Kill It In The Turns?

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

My friend said that when I make a turn in my boat I go too slow. He said "kill it in the turns". I am not talking about sharp turns but like a big U turn when you want to go the opposite direction in the lake. I usually go like half throttle he goes full throttle when he drives my boat in the turns lol.

It's a Johnson 70 on a 16 foot Cajun.

[slonezp]

What ever is most comfortable

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Do the guys with the big motors like 250 and 300 horsepower run wide open in the turns? Or will they flip over?

[slonezp]

Again, do what's comfortable. We're not out there racing and showing off. One slip of the hands in a full speed turn and you're going to have other problems. The boat will tell you what it wants. I can do more in the boat I have now than I could in my last boat. I don't see any point in hot dogging it. I'm a weekend warrior and even with 20 years of owning boats I can't predict a rogue wave or wake that's going to throw things off kilter.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

That makes good sense. I always wondered if it is possible though???? I guess it can be done but like you said it only takes that one "pebble in the road" to toss a cyclist over the bars.

[Catt]

I have a 70 hp Johnson in a 16' Stratos, I stay on plane in turns which can be done at less than WOT!

Like slonezp said your boat we tell you what it wants!

[Al Wolbach]

A lot depends on water and weather conditions but I normally trim down and stay on the gas......Al

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Thanks guys. This is my first bass boat and I am still learning a lot. I had john boats, kayaks, and canoes and this is a whole new ball game. :-)

[tomustang]

Just because a boat can doesn't mean you have too

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Very true my friend. :-)

[Glenn]

A lot depends on water and weather conditions but I normally trim down and stay on the gas......Al

^^ this  ^^

 

The only thing I would add is that I do back off the throttle the tighter the turn, and come completely off the throttle if I hear the prop cavitate (engine revs up suddenly).  Be sure to trim down before you start turning.  How much you trim down will take some trial and error to learn.  Trim down too much, and the hull will have too much "grip"; not enough and it won't turn very well.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Good point Glenn!

I would also add that good judgement is vital too. I feel that "rush" when that two stroke puts me in the seat like a roller coaster when I start a hard turn. It makes me want to get more power!!! I use self control. :-)

[wnybassman]

The only I will add is to look to see who might be coming up on the side of you as you make that turn.   Was in a buddies boat when another boat ran up on us (and hit us!) as we were turning/veering at speed.  No fault of anyone really.  We should have looked and they shouldn't have been following so close not being able to react to what we did.   Been paranoid about that ever since.

[tcbass]

Of course you can flip over. Just like anything with speed.

 

 

 

I took a turn too sharp one time in my new (old) boat and almost did that. Never again. Now I just take wider turns at high speed.

 

 

 

 

 

[Way2slow]

I never make a turn at full speed, way to dangerous. I will make some change in direction but not what one would consider a turn. If it's a big wide turn, I trim down some, this gets enough of the hull in the water to slow it to about 62-65. If it's a sharper turn, I throttle back,depending on how sharp and how much visibility I have around the turn. My boat is fast, but I'm not a dumb driver. I know my boat, I know my skills, and I have nothing to show off and not into to looking cool. Being smart and safe, is the cool thing to do in my book. Make those high speed turns in a fast boat and you may be the next idiot on u-tube demonstrating a bat turn, or the next crash we hear about on the news.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

I've seen that video a bunch. Those people got hurt. Bad! Good to watch as a reminder. When I make those u turns I feel like I'm on a roller coaster with a tickle in my stomach from the "g force" and the air racing against my face. It's a rush. It may not be a huge 300hp monster but my lightweight 16ft Cajun and that peppy two stroke 70 horse Johnson will boogie. When I get the urge to throttle down and duct tape over it I remember videos like that and also the others on the lake too. Safety takes precedence over all else. The boat and conditions will dictate when I need to speed it up or slow it down. Great replies!!!

[Long Mike]

My boat will do about 60, but I normally run at about 45.  I wish I had a rear view mirror to keep an eye on those barreling up behind me when I am about to make a turn, but finding a location to mount it would be problematic.

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

My boat will do about 60, but I normally run at about 45. I wish I had a rear view mirror to keep an eye on those barreling up behind me when I am about to make a turn, but finding a location to mount it would be problematic.

Do it Mike!!! Invent that beast!!

[senile1]

It goes without saying, but we should always be aware of our surroundings before making a turn including what is coming up behind us. Take a second to look behind you to be certain all is clear.  

 

As mentioned already, trim down in your turns.  This will keep the boat from skating across the water in the turn and will also slow you down somewhat.  The amount to trim down is something you have to learn with your boat and your conditions.  Once you are familiar with your boat you will know how fast you can go in a turn without creating a dangerous situation.  Until you are familiar with it, I suggest you go slower in turns to begin with; however, slow is relative.  On a body of water without large waves wide turns can easily be taken in larger bassboats at 50 - 60 mph with the proper trim, but if unsure slow down into the 40s.  Always play it safe if you don't know the capabilities of your rig.

[A-Jay]

You probably wouldn't attempt a max hard turn while traveling at highway speed in your vehicle.

 

Same applies to your water craft.  High speed and sudden direction changes in virtually any evolution rarely end well.

 

Treat your equipment like your life depended on it, because on the water - It Does.

 

A-Jay

[livemusic]

Speaking of pebbles in the road causing havoc with cyclists, I grew up with a fellow who was killed riding a bicycle. As an adult. Somehow, a small stick got in his spokes and flipped him and broke his neck. Freak accident, he went much too young.

[Ratherbfishing]

I've not any experience with fast boats but IMO don't listen to your friend and, really, don't let him drive your boat.  "kill it in the turns" might quickly grind down to "kill you in the turns"

[RHuff]

You probably wouldn't attempt a max hard turn while traveling at highway speed in your vehicle.

 

Same applies to your water craft.  High speed and sudden direction changes in virtually any evolution rarely end well.

 

Treat your equipment like your life depended on it, because on the water - It Does.

 

A-Jay

 

 

 

Great advice there.... 

[5 Dollar Fishing Game]

Good point about life depending on it. :-)