Thanks to you all for the advice from this thread! I'm getting the feel of the boat and working the steering and countering the chine walk. It's a thrill to be learning the skill needed to run the boat to top speed. I've been rewarded with high 60 mph runs with low drama ! It's finding the right level of trim and controlling the walk.
Now that Autumn in here, I'll enjoy a few more weeks on the lake and then I'm ready to get "Sea YA" ready for next season. I will be looking for advice for a Prop/Jackplate set-up . I want to get into the 70's next season!

Or you can have Chet build you a boat like his, there is no driving through anything. It is on the pad even when its sitting still I think. Now that's a boat seems to be a dream to drive. It's either sitting still or on plane. In other words, its a missle.

OK, done hijacking this topic.

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Just to add a little more about chine walking.... When I first got my VooDoo, I had no experience with any type of v pad/performance boat. I had been around boats all my life, but nothing with any real speed. My assumtion was that I could slowly advance the throttle until I reached full speed. However, I would get to about 45 and this unusal (at the time) chine walk would kick in and I would have to back off. I did that for the whole summer. I talked to one guy at the lake that was into performance boats and he said, "just drive through it, it will go away once you get a little faster." I tried that a few times and "chickened out". Looking back now, if I would of taken his advise, I would of more than likly destroyed my boat and possible myself! Thank GOD I didn't listen to him. What it took for me was learning to control the chine walk at it's onset and slowly progressing in speed from there. The "controlling" of chine walk is the almost rhythmic and slight corrections in steering, opposite of the direction of list. After being comfortable doing that at 45mph, I slowly increased the speed until I reached top speed in the boat. Good luck, just take you're time and "practice."
-Chris

If it's not trying to chine walk, then it's not being driven. Chine walk is built in to these boats, and it basically means you're where you're supposed to be. Anyone who drives a MOD VP knows this, and doesn't have a problem with it. It's just part of the deal. If you get set up right, you can eliminate a lot of it, but that's what makes it fun. You got to ride that ragged edge. These boats are a constant correction of chine walk. That's what separates the winners from the losers in any race. Keep you're foot in it, and drive through it. It's all a matter of seat time. Stay in the seat, push it, and enjoy, nothing's better.

I'm not familiar with a Hooter, Prop that is ??? May be interested??
I'm gonna get educated on Jack plates and set-up for next season. Love this boat !

I have a 28P 3 blade HOOTER for v6 Merc for sale. You need a HYD or Man jack, get the motor up some to get rid of the chine walk.

transomstand wrote:To get the boat to perform to it's full potential, you'll need 2 props, and change back and forth for the situation.

that really is the best advice ....
it's also what i do, i have a 26 chopper
and a 19 pitch aluminum for skiing
also gives you a spare prop if something happens

I have no idea what the gear ratio is on the motor. I looked through the manual to no avail, where can I find the information?
Speedo was checked against a GPS and it was pretty accurate, within a couple mph. I spoke with the original owner and he could get 63mph out of her, before it started walking.
As far as getting a prop to try, I really don't know anyone in the area who has one. I swear everyone is getting Pontoon Boats ! I'll probably try going the used route to find a prop. I'm going to measure later on today and see how deep I am running the prop now.

Probably of 26 or 27, using the large diameter (there are three sizes) ventilation plugs. However, your RPM vs speed does seem a bit high for your 25P. What are you running for a gear ratio? GPS for speed?

For my rig with the Trophy's I seem to see a shade under 300 RPM change for each inch of pitch variation.

Best bet though, is to find someone with a one and see if you can give it a try. Though I have bought and sold a few used ones without much problem so that could be an option.

Good call on the mounting holes. The Merc is mounted in the top mounting holes, meaning it can come up. It looks like it was mounted in the middle mounting holes at one time. I wonder why it was moved down ? Better for skiing ?
As far as props: I'm going to keep the Laser II 25p for skiing and such, but most of the time I'm riding on the lake solo or with one other passenger. Right now watching the tach at top speed the other day showed 6200 rpm (63-64mph). I'm thinking a 4-blade Trophy would be a good choice to start, from everyone's input. What pitch/size prop would get my rpm to the 5500-5800 rpm range? Thanks everyone for the help!
Very good articles on chine walk too! Got a little feel for it the other day. As it started to walk I was holding pressure against the steering wheel and varying that pressure on the wheel, kind of in opposite rhythm of the chine walk...