Common Boat Driving Mistake

[@jeremywrightfishing]

My boat doesn't go fast but it has chine walked a few times mostly in rougher water. The way you explained makes perfect sense. Geeat info.

[@ericwm1]

“THE COUNTRY WAY” that’s why this is my dude!!!!!!! 🍺

[@MrBdogg317]

Thanks for this vid BLat. I just brought my first bass boat. I’m learning all the ins and outs of driving

[@temijinkahn511]

Great tips. More seat time = better feel of your boats handling properties.

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Absolutely!

[@youngin881]

I have a Triton so yea, it chimes with my trolling motor on 5 and up.

[@treyprejean8688]

I have a Triton, I feel you! lol Have you ever drove a Bass Cat? By far the hardest bass boat to learn to drive in my opinion

[@youngin881]

Never drove one but have rode in one that was being drove by my dare devil fishin buddy. I was glad it only had a 150 on it. 😳

[@wyldbill100]

Just bought and drove my very first bass boat yesterday! SO MUCH FUN!! Fitty-Five mph is about as fast as I think I will be going for awhile. Plenty fast enough for me. (2008 Triton 21X2 w/ Mercury 250 Optimax Pro XS). Upgraded everything to GARMIN (including the trolling motor) and Vessel View. Been a HUGE fan of yours BL for quite some time, now. GOD IS SO GOOD!

[@khalli2112]

Nice boat, Im sure once you understand the boat you will hit 65-75 every once in a while.

[@JohnathanKrowsky]

KUDOS on the Garmin!

[@johnlee3788]

I have a lot of that seat time he is talking about. I would caution anyone trying to drive top speed and maintain a chine walk. Trim the boat down some and slow down a little. You might maintain control 999/1000 times, but that one time you hit a wake wrong, you might end up getting thrown from the boat, seriously hurt or worse. Look up bass boat crashes. Stay safe out there

[@brentcarr8365]

Exactly right!!

[@123mrtippmann]

My boat doesn’t go fast enough to worry about chime walkin haha

[@spintowinstradic6067]

Same - I have a Ranger and never go fast enough to have this problem LOL

[@dericksmith6210]

​@spintowinstradic6067 the rangers I've been in had less tendency to chime walk in the first place. I think they are the best hull design and weight for choppy water. They are not the fastest on slick water though.

[@brandonsmith606]

It's chine not chime

[@123mrtippmann]

@@brandonsmith606 obviously my phone begs to differ lol

[@123mrtippmann]

@@spintowinstradic6067 ya I got a skeeter with a 150 4 stroke. I enjoy the ride.

[@cferguson6688]

I was just trolling along here on u tube and ran across this. As a retired licensed 500 ton Captain, i definitely give you a thumbs up on your explanation. I know, if I can get a 500 ton ship on plane, we that would be something to see.. Anyways, I have spent enough time on small (less than 33ft) to know that when you say, "sea time, and you have to FEEL it", that is the key, That way you learn what that boat can and will do. So, keep up the good vids as I am sure people will learn from them.

[@stankaminski]

Brian, excellent topic. You did great

[@ShaneJMcNair]

Good tips & explanation. Pretty much the same advise Pat Geoff gives on the Champion Boat forum. Thanks 🍺🎣

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Wayne-il8kd]

Well said! Your a great teacher thank you

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

You are very welcome

[@CvC1167]

My boat does 78 with a passenger, it’s all about the feel you explained over 70. Great videos, thanks!

[@floridasaltlife]

50 years here driving boats and you nailed it !!!

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

I’m 30 years in!

[@vincenovak4570]

Absolutely a fantastic explanation and yes, seat time is the only answer!

[@Jordan_B34]

Did you grow up with a Norris craft bass boat? I’m almost certain it was you that I ran into at a boat ramp on Lanier a couple years ago. Thank you for the tips! Well done.

[@sambow4u]

Hey Brother ! Let me just say , I Been on the Water since Birth . I owned every Old school Boat out there I think , I actually remember when " Ranger " First Came out and the only dealer was Greene's in Forest City . Allison Craft , Norris Craft , I remember well when Skeeter was Born ! I was on Lake James at Least 4 times a week. But when we pulled into the Landing to Launch one day , and he said " Son can we just go back home " ,,,, about 2 months later he was gone and I never set foot on any water again for about 30 yrs now ! But now I'm retired , I've bought a Boat and have to catch back up ! But here's the deal Brian Latimer is probably the most Clear speaking, No BS , Rubber hitting the road , down and dirty teacher , I've ever run across ! Me and Pop use to watch Bill Dance every Sunday , I remember when Roland Martin was convinced he was Rick Flair ! Jimmy Houston was just a Pup ! But I appreciate a man , That is confident in his Skills and Can prove it ! You seem to be a good Daddy & Husband ,,, And as far as I ever knew ,,, That's all you can ask for ! TY for Being B.Lat !

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

I appreciate you sharing the story and the love my man. I haven’t been to lake James yet but I’d love to visit it one day!

[@Hjfvvdst]

Well that was the best explanation for how to drive and what is happening. Thank you.

[@N3tUniverse]

3:30 Made me chuckle earned a subscriber here! "Some of y'all slower boats"

[@davidmccartney7577]

Very good analogy brother 😎

[@brians.4488]

The tricky part is when your leaving out in the morning and a shit ton of cross wakes keep coming.

[@davidblanton7529]

New sub. Great channel. Keep the great content flowing!

[@KG-xf9ew]

That's why I love my little Tracker 175 and Merc 75. 🐢🐢🐢 Great video though! Too many "pros" over complicating everything.

[@jimmietroxell4904]

Great job great explanation on what is happening

[@jasonhowe990]

Nicely said and great demonstration.

[@TheirsHopewithJesusChrist_277]

Thank you bro brian, ima probably be needing this in the future. One day soon one day in a couple years i want to be able to buy one God willing. Thank you for this video bro, its good explanation kind of like countersteering and all that with people that drift drift race cars. Its a lot of it in the driver i feel like mostly. Good info my friend, God bless

[@lbriant48]

That was an excellent video !! Real good instructions, 👍

[@johnroskosky7816]

Great lesson B Lat.

[@ericbryant796]

Best tip I received to learn how to drive a pad bottom boat was to focus on the bow/bow light and horizon and when you see the bow fall off to either the L or R you give the wheel a slight bump in the opposite direction...so you're driving and giving small inputs always returning the wheel straight and never see-saw the wheel back and forth which will only make things worse. So small bump L or R and then back to steering straight, small bump, straight, ect...and you'll get the hang of it quickly.

[@MrLipperRipperBassman]

Great breakdown, B Lat.

[@khalli2112]

Great Info thanks, bought a small ChampioN and wanted to see what it would do with a 95 merc 150. At 58-60 it started to chime walk I knew it was my driving but wanted to see what a 171Dc would do!

[@bradlocke6455]

ok so what did it dooo

[@robertrobertson5120]

Good down to earth description!

[@lolema1]

mine seems to loose traction at the prop when i barely trip up,don't have a jack plate , boat is 20' alum and 150hp merc, just under 3 hours so may need to do more time on the boat great video

[@bradgibson4459]

I remember back in the late 70's when Hydro sports started all this pad stuff and dealers would put lower HP cowlings on motors to match the plates but where water rockets that would throw drivers out in a split second, when it would start to walk on them. I saw that happen a number of times. Never saw one die but they were black and blue for at least a month.

[@indybob770]

Hey Brian.... I like the little hit ya gave us horsepower deprived bass boat owners. 50hp Yam. Never had a problem with chin walk LMAO😂

[@Outboardtech]

I honestly think chine walk is a list of traction/ bite prop wise, I’ve had twin motor boats chine walk the second they trim up

[@FreedomForceFishing]

Makes so much sense, I got a 03 Stratos 21xl pro star with a 17 g2 250ho. When it is cold I can get about 73 before it chine walks, but I stilll have about 500rpms left. Maybe mid to high 70’s is about as fast as that will go

[@txman201]

Slack in a steering system can allow chine walk to develop - that's not the driver - it's maintenance issue. So, there's an example of the issue not being the driver.

[@robertspeakman8107]

Great video couldn't explained better myself you absolutely on target

[@brentmcmahon8188]

I just touch my trim tabs down just a pinch and boat will be rock solid and trim the the motor down a little and you can fell both in the seat of your pants. I’ve got a 22’ Donzi Classic with a built 502 with 515 hp and at 85 mph you have to use your tabs because this boat is a full v bottom but you can run it wide open in 2’ waves and this boat is heavy but when your in rough water it just handles like a dream and in rough water that bass boat is light my boat is twice as heavy but I lighten the boat with aluminum head and intake and exhaust manifolds which are water cooled and straight 4” pipes so it sounds great at lake OZ with all the huge hills you can hear it echo threw the hills and it’s a blast to drive but it’s a tannery boat and I get up on plane and set the drive and when you are on plane start raising the out drive when you feel it Brest lose from the water and just touch the right tan down with just numbing the tan when you feel the boat move your done for that side now do the same thing on other side and you are good for the week end and after that you just raise and out drive and when you feel the boat take off and after that just look at you trim gauge and put it back to the same spot and it will launch and you can feel it launch and you can turn on a dime and for cruising I run right at 3500 rpm’s and that’s like 50 mph and at full bore it will push you into the seat and everybody’s ears start flopping and you have to have a good set of shades or you will mess with your eye lids and I don’t hardly run my boat wide open because my wife don’t like so she just wants cruse speed or 35-40 mph.

[@LEODrizzyFishing]

Bro thank you for this! I just bought my dream boat. As a guy who has literally never owned or driven a boat this has helped a ton man. Keep up the great content that breaks it down for guys like me and the experienced alike!

[@guynoir4733]

A pad hull boat will chine walk above a certain speed even if their were no driver . Driving a high performance boat takes skill comparable to doing a wheelie on a motorcycle . The label inside most race hulls states "The skill needed to operate this boat may exceed the abilities of some drivers " . As a former racer I know this to be true .

[@Biblestudyyt-e7l]

I love your videos keep it up

[@stevethedude8740]

You have a gift for explaining things and making the not so obvious, obvious. You would make a great Top Gun instructor or Professor of Engineering.

[@ClearwaterFishingcompany]

Love that boat

[@collindowns9674]

Older rigs with flat pads run faster with chime walk. Bumblebees and old bullets. Learn to walk with it! Those old school boats love bow lift

[@chrisc9997]

It took me 3 months to learn how to drive my Bullet above 65. Now 80 is a breeze.

[@markjud1331]

Great video! Good explanation. Got a question….my zx250 at 65+ my steering gets real stiff. Maybe that’s a good thing, all I want to do is go straight at that speed. But what makes the steering get stiff at high speed? Thanks

[@eddievoss312]

If your boat is chine walking the motor is too low on the transom. The fastest way to adjust a manual jack plate is raise it up to the top and start lowering the plate till it bites or water pressure is good.

[@ant2400]

I have Allison and a Ranger (several actually). The difference between a really fast boat and Rangers, Falcons, any other "heavy" boats with a ton of HP, is the WAY it performs on plane. I owned an Allison, and with a 150hp, properly set up, I can go much faster than most all boats with two or three times the power. My Allison runs very fast with the 260HP short shaft on it. You HAVE to drive an Allison, there is no hydraulic steering (those do not offer any feed back), you will get a 'feel' for what the boat is doing especially going fast, in the steering wheel. NOT so on a hydraulic steer boat. 95 + mph things can get dangerous. I never had an issue even in rough water, because.... I had enough time in the boat (seat time, as you say) and know what it likes, what it doesn't. Balance in the boat is necessary also. Heavy over powered boats do not get affected as much by weight imbalance as a lighter speed oriented boat, but can go fast enough to get uncomfortable. You should balance your boat. Even the factory set up does little to consideration of balance. If you go alone more than not, move things around when you take on a passenger. One other thing, too much bow lift does not really make you go faster, (I said too much) it DOES make the boat get unsettled much easier. Allison's run on plane flat, yet very little pad is in the water, slow down to about 70 and it is very stable and predictable. I love the Ranger for fishing, if I want to go fast, Allison all the way. When driving in rough water, a mistake I see a lot of bass boat drivers make is; they don't drive through to the coming wave, they let off the gas and the boat becomes unplanted and will come up out of the water once hitting the wave and slam back down, potentially injuring the drive or passengers, damaging the boat, or both. Keep the power on (not full on), trim down and drive to the wave, letting the beautiful keel of those fast bass boats do their thing by cutting the wave (that is if you have a 19' plus boat, shorter and you could stuff it, so KNOW your boat and what it can do) and you will get through it much safer. Chine walking is really a mater of unbalanced boats for the most part, it is trying to run on the pad for how it was built and YOU are making it difficult for it to do so. Either by trim, jacking, balance, or steering wheel movement. The best way to LEARN your boat is to take tiny adjustments and see what the affects are. Hope this helps.

[@garyhinken1782]

The best explanation coms from the owner Basscat.

[@kevindavis3146]

Thanks Brian. Very good info.

[@SeanDevine-f4d]

Excellent content Brian. Specially when you can tell someone that knows boats and that has been around them for awhile. Was that Lake Hartwell you were on, if so hope to see you out there letting it eat. Might have to see what the old champion with 225 Johnson has for you.

[@tomfisher47]

Blat great video thks

[@fisherman7275]

Oh I put a new motor on my champion 203, the prop they gave me my boat didn't like at all. Had too much lift and it was violent. What was an easy 65-70mph boat couldn't control it at above 60mph. Changed props and boom, 65-70mph no issues.

[@rigorocks23]

I don’t take my boat past 15mph lol. I don’t really see the point, you’ll save a few mins at most

[@FishermanFred2023]

This may be a dumb question, but how do these bass boats perform if you want to drive them at slower speeds? I don’t have one yet and not close to buying one, just doing a bit of research on how to drive them. I think it would take me a while before I’d want to go anywhere near 60 mph on one. Haha.

[@gregfisher7615]

I'm glad someone else knows what a pad is. I don't think he does

[@rc391995]

Some boats are more susceptible than others. Some times it is water conditions . I had a stratos mine would do it on occasions. I ever so slightly worked the steering wheel maybe 1\4 inch that or bumped the trim

[@PhilClark1976]

Great explanation of what’s going on and how to handle.

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@PhilClark1976]

@@BrianLatimerFishingBrian. If there is one thing driving a bass boat that I still struggle with it’s boat wakes. Meeting another bass boat and handling the wakes so smoothly. Any tips for those?

[@chrishampton8842]

@@PhilClark1976just trim it down a little. I’ve seen and been in bass boats that don’t and they can and will go airborne and that’s not fun

[@lawbrewer]

Great video

[@robbiejohnson3698]

I understand bought TRITON 2003 tr 20 a lot of seat time you drive the boat with your butt once you get there top end was 78 mph it takes time on the water Bob’s Machine shop are the best great video

[@Tightlinezz]

Hi Brian, I had an old faulty jack plate gauge, just like yours, that actually raised the jack plate all the way up. My engine overheated as a result. I've replaced it with a new one and no issues. At what point raising the jack plate and what water pressure would you get concerned about overheating? Thanks for the content you put out.

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Watch the the water pressure and water temperature gauge

[@Biblestudyyt-e7l]

I love your videos what do u do if a boat gets to crazy

[@matthewotis3594]

Would have made a fine teacher brother. Glad you chose bass fishing, or it chose you, whatever. Youre geeat at explaining things which is ehst a good teacher does. Thank for sharing your stuff with us

[@davidjessee7701]

My buddy’s boat is a 22’Triton with a 250 proxs about 63 it starts the chine walk.. and you just have to drive it.. the whole time up in the 70s . My other buddy has a bullet with a 250 Sho! It’s starts a chine walk at about 70 up to 84 WFO!!!!

[@timhafley5177]

Four Blade prop will help Stern lift,use a defuser ring.jaco's marine for props.

[@richardalletag1129]

My 30-06 chime walks has a spin drift problem just like skeeter

[@brians.4488]

My x18 xpress was undrivable when I test drove it empty of all my crap I carry . Once the weight went in in calmed way down

[@Biblestudyyt-e7l]

Is hydrolik steering better than a cillender steering

[@randywunderlich6315]

Good content Brian, you never mentioned nor emphasized the hull pad your running on when at speed, up on plane!!!!

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

It’s not relevant for what I’m demonstrating here.

[@troutheadadventures6521]

Simple, straight forward and right on target. Your butt and your hands will "feel" the boat.

[@cchamplin6212]

I thought chine walk was from propeller torque? Like an airplane and propeller torque and adding right rudder. Very educational video

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

Hello my friend Brian I haven't seen your videos in a long time

[@Outboardtech]

As in I’m sure a 4 blade will walk less then a 3 blade

[@dalehansen5050]

Great explanation, I just knew it came from people over triming their engine

[@austinleroy4915]

Man do you do any personal charters on hartwell? I'm throwing the kitchen sink at Harwell and weighing in zeros alot of days. Running some small time tournaments with the kids but they are losing interest more n more

[@bigrob8966]

Very good video ✌🏽

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Thanks 💯

[@allstate125]

Let me save you ten minutes. Trim it down some 😂

[@johnboylong40]

Have a 50 hp Mercury and she gets me everywhere just fine. I even troll for hours at times and burn 3-4 gallons and love the fuel economy

[@BottomLineBassin2]

#1 not slowing down for kayak fisherman

[@bigbeef8935]

How to avoid chime walking….avoid buying a phoenix

[@bigbeef8935]

And stop following people with the lithium craze, u need the weight in the back

[@purewaterswva.5409]

Not exactly true, but there is a learning curve.

[@dwighthaberly1199]

It's not the boat it's the junk prop. I put a Mark Croxton Razor XL on my Phoenix 721 and it's a completely different ride. Hole shot is amazing and I can drive it WOT (76-77mph) all day with minimum input after 70mph.

[@martywatson9796]

Buy the right performance bass boat and you won't have to worry about chime walking.

[@paulstall]

Day 1 for me thanks for the help

[@daveengstrom9250]

Holy Smokes! 70 mph on the water!?!?!? My boat goes about 25.

[@joeg1709]

It would be informative if you could let people know which way to twitch the wheel when they feel the boat start rocking. For example, if they feel the boat start to rock, as the paseenger side is dropping, which way should the steering wheel go? Toward the passenger side/the direction of the drop or opposite?

[@austinbraswell1543]

opposite of the direction its falling

[@eddiejones974]

That's why I don't go over 50 mph a few min more will not stop me from getting to one spot to another

[@williampandaholiday]

That's a great speed for fishing. What's the speed limit in the canal! 68

[@grouperkng1]

Power out "throttle or trim out" If its bad gotta slow down Like a tank slapper on a motorcycle

[@richardalletag1129]

Captain ?

[@cradz4979]

Chine not chime. Refers to the chines that run the length of the hull when water passes over them.

[@freshlysaltedfishing8500]

Hell yeah

[@JeffLaaker]

The only thing that should be in the water is the lower unit 😊

[@HughButler-lb6zs]

The only boat I have owned that chine walked was a Glastron. So what he said is incorrect. Its not the driver, its the boat. Most high performance bass boats are pad boats. When properly trimmed, the boat is running on a flat pad at the rear of the boat. There is no force at that point causing the boat to chine walk. I now have a Tracker which has a basically flat bottom, and a 50 Mercury 4 stroke which doesn't run fast enough to chine walk. I grew up and don't need to go fast anymore.

[@Logan.-V.]

Maybe it’s just me but my little 15hp doesn’t chine walk really

[@TheGlockman92]

Must have never wheeled a bullet before lol

[@RobertErickson-e5y]

Bass don’t care how fast you go its what’s at the end of the line that counts not speed

[@tomrippen6570]

Just promise not to run that fast on water you don’t know well and never in fog or dim light. For me, I want my bow low enough to use the architecture that’s engineered into a good hull.

[@mac11double]

Brian I know you didn’t just try to tell people boats don’t chine walk😂 my dad owns a 2007 Stroker Bass boat with a 250 racing merc as well as a 2020 ranger 520L. The reason a boat chine walks is that in order to get speed you have to pick the boat up out of the water. When you pick enough of the boat up out of the water, the torque of the prop turning to the right will cause the boat to start to wobble, hence the term chine walk. There is a skill to driving chine walk even though it’s essentially just popping the wheel a little left, but once you know how it’s like riding a bike. Only reason I comment is that someone is going to get hurt thinking you can just “drive through it” or that shifting weight in your boat is going to eliminate it all together. If a boat barely walks, as in you can just let it do it’s thing and it corrects itself, sure shifting weight will do it. But if you have a boat that starts walking reasonably before you reach top end speeds, the only thing that’s going to keep the boat going forward is the man behind the wheel.

[@jheiny1231]

You basically just reiterated what Brian just talked about in the whole video. I think you just heard the beginning of the video and posted a comment. And didn't watch the whole thing

[@mac11double]

I watched the whole video. Even at the end he mentions “getting through” the chine walk. It doesn’t go away. It gets worse the faster you go and requires more skill to drive. I’ve heard countless people talk about how their boat starts chine walking at 70 but quits at 75 and the reality is that those people can’t drive their boat that fast to begin with🤷‍♂️ if they could they would know😂

[@jheiny1231]

@@mac11double basically the point is. Get your speed up to where around u want it. If it starts chine walking play with the trim and jack plate until u feel comfortable. End of story

[@85procraftwill69]

Exactly right I own a 95 20XD Bullet Bass Boat with 300XS Mercury and the boat chine walks but as the driver I can drive through it no problem running 94 with a fishing load

[@chrishampton8842]

Pretty sure that’s what he said?

[@SpookyRedz]

You have to keep the boat on the pad , when it chime walks you need to learn how to drive it , boats that don’t chime are not going super fast