Common Boat Driving Mistake

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!!

[@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. 😳

[@ericwm1]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@kevindavis3146]

Thanks Brian. Very good info.

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@MrBdogg317]

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

[@robertspeakman8107]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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.

[@troutheadadventures6521]

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

[@temijinkahn511]

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

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Absolutely!

[@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

[@allstate125]

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

[@Wayne-il8kd]

Well said! Your a great teacher thank you

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

You are very welcome

[@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.

[@cradz4979]

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

[@martywatson9796]

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

[@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 .

[@ShaneJMcNair]

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

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

Glad it was helpful!

[@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😂

[@jcotton6687]

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

[@stankaminski]

Brian, excellent topic. You did great

[@chrisc9997]

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

[@Logan.-V.]

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

[@brians.4488]

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

[@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

[@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!

[@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.

[@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

[@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

[@grouperkng1]

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

[@xDx0xUxGx]

I think it's safe to say that we've gone far beyond the point of helmets, safety courses and licenses being a requirement for boats over a certain length/horse power....

[@williampandaholiday]

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

[@chuckhoward3626]

That is a pretty country way to explain it, but the trem "Chine Walk(ing)" is a term as far from country as you can get. It should be called "Hull Walking" instead. You should have called this video, "Walk Around the 'Chines' Tonight (a Jingle)." The chines on any hull do nothing if you get them out of the water. There is one cure and one cure only; and it works every time it is tried - trim the bow down! Maybe your next video can be, "Diggin a Chine-in at High Speeds Tonight..."

[@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!!!!

[@dalehansen5050]

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

[@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.

[@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.

[@jimmurphy834]

If you are going over 60mph, you better know what the hell you are doing. Jackplate and trim must be properly set for your boat/hull or you are just an accident waiting to happen.

[@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.

[@troyeddington847]

103 mph bullet…..no substitution for seat time!

[@cchamplin6212]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@daveengstrom9250]

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

[@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

[@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.

[@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.

[@RobertErickson-e5y]

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

[@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

[@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

[@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

[@timhafley5177]

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

[@KG-xf9ew]

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

[@richardalletag1129]

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

[@JeffLaaker]

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

[@bradlocke6455]

oh he probably just needs to go out and scare the s$#@ out of him real good and then he will understand what it's all about lol

[@davidmccartney7577]

Very good analogy brother 😎

[@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

[@Outboardtech]

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

[@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

[@notaliberalfromcali6245]

Sit on the pads.. get off the chine. Simple.

[@TheGlockman92]

Must have never wheeled a bullet before lol

[@rogerphillips4698]

At 62-63 mph Houston you have a problem. My Skeeter at 75 if I want I can drive it with 1 hand. That's a 2019 Skeeter FX 20 with the 250sho.

[@chrisfetner332]

How about stay under 60 mph.

[@lbriant48]

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

[@godsdozer]

I own Rangers, they don't go fast enough to chine walk :)

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

I’ve owned about 7 rangers and none of them were slow

[@Hjfvvdst]

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

[@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.

[@CvC1167]

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

[@gregfisher7615]

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

[@garyhinken1782]

The best explanation coms from the owner Basscat.

[@gofishingwhenyoucan]

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

[@vincenovak4570]

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

[@BottomLineBassin2]

#1 not slowing down for kayak fisherman

[@N3tUniverse]

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

[@jcotton6687]

Is hydrolik steering better than a cillender steering

[@kenjohnston2426]

Glad to see you trying to add more safety to the sport but do we really need to go that fast in tournaments? I saw a driver and rider ejected coming in to the weigh in. I loved fishing BASS tournaments in the 1980’s when there was a 150HP limit per boat. Much safer. It’s still the fishing skill of the fisherman that wins tournaments. Now, well I guess it’s more like NASCAR than professional fishing. Unfortunately, a lot of amateur fishermen are being seriously injured these days trying to emulate the pros who know what they are doing. Not many amateur boat drivers know how to safely control a boat at 70mph.

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

I’m not sure what you’re looking for in this comment.

[@davidblanton7529]

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

[@JeffLaaker]

And very little of that

[@jeffb4612]

70 mph 😂. I don't think I'm a candidate for chine walking with my 9.9.

[@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

[@ClearwaterFishingcompany]

Love that boat

[@JamesEBraus]

Gee I thought the accelerator and brake was the throttle.

[@BrianLatimerFishing]

It is. And the trim

[@timdarnell7819]

I know some people want the top of the line and fastest but unless you're a pro, it's kind of ridiculous.

[@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

[@paulstall]

Day 1 for me thanks for the help

[@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

[@richardalletag1129]

Trim up!

[@richardalletag1129]

Going to fast 1:20 in a skeeter

[@richardalletag1129]

Captain ?

[@jasonhowe990]

Nicely said and great demonstration.