This is absolutely the first thing a new boater needs to learn. I was lucky and had a good friend take me out with my brand new boat and teach me how to handle my boat. He put my boat through its paces, then he conveyed them to me and had me run it and understand it's specific characteristics, I will never forget what he did for me. Good stuff
I’m a 2nd year bass boat owner newbie and this helps a lot with the pointers. I’m finding my groove, getting comfortable and not finding myself overwhelmed with driving a bass boat for the first time ever in the beginning when I first got it. Thanks John! 👍🏻
Being one of those guys that asked about addressing chine walk, thank you for the video. As a pretty new bass boat owner, all your videos have been helpful. Thanks!
Great information here. Been with too many that didn't know how to drive a bass boat. All they wanted to do was go wide open, no matter the conditions. Hope many more see this and take your advice. Thanks for posting this.
I’ve got a 250 on my Z20 and I’ve never been above 50. But, I’m an old man. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that shit hurts more when it goes bad. Now with that said, I watch these pros all the time at different lakes and I’m absolutely amazed at their skills and abilities.
It's all about the throttle and trim and timing of action. They must be working together at the same time in some of those situations. Example, Throttle up, trim down and vice versa at the same time.
Jon, Hi. I just bought a bass boat. This is some really good advice. i have a jon boat, and i am getting ready, just replaced my water pump, got it fixed to get on Trinity River., Tx Thanks for giving us good advice. I have learned a lot from your channel with you excellent and practical advice. Just told my buddy that i am not going on that boat by myself. A bass boat i am told, is a different animal. Jon Crews, internationally known, locally respected.
This was great information. Anyone can go by a bass boat and have no idea what they are doing. The boating safety course does not teach you this kind of info. Also a trim gauge can be very useful as a guide. Great video man!
Good vid. The lever trim or foot trim should be standard USCG reg equipment on all performance bass boats! Anything making operation safer should be mandatory!
Great info, but I would add this. If you get loose and feel scared or out of control AWAYS trim down before you let out of the throttle. Some boats if you let off the gas too quickly and don't trim down you can experience a prop blow out.
Worth mentioning- when you feel like you’re loosing it don’t close the throttle. Your reflex at first may be to let off the throttle too fast. Trim down first and slowly back out the throttle- simultaneously. Snapping the throttle shut will cause even less control.
I used to fish Tournaments in a Champion bass boat that ran 75mph and you are 100% correct. I had that boat airborne hitting unseen waves and without experience they can get pretty hairy. That was years ago and I dropped out of bass fishing for awhile and sold the boat. Now getting back into fishing I have a Basstracker 17ft with a 40hp. Now no rooster tail but you can still over trim and lose speed and the rules on waves can still apply even at 35mph. In a smaller aluminum boat like that if you hit a wave wrong it can still toss you hard. When I had my Champion most boaters do not realize that two boats 65-75 mph 100 yards apart will meet in 3 seconds or less. Where I am on the Mississippi River near LaCrosse Wi in some narrow areas two boats heading at each other and may be on a blind curve or a larger boat blocking vision that can be devastating with less than 3 seconds to react. You could do a video on reaction time when running at those speeds. You always have to pay attention to what is ahead of you. At night it is worse. One tournament I fished went until dark. Myself and 2 other boats all running in the 70+mph had to avoid a canoe that had no lights. We were all lucky we seen the Silhouette and took evasive action to avoid the canoe and each other. And yes always wear a kill tether even with my 40hp. New subscriber and looking fwd to bingeing your videos.
I know im a little late to the party but as a former owner of a triton 200xp i learned 1 very important factor in running wide open... Your hydraulic steering can lose pressure(just enough to chine walk) and the best thing is to turn the wheel ever so slightly to tighten up the pressure in the line.. It doesn’t take much but doing this prevented my boat from chine walking.
John, I love your videos because they're very informative. By the way you're right about the Power Pole Charging System. When I get out of the water my batteries are reading 12V. Thanks again!
Appreciate all the information. I just got a 200 mercury pro XS on a Phoenix and trying to be as safe as possible. At 65 I started chine walking. Really helpful info! Keep up the good work and support all the Cali anglers more and more 👊
I need to go grab a bucket for all the knowledge you're dropping! I am learning a ton of stuff from you. I'm planning on getting my first boat in about a year and you've already taught me a ton! Thanks John!
The walking is telling you the boat is unstable. The trim is best way to re-gain control other than reducing the throttle. Safety First over 1st place any day, all day !! Great video !!!
Hey John, thanks for the videos! Can you do a video on how to drive a bass boat in high winds? We have all been out fishing when a storm blows up out of nowhere.. it’s especially important to know how to drive the boat safely on huge bodies of water.
I have to agree, lots of videos on driving fast/trimming/jackplates..etc but yours is the first Iv seen that mentioned wakes and not just waves which are easier cause your not doing 60+mph
Use the jackplate after raising the nose up all the way. The lower unit will pull the boat left and right. Lifting the motor with jack plate until you feel no torque or a balance. Hi performance , we raise till water pressure drops then bump down.( to get 1st known measure on height), then there from then on if running light and wide open.You can adjust your motor height based on load. The lower the motor_____ the more chine walk. When done correctly you should not have to " drive thru it". Allison yes.... I owned Allison, Bullet and Tritons, Skeeters.@ 9.58. boat is not on pad your chine walking , not wide open, if you are ,your nose is too far down , reference your first comments. If you dont not have a electronic or hydraulic jack plate you will fight that dipping side to side.Always , life jacket on when big motor turns on. Much respect on your fishing!
As a new boat owner I'm glad I only have an 85hp on it, I would hate to try to learn all this at 70mph lol. Great video man it helps us newbies allot. 🙏
Great info! Not a boat owner but do drive one from time to time. How about a video on navigating wake during tournament take off and how to over take a slower boat?
Thats a good idea. I see alot of not just fishermen,but boaters in general that dont know how to pass another boat. It can be tricky if the operator doesnt know,or isnt sure on what technique to use.
I owned an 18 foot Monark fiberglass bass boat 150 hp Johnson that would comfortably rock back and fourth at 5500 rpm trimmed up. Ran it in tidewater. Man, I miss that ride!
Small adjustments on jackplate can help also..and I mean small adjustments..if your boat starts to chin walk at a certain speed..you can start those slight side to side wheel movements before the boat starts to walk. If you wait for the boat to initiate the chin walk more times than not your a move behind and could make the problem worse.. Be safe out there!
You should do a video on how bass boat drivers should slow down when going less than 100ft from people drift fishing and anchored. You explained all this very well. I had a 12ft v bottom with an 25hp motor on it when I was a kid. It chine Walked like crazy but it was fun. Stay safe .
Hey man love these vids boat driving. Could you do one for tournament blast of like 3 back going through there wake and passing other boats how to. that would be awesome. Had my first blast off the other day had to deal with a 4 foot wake right off the bat. From the 5 boats in front of me
Great video John, with excellent tips. I guess I'm a 67 year old chicken though. I don't take mine over 65mph no matter what the lake conditions. I normally go about 50 between fishing spots and that seems plenty fast to me. lol.
What is your particular mind set on how weight should be distributed as it relates to speed. Ken Smith did a video showing changes in top end speed based on how his weight was distributed in his boat. Also, as lithium batteries are much lighter than regular batteries and many/most people believe that the lighter load (in this case, obviously batteries) equals more speed. Yet, I've seen other videos where they are purported to show that because of where batteries are normally located (ie the back of the boat nearest the power source) that switching from lead to lithium only increased the speed less than 1 mph. What, sir, is your take on that. Thanks.
Short answer is the switch to lithium’s has zero effect on top end but a HUGE difference on hole shot. Lots of tips to weight distribution for boat performance
Boat brand has a lot of affect on how weight affects the boat. And where you need the weight. If you swap to lithium’s in a bullet or Allison, (and no I’m not talking about the 20ft boats, specifically mean a 21) you WILL again speed, guaranteed, every time. And yes, bullets can ride good. Best ride I’ve ever been in was a 21’10 bullet, worst was a ranger, speared every wave cause they’re so heavy and can’t get out of the water. This is on wheeler lake too and it gets big and rough there.
Nice vid John, covered the important stuff well. Curious about your thoughts on two things - if/how loading the boat/side-to-side balance can affect chine walking, and how do you handle turns at high speed. The idea of an accidental bow hook is always in my mind when running at a good clip, appreciated the details on dealing with wakes. Thanks!
@@JohnCrews so with that said. I keep very little up front. The Sabre, I've found does not lift well with weight up front. Maybe I'll move stuff around and experiment a bit....🤷♂️
"Back in the day" when I was really really into bass fishing (I almost hit the trail, almost, close) I had a Ranger that I could cruise at 60mph, and could run out at just over 70mph... loaded. That's pretty fast for a Ranger back then. And Rangers are heavy. It was fun.... But two of my buddies had boats that were FAST! One had a BULLITT boat that could run the "liquid 1/4 mile at 92mph! Another had an ALLISON CRAFT that was fast fast fast! But I'll say this... Going really fast, a foot off the water, in a bass boat is also dangerous! Know your limitations! And be CAREFUL! And most importantly, WEAR YOIR SAFTY GEAR!!!
Our old Bass Boat The first one i learned how to drive back n the day when i was 15 yrs.old, Was a 600lb.Allison XST, Merc 150 Xr4, 80+ m.p.h.!!! Back n the mid 1990's Rough Ride n 2 to 3ft chop but When water was right oh what an Adrenaline Rush!!!! I learned to Master Chinewalking real fast!!! That boat taught me a lot about high speed n a boats limitations.
forgot to add that it is pretty essential to have a hp lower unit with a lower water pick up. on some applications with a standard lower unit, you can run out of water before hitting the magic spot. the hydraulic jack plate makes it pretty darn simple to get it dialed in. amazing what just an 1/8 of an inch will make between having to fight the boat and just driving like a car. and not every boat will run right with the same prop. find the right prop for your boat not your buddies.
I’ve driven Allison’s over 100mph for over 2 decades. Seat time is crucial to feel what the boat is doing and what it wants or needs. Driving a boat on the pad doesn’t happen in your first run. Chopping the throttle when the boat is on the pad and letting the bow drop can be catastrophic!
MLB-No plowing the catcher. NFL-No head blows. Multiple sports-concussion syndrome protocols. Professional Bass Fishing still racing to "spots" and severe penalties for being late to weigh in. It is rare to be on a lake in the afternoon running back to weigh in and it not be rough and dangerous. Running fast can be fun, but dangerous. This needs to be addressed.
Dude great public service. Way too many guys with money and no brains. Just because you can afford a big fast boat doesn't mean you should have one. Thanks for making the water safe for all the rest of us.
Great video!! Is your bass cat set up so its only going to walk just a tad no matter what? Kinda like a steady back and forth motion, or will it get just plain squirly if someone drives it that isn't familiar with bass cats or your set up? After being in lots of champions out west I didnt realize how bad different boats can get to walking!! How do you handle your marshals or back in the day a co angler that just has never left out in the morning with all those little cross wakes or you pushed the time an hour from weigh in and you get on top of 4 or 5 foot wind blown waves and starts freaking out. What do you say to them to have faith that your going to get them back safley?
I LOVE going fast but will NOT beat up my boat, any rider, or myself to do so. When choppy, I back down speed and it makes a big difference. Any boat that is fast enough, will walk to some degree. If a boat doesn’t, it’s just not fast enough
John if you're in a lighter aluminum boat going 56.4 mph in a Tracker 190 ,Mercury 115 XS pro with Laser 2 prop with 22 pitch is this like if you're running over 60 mph in a fiberglass boat?
John Crews i wish I’d had a jackplate and youtube then when I fished for bass cat in the mid 90’s as I thought both my Sabre and pantera II were both bad hull designs because of their chine walk and when bass pro gave me the opportunity to go nitro I took it that being said I since have only purchased ranger but now knowing how to fix the chine walk I’d look at Bass cat again!
Another pro tip from someone currently learning the hard way. Don’t go buy a 21’ bullet as your first boat. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely LOVE my bullet. But the learning curve on these is steep regardless and even more so when you’re literally watching RUclips videos trying to figure things out.
Ikn its off topic but i need help to find a carbon 12 bc Russell's marine sold mine out from under me after id paid more than half of my bill. Im sure i seen you heding North today heading home i 81 lol rig looked good man
@@JohnCrews yeah man it is i searched high and low none to be had. Thats why i reached to some pros that might kn someone. I was informed by a good friend of mine that you use ray marine tru or not its good stuff to. He is a really big fan of you. I was only looking for the carbon as a cheep way in to the active target. Is what it is and thanks for the reply. Thumbs up man
Biggest tips 1 drive within the limits of your skill and equipment 2 never go faster than your willing to hit something 3 operate as if every other boat is actively trying to wreck you
@@JohnCrews thanks for the reply so in tournament blast off situation with wake coming from both sides is it ok to stay trimmed up and just try to ride the waves from the side counter acting with the steering to stay level? Sorry for the long question
First time I rode in a bass boat my uncle went 75mph across Wheeler lake in Alabama in dead Of night. Couldn’t see a damn thing. I never got in one ever again
I rode in a new 97 model years ago with a blueprinted 225 venom with boyesen reeds that screamed out 92, she was a real rocket. Most folks have no clue how far ahead Champion was in the 90,s!
When you say bump it down two taps, do you raise the trim back up once you are moving pretty fast or just leave it there? I have a 2000 TR21 with a 225 EFI and I have had it up to 73 once. At 65 it starts to walk pretty bad. I made around 8 runs today and every time I would eventually try to correct it but go in the wrong direction and it got a little scary. I just started trimming down once it got too bad as I heard if you let off the throttle too quick things can go real bad. I did finally fill up both live wells for the last run and it helped a little. I'm not sure if yours is the same, but mine falls really fast side to side. So quick that you can't think about which side is dipping. Maybe I was just over trimmed though. I was only running around 1/4 tank gas (I guess around 15 gallons). It seems to be more manageable with more gas in the boat. And if I have a partner it balances a lot better and isn't near as bad.
speaking or addressing chine walk a bit further. if you have a hydraulic jack plate, you should not even have to deal with chine walking. i have never found a boat that did not have that sweet spot for wot running. when you hit it all the bass cats that i have ran, mine or other owners, will run like they are on a rail when you hit that perfect spot. i just ran a friends 2014 puma with a new merc 250 4 stroke. he just had a manual plate, but several times on and off the trailer and making very small adjustments at a time. that boat ran like a car down the road at 80 gps. i know rick pierce and steve eastwold were always me about how to drive through the chine, and you will have that if not in that perfect spot.
John Crews any chance adjusting that trim fin thing above the prop left or right would fix it? It ran fine for me last summer. Only other thing I can think of is I usually fish with my old man who is about 100lbs heavier than me. Could that make it pull like that? The extra weight on the left side? Thanks for the response tho!
I had a friend that I went to school with that hit trouble in his bass boat and did not have his life jacket on !! That was his last day alive ! Rip Lance Henniger !!!
John Crews I’m not sure if that’s all that bad. Lol. Mine was a handful until I got it figured out. Then it was speed demon but I never got completely comfortable once it hit 70ish.
@@JohnCrews Yeah the Tr 20 n 21's com Triton 1997 maybe 1998?? The first ones, But from around 2001 to 2003, I think were some of Tritons faster n better looking hulls!! Then around 2004 n 2005 the lil heavier X series Tritons came out, along with Merc n the 4 stroke Verado.
I was sold a tr20 with the wrong prop. Once you hit 60 mph it felt like the boat was going to flip over. The dealer kept saying you just don't know how to drive it. "You need to drive through it." My fishing buddy almost pissed his pants when i was trying to "drive through it". It took 6 months to figure out they put the wrong prop on it.
If they ever make a lure that I can pull around the lake and 85 miles an hour I’ll be fishing every day because I suck at fishing. Maybe I need to slow down at times.😂
*What's the purpose of doing any more than 40mph on the water anyway* especially on a lake. Out in the wide open ocean that's different... i guess. Still don't see why you would need to go 60+mph on any body of water honestly 😂🤔 Genuinely curious.
Thanks for the input. I have been in a Gambler before. Fast and good boats. I do think the rough water ride is better in the Bass Cat. The Gambler does have a big wide fishing deck too.
I have several friends who adore their BC just like me and my G....68 years old and still prowling.... really like your videos... Always liked a regular guy
The biggest thing you mentioned. Wearing that life jacket. It’s not worth a penny unless you’re wearing it properly. You hit something in the water and knocked unconscious you are unable to put a life jacket on.?
If you want to get someone with a bass boat to drive it safely, just show them the difference in fuel costs between cruising speed and top end speed. That'll get them to slow right down.
Not true. I have a Tracker and if you get caught in rough water or like myself have to Navigate on the Mississippi River with 30+ft cruisers and barges you do have to pay attention and hit the wakes and waves correctly or you can be put upside down. Alot of boaters with smaller engines have a false sense thinking they do not go fast enough to get in trouble. I have a 40hp on a 17ft tracker and have owned a 75mph Champion. Same rules apply other than a rooster tail. Dont get a false sense of security and still be very safe. You may be going slow...but that 30ft Cruiser or a party bunch on a pontoon with a 150hp or bigger can run you down and not even see you.
Jon Gunner Grefsheim I stay clear of bigger boats, I run a flag off my stern light as well. When I do notice a big wake from another boat I throttle down. I only wide open when I know it’s safe.
This is absolutely the first thing a new boater needs to learn. I was lucky and had a good friend take me out with my brand new boat and teach me how to handle my boat. He put my boat through its paces, then he conveyed them to me and had me run it and understand it's specific characteristics, I will never forget what he did for me. Good stuff
I’m a 2nd year bass boat owner newbie and this helps a lot with the pointers. I’m finding my groove, getting comfortable and not finding myself overwhelmed with driving a bass boat for the first time ever in the beginning when I first got it. Thanks John! 👍🏻
Being one of those guys that asked about addressing chine walk, thank you for the video. As a pretty new bass boat owner, all your videos have been helpful. Thanks!
Great information here. Been with too many that didn't know how to drive a bass boat. All they wanted to do was go wide open, no matter the conditions. Hope many more see this and take your advice. Thanks for posting this.
I’ve got a 250 on my Z20 and I’ve never been above 50. But, I’m an old man. As I’ve gotten older, I’ve realized that shit hurts more when it goes bad. Now with that said, I watch these pros all the time at different lakes and I’m absolutely amazed at their skills and abilities.
Would love to see a video about driving in rough water. Wind, waves, boat wakes, etc!
It's all about the throttle and trim and timing of action. They must be working together at the same time in some of those situations. Example, Throttle up, trim down and vice versa at the same time.
@@Charles53412 spot on!
Jon, Hi. I just bought a bass boat. This is some really good advice. i have a jon boat, and i am getting ready, just replaced my water pump, got it fixed to get on Trinity River., Tx Thanks for giving us good advice. I have learned a lot from your channel with you excellent and practical advice. Just told my buddy that i am not going on that boat by myself. A bass boat i am told, is a different animal. Jon Crews, internationally known, locally respected.
Good stuff John! Thanks for putting this together. Be safe out there putting these tips to practice!
Great videos. I just got my first bass boat and I'm so thankful for your videos. Big help and love the safety advice. Blessings!
This was great information. Anyone can go by a bass boat and have no idea what they are doing. The boating safety course does not teach you this kind of info. Also a trim gauge can be very useful as a guide. Great video man!
Good vid. The lever trim or foot trim should be standard USCG reg equipment on all performance bass boats! Anything making operation safer should be mandatory!
Great info, but I would add this. If you get loose and feel scared or out of control AWAYS trim down before you let out of the throttle. Some boats if you let off the gas too quickly and don't trim down you can experience a prop blow out.
Worth mentioning- when you feel like you’re loosing it don’t close the throttle. Your reflex at first may be to let off the throttle too fast. Trim down first and slowly back out the throttle- simultaneously. Snapping the throttle shut will cause even less control.
Yes! I may have left that out. Good one. 👍🏼
Heck yes it makes it worse, even if the lake is glass and you just let off the gas all at once, almost gives ya whiplash haha
I used to fish Tournaments in a Champion bass boat that ran 75mph and you are 100% correct. I had that boat airborne hitting unseen waves and without experience they can get pretty hairy.
That was years ago and I dropped out of bass fishing for awhile and sold the boat.
Now getting back into fishing I have a Basstracker 17ft with a 40hp. Now no rooster tail but you can still over trim and lose speed and the rules on waves can still apply even at 35mph.
In a smaller aluminum boat like that if you hit a wave wrong it can still toss you hard. When I had my Champion most boaters do not realize that two boats 65-75 mph 100 yards apart will meet in 3 seconds or less.
Where I am on the Mississippi River near LaCrosse Wi in some narrow areas two boats heading at each other and may be on a blind curve or a larger boat blocking vision that can be devastating with less than 3 seconds to react. You could do a video on reaction time when running at those speeds. You always have to pay attention to what is ahead of you. At night it is worse. One tournament I fished went until dark. Myself and 2 other boats all running in the 70+mph had to avoid a canoe that had no lights. We were all lucky we seen the Silhouette and took evasive action to avoid the canoe and each other. And yes always wear a kill tether even with my 40hp.
New subscriber and looking fwd to bingeing your videos.
Champions were Classics probabably the very best rough water bass boat ever. And that Deep Vee Wedge hull design was easy to handle.
I know im a little late to the party but as a former owner of a triton 200xp i learned 1 very important factor in running wide open... Your hydraulic steering can lose pressure(just enough to chine walk) and the best thing is to turn the wheel ever so slightly to tighten up the pressure in the line.. It doesn’t take much but doing this prevented my boat from chine walking.
John, I love your videos because they're very informative. By the way you're right about the Power Pole Charging System. When I get out of the water my batteries are reading 12V.
Thanks again!
Appreciate all the information. I just got a 200 mercury pro XS on a Phoenix and trying to be as safe as possible. At 65 I started chine walking. Really helpful info! Keep up the good work and support all the Cali anglers more and more 👊
Very cool. Thanks!
I need to go grab a bucket for all the knowledge you're dropping! I am learning a ton of stuff from you. I'm planning on getting my first boat in about a year and you've already taught me a ton! Thanks John!
Thanks!
The walking is telling you the boat is unstable. The trim is best way to re-gain control other than reducing the throttle. Safety First over 1st place any day, all day !! Great video !!!
Agreed!
Hey John, thanks for the videos! Can you do a video on how to drive a bass boat in high winds? We have all been out fishing when a storm blows up out of nowhere.. it’s especially important to know how to drive the boat safely on huge bodies of water.
Will do as soon as I get right conditions to shoot it
Thank you for doors video on this and including wake safety!!! Please do one more about how to navigate through wakes!!
Would be great to get advice on wakes, especially with all these pleasure boaters out there during the summer
I have to agree, lots of videos on driving fast/trimming/jackplates..etc but yours is the first Iv seen that mentioned wakes and not just waves which are easier cause your not doing 60+mph
Trim down STAT! Pull the nose down!
Use the jackplate after raising the nose up all the way. The lower unit will pull the boat left and right. Lifting the motor with jack plate until you feel no torque or a balance.
Hi performance , we raise till water pressure drops then bump down.( to get 1st known measure on height), then there from then on if running light and wide open.You can adjust your motor height based on load. The lower the motor_____ the more chine walk. When done correctly you should not have to " drive thru it". Allison yes....
I owned Allison, Bullet and Tritons, Skeeters.@ 9.58. boat is not on pad your chine walking , not wide open, if you are ,your nose is too far down , reference your first comments. If you dont not have a electronic or hydraulic jack plate you will fight that dipping side to side.Always , life jacket on when big motor turns on. Much respect on your fishing!
Yes! Great comments. You’re 100% correct
If its dipping left, give it just a touch left before pulling it right. The same method if its pulling right.
Thanks for the lesson! Chinese asking has been holding me back on running my boat at its full capabilities. Time to go practice!
As a new boat owner I'm glad I only have an 85hp on it, I would hate to try to learn all this at 70mph lol. Great video man it helps us newbies allot. 🙏
Thanks! Be safe
Estou cursando Construção Naval na Fatec de Jahu-sp, gostei muito do vídeo!
When you were showing an example of your trim down bumps you were trimming down on your JP. Was that intentional or was it just to show example?
Great info! Not a boat owner but do drive one from time to time. How about a video on navigating wake during tournament take off and how to over take a slower boat?
Very good idea. Thanks
Thats a good idea. I see alot of not just fishermen,but boaters in general that dont know how to pass another boat. It can be tricky if the operator doesnt know,or isnt sure on what technique to use.
I owned an 18 foot Monark fiberglass bass boat 150 hp Johnson that would comfortably rock back and fourth at 5500 rpm trimmed up. Ran it in tidewater. Man, I miss that ride!
Small adjustments on jackplate can help also..and I mean small adjustments..if your boat starts to chin walk at a certain speed..you can start those slight side to side wheel movements before the boat starts to walk. If you wait for the boat to initiate the chin walk more times than not your a move behind and could make the problem worse.. Be safe out there!
You should do a video on how bass boat drivers should slow down when going less than 100ft from people drift fishing and anchored. You explained all this very well. I had a 12ft v bottom with an 25hp motor on it when I was a kid. It chine Walked like crazy but it was fun. Stay safe .
No kidding. 👍🏼
Hey man great series of videos! Could you put them all in a playlist to access easier?
Hey man love these vids boat driving. Could you do one for tournament blast of like 3 back going through there wake and passing other boats how to. that would be awesome. Had my first blast off the other day had to deal with a 4 foot wake right off the bat. From the 5 boats in front of me
Good idea! Thanks
Most people over steer when it starts to walk. Small corrections at the wheel is key. Nice video
Bingo! Thanks
Great video John, with excellent tips.
I guess I'm a 67 year old chicken though. I don't take mine over 65mph no matter what the lake conditions. I normally go about 50 between fishing spots and that seems plenty fast to me. lol.
Hey John, any way that you could do a video about how to safely navigate/drive the lake at night? Would be sick!
Will be a tough one to shoot but I’ll think about it. 👍🏼
Slow down have good lights.
What is your particular mind set on how weight should be distributed as it relates to speed. Ken Smith did a video showing changes in top end speed based on how his weight was distributed in his boat. Also, as lithium batteries are much lighter than regular batteries and many/most people believe that the lighter load (in this case, obviously batteries) equals more speed. Yet, I've seen other videos where they are purported to show that because of where batteries are normally located (ie the back of the boat nearest the power source) that switching from lead to lithium only increased the speed less than 1 mph. What, sir, is your take on that. Thanks.
Short answer is the switch to lithium’s has zero effect on top end but a HUGE difference on hole shot. Lots of tips to weight distribution for boat performance
Thanks, John. It might be an idea for a future video, assuming you haven't done one already.
Boat brand has a lot of affect on how weight affects the boat. And where you need the weight. If you swap to lithium’s in a bullet or Allison, (and no I’m not talking about the 20ft boats, specifically mean a 21) you WILL again speed, guaranteed, every time. And yes, bullets can ride good. Best ride I’ve ever been in was a 21’10 bullet, worst was a ranger, speared every wave cause they’re so heavy and can’t get out of the water. This is on wheeler lake too and it gets big and rough there.
Nice vid John, covered the important stuff well. Curious about your thoughts on two things - if/how loading the boat/side-to-side balance can affect chine walking, and how do you handle turns at high speed. The idea of an accidental bow hook is always in my mind when running at a good clip, appreciated the details on dealing with wakes. Thanks!
The less weight you have in the front, the more she will walk. Side to side not affected. High speed turns will be in the advanced turning video. 👍🏼
@@JohnCrews so with that said. I keep very little up front. The Sabre, I've found does not lift well with weight up front. Maybe I'll move stuff around and experiment a bit....🤷♂️
"Back in the day" when I was really really into bass fishing (I almost hit the trail, almost, close) I had a Ranger that I could cruise at 60mph, and could run out at just over 70mph... loaded. That's pretty fast for a Ranger back then. And Rangers are heavy. It was fun....
But two of my buddies had boats that were FAST! One had a BULLITT boat that could run the "liquid 1/4 mile at 92mph! Another had an ALLISON CRAFT that was fast fast fast! But I'll say this...
Going really fast, a foot off the water, in a bass boat is also dangerous! Know your limitations! And be CAREFUL! And most importantly, WEAR YOIR SAFTY GEAR!!!
Our old Bass Boat The first one i learned how to drive back n the day when i was 15 yrs.old, Was a 600lb.Allison XST, Merc 150 Xr4, 80+ m.p.h.!!! Back n the mid 1990's Rough Ride n 2 to 3ft chop but When water was right oh what an Adrenaline Rush!!!! I learned to Master Chinewalking real fast!!! That boat taught me a lot about high speed n a boats limitations.
forgot to add that it is pretty essential to have a hp lower unit with a lower water pick up. on some applications with a standard lower unit, you can run out of water before hitting the magic spot. the hydraulic jack plate makes it pretty darn simple to get it dialed in. amazing what just an 1/8 of an inch will make between having to fight the boat and just driving like a car. and not every boat will run right with the same prop. find the right prop for your boat not your buddies.
Very true. 👍🏼
Boat wakes....."Trim Down". So so important!
I’ve driven Allison’s over 100mph for over 2 decades. Seat time is crucial to feel what the boat is doing and what it wants or needs. Driving a boat on the pad doesn’t happen in your first run. Chopping the throttle when the boat is on the pad and letting the bow drop can be catastrophic!
Great advice. Thanks!
Hey John you missed the part on how to get your boat airborne like that famous shot?
Oh, that’s advanced 😂
seat time working your way up to faster speeds is essential.
Good point
MLB-No plowing the catcher. NFL-No head blows. Multiple sports-concussion syndrome protocols. Professional Bass Fishing still racing to "spots" and severe penalties for being late to weigh in. It is rare to be on a lake in the afternoon running back to weigh in and it not be rough and dangerous. Running fast can be fun, but dangerous. This needs to be addressed.
Great explanation! Do all bass boats make rooster tails ? Cuz im 90% mine dosent?😮
You have any idea if chine walk is at a specific speed for every boat or different from boat to boat
Depends on the hull.
Dude great public service. Way too many guys with money and no brains. Just because you can afford a big fast boat doesn't mean you should have one. Thanks for making the water safe for all the rest of us.
Hey dude I have a 2001 javelin with a 175 Johnson 19 foot but on the engine I have a foil on the motor it won’t get a rooster tail how do I fix that
Great video!! Is your bass cat set up so its only going to walk just a tad no matter what? Kinda like a steady back and forth motion, or will it get just plain squirly if someone drives it that isn't familiar with bass cats or your set up? After being in lots of champions out west I didnt realize how bad different boats can get to walking!! How do you handle your marshals or back in the day a co angler that just has never left out in the morning with all those little cross wakes or you pushed the time an hour from weigh in and you get on top of 4 or 5 foot wind blown waves and starts freaking out. What do you say to them to have faith that your going to get them back safley?
I LOVE going fast but will NOT beat up my boat, any rider, or myself to do so. When choppy, I back down speed and it makes a big difference. Any boat that is fast enough, will walk to some degree. If a boat doesn’t, it’s just not fast enough
My question is every time I’ve driven a bass boat, there’s points where it feels impossible to turn. How do I fix that?
John, what light is that mounted next to your BBT mount?
It’s a T-H Marine light kit so I can see in darkness
The chime walking he’s talking about is for Phoenix owners, if you own a VX vexus or bass, cat or ranger you don’t have that issue
John if you're in a lighter aluminum boat going 56.4 mph in a Tracker 190 ,Mercury 115 XS pro with Laser 2 prop with 22 pitch is this like if you're running over 60 mph in a fiberglass boat?
Are you bumping your jackplate down two bumps when you chine walk or the motor trim?
Moving the jack plate up helps chine walk
John Crews i wish I’d had a jackplate and youtube then when I fished for bass cat in the mid 90’s as I thought both my Sabre and pantera II were both bad hull designs because of their chine walk and when bass pro gave me the opportunity to go nitro I took it that being said I since have only purchased ranger but now knowing how to fix the chine walk I’d look at Bass cat again!
Sweet video . How do you know the boat lanes on a new lake . I’m always worried of hitting a stump
Depends on the lake. High traffic lakes are always well marked. Time on new places let’s you learn danger stuff to look for. Good video idea
Get behind a fast expensive boat and follow him that’s how you learn the lake
John is 80 mph plenty fast for most tournaments you Fish in?
Too fast. Anything between 70-75 is plenty fast
80s too fast but 75 is OK?. At that speed on the water you’re nuts are gonna fly off either way if you crash
Ron Neely nah. There’s a guy that fishes with us that blew out a bullet between 85 and 87 with no life jacket and he climbed back in on his own
Great tips thank you
Another pro tip from someone currently learning the hard way. Don’t go buy a 21’ bullet as your first boat. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely LOVE my bullet. But the learning curve on these is steep regardless and even more so when you’re literally watching RUclips videos trying to figure things out.
Very good point! I’ve seen folks that go out once or twice a year buy a 250 hp on a 21’. Makes me sick!
I run mine pretty much weekly but it’s still just overkill as can be.
That’s what I did lol went and got a 21 bullet xdc with a 250 pro xs, screams
That waiter reference was a spot on visual for addressing chine walk
Ikn its off topic but i need help to find a carbon 12 bc Russell's marine sold mine out from under me after id paid more than half of my bill. Im sure i seen you heding North today heading home i 81 lol rig looked good man
Thanks man! It’s hard to find those Carbons
@@JohnCrews yeah man it is i searched high and low none to be had. Thats why i reached to some pros that might kn someone. I was informed by a good friend of mine that you use ray marine tru or not its good stuff to. He is a really big fan of you. I was only looking for the carbon as a cheep way in to the active target. Is what it is and thanks for the reply. Thumbs up man
Been sideways at 74 before not fun take the man's advice!!!
Biggest tips
1 drive within the limits of your skill and equipment
2 never go faster than your willing to hit something
3 operate as if every other boat is actively trying to wreck you
Great video!! What’s the song name
What about when 2 to 3ft wakes are coming at you from the sides?
Same as an angle. Forgot to say that
@@JohnCrews thanks for the reply so in tournament blast off situation with wake coming from both sides is it ok to stay trimmed up and just try to ride the waves from the side counter acting with the steering to stay level? Sorry for the long question
john, how soon after getting on plane do you start to trim up? also, do you continuosly trim or do it in bumps?
Start trimming once the front settles. I like doing it in 1-3 second bursts
I like to start immediately as the bow starts to settle, listen and the engine will tell you when it blows out, meaning you’re trimming up too fast.
Most people over trim. Thinking it’s speed and that’s a mistake. I’d rather have trimmed too far down than high
First time I rode in a bass boat my uncle went 75mph across Wheeler lake in Alabama in dead Of night. Couldn’t see a damn thing. I never got in one ever again
Without any true lane of traffic, any speed on the water can be dangerous. Be carefully alert and always obey the rules on the water.
You got it.
Does going 101 mph help you catch more fish?. Do you know that bass boats do not have brakes?
Guess those Champion hulls are the thing, uh?
I rode in a new 97 model years ago with a blueprinted 225 venom with boyesen reeds that screamed out 92, she was a real rocket. Most folks have no clue how far ahead Champion was in the 90,s!
may need to do a video on proper way to wear pfd
When you say bump it down two taps, do you raise the trim back up once you are moving pretty fast or just leave it there? I have a 2000 TR21 with a 225 EFI and I have had it up to 73 once. At 65 it starts to walk pretty bad. I made around 8 runs today and every time I would eventually try to correct it but go in the wrong direction and it got a little scary. I just started trimming down once it got too bad as I heard if you let off the throttle too quick things can go real bad. I did finally fill up both live wells for the last run and it helped a little. I'm not sure if yours is the same, but mine falls really fast side to side. So quick that you can't think about which side is dipping. Maybe I was just over trimmed though. I was only running around 1/4 tank gas (I guess around 15 gallons). It seems to be more manageable with more gas in the boat. And if I have a partner it balances a lot better and isn't near as bad.
Leave it at the 2 bumps down. If you raise it, it’ll get squirrelly again
speaking or addressing chine walk a bit further. if you have a hydraulic jack plate, you should not even have to deal with chine walking. i have never found a boat that did not have that sweet spot for wot running. when you hit it all the bass cats that i have ran, mine or other owners, will run like they are on a rail when you hit that perfect spot. i just ran a friends 2014 puma with a new merc 250 4 stroke. he just had a manual plate, but several times on and off the trailer and making very small adjustments at a time. that boat ran like a car down the road at 80 gps. i know rick pierce and steve eastwold were always me about how to drive through the chine, and you will have that if not in that perfect spot.
Yes. I went in depth on the jack plate on that other video so I didn’t want to say the same info over. You’re exactly right
Also, not trimming up too fast will fix alot if not all chine walk.
It's Condone son not condemn. Lol 😝
In that context of sentence.
When I get on plane my boat digs in and pulls left hard. If I trip up it starts to porpoise quickly. Any suggestions?
There’s a major problem with the set up. Prop or something.
John Crews any chance adjusting that trim fin thing above the prop left or right would fix it? It ran fine for me last summer. Only other thing I can think of is I usually fish with my old man who is about 100lbs heavier than me. Could that make it pull like that? The extra weight on the left side? Thanks for the response tho!
I had a friend that I went to school with that hit trouble in his bass boat and did not have his life jacket on !! That was his last day alive ! Rip Lance Henniger !!!
What about no rooster tail at all????
Hat is snapped into the life jacket buckle. You put jacket on, loop the snap through the hole adjust camp jacket. Then forget it....
If you want to learn to drive a bass boat just get a Triton. You’ll learn to drive your boat plus you’ll give your sphincter muscle a great workout.
Too bad they aren’t going to make any more.
John Crews I’m not sure if that’s all that bad. Lol. Mine was a handful until I got it figured out. Then it was speed demon but I never got completely comfortable once it hit 70ish.
TexasVet72 The early ones when Earl still owned it were rockets.
@@JohnCrews Yeah the Tr 20 n 21's com Triton 1997 maybe 1998?? The first ones, But from around 2001 to 2003, I think were some of Tritons faster n better looking hulls!! Then around 2004 n 2005 the lil heavier X series Tritons came out, along with Merc n the 4 stroke Verado.
I was sold a tr20 with the wrong prop. Once you hit 60 mph it felt like the boat was going to flip over. The dealer kept saying you just don't know how to drive it. "You need to drive through it." My fishing buddy almost pissed his pants when i was trying to "drive through it". It took 6 months to figure out they put the wrong prop on it.
I never caught a fish going fast.
You didn’t catch the point of the video either…
But by gosh you would be the first to get to that hot spot 😂
If they ever make a lure that I can pull around the lake and 85 miles an hour I’ll be fishing every day because I suck at fishing. Maybe I need to slow down at times.😂
*What's the purpose of doing any more than 40mph on the water anyway* especially on a lake. Out in the wide open ocean that's different... i guess. Still don't see why you would need to go 60+mph on any body of water honestly 😂🤔 Genuinely curious.
Never had that walking problem w my ranger. 20+ years
It’s not fast enough to do it
@@JohnCrews 82 ain't fast?
Bass Cat's are fricken great boats😉
I love when they say “check out those other videos” and there’s not even links in the description lol
Excellent analogy with the waiter 👍🏻
lol i just trim till i stop going faster... starts to bounce
I thaugt cigar bosats was designer for smugling and racing. Fishing boats designer for fishing. If you are fishing what are you smugling?
Buy a Gambler... Satisfy the need for speed and durability... From a very satisfied owner... can't find a reason to get anything else...great hulls
Thanks for the input. I have been in a Gambler before. Fast and good boats. I do think the rough water ride is better in the Bass Cat. The Gambler does have a big wide fishing deck too.
I have several friends who adore their BC just like me and my G....68 years old and still prowling.... really like your videos... Always liked a regular guy
Also how to avoid blowouts.
Why is the first thing you talk about not, "tether yourself to the kill switch"?
I got on it quickly.
Skint Back, eeewwww definitely need a new term lol
OMG!! My 5 year old wants me to download the music you were playing. Any help??
It’s from a deal you have to pay for on music bed
The biggest thing you mentioned. Wearing that life jacket. It’s not worth a penny unless you’re wearing it properly. You hit something in the water and knocked unconscious you are unable to put a life jacket on.?
I clicked on this vid thinking I was going to see a bass boat going 101mph...
Search BassCat top speed to see a great video. Guy was trying to beat his 106 mph record.
Need an Allison for that
@@deckmonkey1459 and crashed
If you want to get someone with a bass boat to drive it safely, just show them the difference in fuel costs between cruising speed and top end speed. That'll get them to slow right down.
At 90mph and above.....you wake up 2 days later and remember what you did wrong......hopefully!
I ain’t gonna find out. 😂
With guys that have 50hp bass boats like myself, no need to watch 😝
True. 🙃
Not true. I have a Tracker and if you get caught in rough water or like myself have to Navigate on the Mississippi River with 30+ft cruisers and barges you do have to pay attention and hit the wakes and waves correctly or you can be put upside down. Alot of boaters with smaller engines have a false sense thinking they do not go fast enough to get in trouble. I have a 40hp on a 17ft tracker and have owned a 75mph Champion. Same rules apply other than a rooster tail. Dont get a false sense of security and still be very safe. You may be going slow...but that 30ft Cruiser or a party bunch on a pontoon with a 150hp or bigger can run you down and not even see you.
Jon Gunner Grefsheim I stay clear of bigger boats, I run a flag off my stern light as well. When I do notice a big wake from another boat I throttle down. I only wide open when I know it’s safe.
once you go hot foot you never go back
Wake board/ballast boat wakes at 74mph=no thanks for your safety do not go full T over that crap especially if they are spaced out
That’s it