Alright TFF, I need some help. I have an Xpress HD18CC w/90HP Yamaha that just plain beats me to death unless the lake is glass smooth. I've dealt with it for 5 years and just took it... I need some ideas on how to smooth it out. When I get on top it just slams me back down over and over. I've trimmed up, trimmed down, but just can't find anything that works. I think it's time to make some changes... I just don't know where to start, lol. So, Please, throw some ideas my way!

Different Prop
Add a Whale Tale
Add More Weight
???

Do you have a jackplate on the boat?

Get a fiberglass boat!

Not being a joker here, but it's an iron hull, what were you really expecting it to do?

A good driver can make a big difference, no way anyone can teach you over the internet how to pilot in rough water, so you might reach out and find someone to show you exactly what to do.

Put a big ol tail fin on it like an SE300 and it will give you the ability to control your nose better.

Try adding the whale tail, I have a 16 ft gruman with a 40, currently my tail is off and I can tell a big differance in the ride

Weight distribution will help you be able to control the front of the boat better(up and down).

Trimming the motor corectly and keeping the correct angle will help alot, and avoid running full throttle.

matt

Not a lot you can do to smooth out the ride in a flat bottom boat other than slow down a bit in rough water. You might consider a Deep-V style boat next time.

wouldn't a "tail" give the boat a ride too high in the rear and wanna burry the nose into a wave????

if it were me.. i'd be looking for a prop that has suffecient cup in the tips to keep the bow lift and give better control in the rough stuff.

Bingo!

+1 Steve. It sounds like a porpoising problem. Get with steve to find a prop that will hold the nose up. Also, setting the motor up higher will help with porpoising.

Also, the flat style bottom will always be rough. The hyperlift padded hulls will ride MUCH better.

It would allow him to give as much down force on the nose as he wants. So yeah with a tail on it and the motor trimmed all the way in it should plow like crazy but if it is trimmed right it should give enough control to help eliminate the bounce he was referring to. Redistributing weight can help too but since you can control the amount of down force on the nose by adjusting the trim I think adding a hydrofoil would be the best overall answer simply because it is adjustable on the fly.

Have Steve rework your prop to get some lift and get a hydralic jack plate so you can run it down to lift the hull higher in rough water. Makes all the differance in the world with just about any aluminum boat.

I appreciate all the "helpful" ideas! I wish I could afford a big ole 22'-24' Deep V Fiberglass Center Console... But that ain't happening ANY time soon, lol. I will do some more reading on the props and tales and figure out a plan of attack. Thanks again!

Take it to Steve, and let him find the key. Whale tail thingy's are nearly always a cover up to a bad setup.

Mostly you'll be able to learn to maintain control and understand just pointing your nose at a wave and bashing it over and over just isn't much fun.