First powerboats dont have brakes.

High speed boat driving tips. Adjust the throttle to ascenddescend waves to avoid taking on water. But add a 250 pound fishing buddy and youll need to reduce trim to keep the boat level at the same rpms and youll probably have to increase rpms slightly to reach the same speed--the further. This cycle will continue to repeat until either the boats speed is reduced or the trim is fixed.

By Randy Vance Photography by John Linn. Trim adjust running attitude the boat as appropriate for the conditions. By its very nature high speed cuts into driver reaction time.

As simple and obvious as that sounds its particularly important to know and internalize as speeds increase. Always avoid driving at excessive speeds as that can cause injury and further adds no thrill factor to the riding. The boat may also begin to hop or pound in a rhythmic pattern known as porpoising.

To avoid broaching slow your boat down to a speed where the bow lifts with the waves. Trim up too severely and the boat can begin to porpoise its bow bobbing up and down. Once the boat comes back down the outdrive will once again push it back out of the water.

Trim back down in small increments until the maximum speed and rpm are reached. When a drive or motor is over-trimmed the propeller will cavitate or ventilate. Steer into the waves at an angle.

For the most part in calm waters trim-tab use should be reserved for leveling the boat when weight is unevenly distributed and. Part of being a good driver at high speed is simply knowing when you can open up and calculating the best route to your next spot. Porpoising is the result of the motors outdrive pushing the boat upwards essentially boosting it out of the water albeit for a short period of time.