATER GREAT, THEY ARE NOT THE FASTEST BUT I HAVE A STOCK 496 BOAT WHICH WILL CRUISE LOW 60 NO TO BAD TO ME

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

We have cruised our Sonic 30SS from NYC to Nantucket, Miami to Stuart and down to Key West. Stayed on the boat the whole time, 10 days on the boat. Been through terrible storms on it. Love the Sonic.

Yep, merely bad trim settings. He set it for faster speeds, and as you noted, it smoothed out when you were going faster.

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

To answer your question YES most do especially the notched transom ones

Re: Do All Sonic 35's Porpoise?
 

Sonic removed the notch in 2002 on the 358. FYI