Glen-L.com

Just took our Tahoe out for its first sea trial this past weekend and had a wet surprise, am wondering if any of you have had a similar experience:

We built the "extended" version of the Tahoe and have powered her with a PleasureCraft 351 / Velvet Drive transmission. The drive angle is set up for 15deg. The actual waterline is close to spec as she sits about 2-3" higher in the water at the stern than expected. Should point out that we are using a small temporary fuel tank (there's no weight from a full tank in the stern).

At idle, she's pushing a lot of water off the bow and, when we throttle-up, the bow-wave is breaking very, very far forward, probably only 2' back from the bow which makes for a very wet cockpit. At speed, the bow-wave rolls back to where I'd expect: about mid-engine compartment. Same experience coming off-plane. There's a lot of spray coming in to this boat and I don't think a windshield's gonna help.

We're planning to add some ballast in the stern to see if that helps.

Any ideas?

Congratulations on the launch.

I don't know about the Tahoe.

With the Monaco, I found I was occasionally "catching some spray" in the transition. I find that upwind starts can be wetter than downwind starts. I also find that the faster you get to a plane, the better.

Other than that, I have no meaningful advice for you.

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Bruce.

~~ Do what you love, and love what you do. ~~
~~ To me - only my boat is not yet perfect. Everybody else's is to be admired for I know the path they have walked (Dave Lott, 2010) ~~
Dow's Monaco Project

Yes the Tahoe can be a wet boat

The plans say the spray rail is optional. It's not. I learned from Butch Barto. He soaked me coming off plane. Add the spray rail. It will give you a couple of MPH and keep you drier.

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

Thank you for the quick replies, much appreciated. Bill, you're referring to the spray-rail specified in the plans (the one that stretches from midships to stern) ? I could see that helping the lucky ones in the rear cockpit, but what about the front?

Corey

Run the spray rail at the chine all the way to the stem along the chine. It makes a world of difference. The lower side of the rail runs 90 degrees to the hull.
Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

Butch told me about this at the last Gathering. Could you post a picture of yours?

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John Amundsen
Monte Carlo
Winter Haven, FL

Maybe it will be done by G6 and maybe not.

Thanks again Bill, that makes sense. Am looking over some pictures of older runabouts and see the "full-length" spray rail on the Shepherds, Centurys and Correct Crafts. Any recommendations on depth of the rail?

Will find Butch Barto's pics online and have a look.

-C.

My rails are 1" thick off the hull by 1 1/2" tall. Makes a world of difference.

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

Uh Ohh... Thats not good. Im building the tahoe 23 stretched 10% and wasnt planning on installing spray rails other than the ones in the rear connecting them to a swim platform.
So seems like rails all the way to the front is a must??

Does anyone have detailed pics?

Regards

The ones that Butch put on this Tahoe were at the chine and I didnt notice them until he pointed them out.

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John Amundsen
Monte Carlo
Winter Haven, FL

Maybe it will be done by G6 and maybe not.

Butch installed his after studying mine. Look thru the pics of Gathering 2007 you can see my boat, the big white center console. The rails do 2 things; knock down spray, and, break the water off the topsides this is where you pick up speed & rpm.
Butch mentioned he gained couple hundred rpm.

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God Bless our Troops; especially our Snipers

Those pics r too small but i get the point.

Now do they run along the chine all the way to the back?

Do you just epoxy them on or do you drive screws thru also?

How are they supposed to give you extra rpms??

Thanx fellaz!!

My sprayrails are the full length of the chine. I used screws and bedded with 3M4200. The rails actually turn down slightly. That gives the boat a little lift, seems lighter there for less drag and more rpm/more speed.

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build

are they the same as the optional ones on the plans??

Yes, sometimes they're called chine guards.

Bill

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Mini -Tug, KH Tahoe 19 & Bartender 24 - There can be no miracle recoveries without first screwing up.
Tahoe 19 Build