Hi everyone, I recently joined this great forum and have some questions for you TV-18 owners.
I recently traded up to a '03 TV-18 115hp, from a '92 TX-17 60hp. The new TV-18 is powered by a 115 Mercury and 22" LaserII prop, motor bolted in the second hole from the top. Max top end with one person and gear, is about 5200rpm and 52mph (speedo). I am very pleased with the boat, especially for stability, storage, and roominess. It fishes really well. I am specifically looking for some feedback on a couple of handling issues...
1) This boat seems to take very little trim-out before it starts porpoising. Too little trim and the bow digs in. In choppy water (not rough) it seems to porpoise quite a bit. My old TX-17 seemed to ride up over the chop with little porpoise. What do you think about about adding a hydrofoil or transom trim tabs?
2) At WOT and motor trimmed-out, the hull lifts nicely. However, as the bow rises, it starts a slight heading to the left, causing me to correct with a right steering input. Since I have the no-feedback steering, I am not talking about steering wheel torque...just the
direction of the boat moving left. Possibly I have over trimmed the engine, but my RPM's are in check, and speed is rising. The outboard torque tab is factory set to one notch left of center. Wind does not seem to be a factor because it happens both directions.
Do these issues sound normal for the TV-18? Maybe I'm too used to the TX-17 handling since I owned it for 11 years.
Thanks for any input you all might have. This is a great forum and I look forward to the feedback.
I recently traded up to a '03 TV-18 115hp, from a '92 TX-17 60hp. The new TV-18 is powered by a 115 Mercury and 22" LaserII prop, motor bolted in the second hole from the top. Max top end with one person and gear, is about 5200rpm and 52mph (speedo). I am very pleased with the boat, especially for stability, storage, and roominess. It fishes really well. I am specifically looking for some feedback on a couple of handling issues...
1) This boat seems to take very little trim-out before it starts porpoising. Too little trim and the bow digs in. In choppy water (not rough) it seems to porpoise quite a bit. My old TX-17 seemed to ride up over the chop with little porpoise. What do you think about about adding a hydrofoil or transom trim tabs?
2) At WOT and motor trimmed-out, the hull lifts nicely. However, as the bow rises, it starts a slight heading to the left, causing me to correct with a right steering input. Since I have the no-feedback steering, I am not talking about steering wheel torque...just the
direction of the boat moving left. Possibly I have over trimmed the engine, but my RPM's are in check, and speed is rising. The outboard torque tab is factory set to one notch left of center. Wind does not seem to be a factor because it happens both directions.
Do these issues sound normal for the TV-18? Maybe I'm too used to the TX-17 handling since I owned it for 11 years.
Thanks for any input you all might have. This is a great forum and I look forward to the feedback.