New Member / New 343

[ATX Cobalt]

Just Wow! Welcome from Austin, Texas!

[Holy Smokes]

Got a chance to run the 343 Sunday.... after getting my dock re-worked and put back together....

Ran right up to 72 GPS with minimal effort. Me?.... Grinning from ear to ear. Wife?.... let's just say she was looking for a more subtle, comfortable ride!

Cruise at 50 is a nice, sweep spot.

This is my first exposure with a step hull. Feels different at speed and negotiating wakes.

[Big Block Power]

Yep my little donei had a sweet spot at 50 also. The hull just picks up and gets really smooth and fast. Just don't turn sharp going that fast or she will catch and your going for a ride.

[cmattj]

Got a chance to run the 343 Sunday.... after getting my dock re-worked and put back together....

Ran right up to 72 GPS with minimal effort. Me?.... Grinning from ear to ear. Wife?.... let's just say she was looking for a more subtle, comfortable ride!

Cruise at 50 is a nice, sweep spot.

This is my first exposure with a step hull. Feels different at speed and negotiating wakes.

Nice to hear. First off it will get smaller the more you drive her so if it feels a bit big.. give it time.

Stepped hulls run flat.. They don't even respond to trim because once on plane they are technically "airing out" so Ill give you a couple of tips on handling for turning and taking off.

Taking off. The bravo 4 blades will have cavitation and slip with that set up so using throttle and tabs will take getting used to.

So to take off from a idle:

Tabs down, drives tucked fully in and bring the throttle to 3500 rpm. as soon as it rolls the nose over you bring the tabs up and trim to neutral setting on the out-drives and roll the throttles back to cruise...(Ill get into that in a sec)

Out-drives (neutral setting) its always good to know what true neutral setting is for our out drives. It helps it turn safely, and when going over crossing wakes with stability.

With your boat on the hoist take a level and set the rear hull to a level plane. Then adjust the out-drives so they are on the same plane as the hull. (us your lower out drive side planes for putting a level on them.)

Now look at your dash trim settings and remember them as that is where you will be putting the drives upon turning and crossing wakes for stability. (stepped hulls get twitchy in tight turns if you pull the drive too far in as it raises the stern and gives a slipping sensation )

Under way for speed:

With a stepped hull trim above neutral until the spray goes away but any further is pointless and just stresses the drives as theses hulls run flat.
Tabs are important to know nuetral as they will help elimanate chine walk and act as a training wheel for stabilty.

The Wife will appreciate you sacrificing 2 mph fo a boat that doesn't squirm around

As i said. every time you drive her she will get smaller meaning it takes time . 20 hours of seat time and all my Boats got smaller !!

Have fun pal..!!

[Holy Smokes]

Thanks cmattj! All good points. The hull definitely runs flatter than my old 293. Only slight bow rise upon takeoff from idle. Sunday was without trim tabs, as the port side is in need of new solenoids. Have 'em, and will install them next time down.

Explain to me in a little more detail the procedure to level the drives to the hull.

[cmattj]

Explain to me in a little more detail the procedure to level the drives to the hull.

Imagine a invisible line off the running surface on the back of the hull.( the stepped portion)

Nuetral on the drives is when your running the same line. Easy to do on a trailer with a level or set your boat lift so you can find level.

Once you have both hull and drives set on the same plane. Mark with a sticker or magic marker on the dash indacator or remember your mechanical trim indacator for that number where everything is the same.

That will provide maximum forward thrust without displacing the weight in a turn.

It will be used prior to a turn. Example being flying along with the drives at 3.5 then dropped to 2.0 for turning or to accelerate across cruiser cross wakes.

Trim tabs also need to be nuetral or up for turns.

Drives too far in plant the nose but lift the stern at speed and can give you a loose rear spin out sensation ( prone if turning over a wake or rough water)

Plus in a hard turn the outboard drive can come out of the water changing the push.

Tabs or k planes aren't just to level the boat now , and you will like them set slightly 1.0 ish or your riders will also.

Tabs help in take off but it seems she launches good.

Tabs set Down also stop the side to side wander in the 5mph zones, even with hydraulic steering and props running outward, so you'll like that ( tabs set to 4.0) straight as an arrow)





I love stepped hulls and you will too!! Once you know your settings and few more laps you'll be golden!!

[liquid]

Excellent info here. Bookmark.

[Holy Smokes]

Makes much more sense!

Thanks!

[The La Salts]

Holy smokes Love your new ride. Colors are the same as mine. If you want to trade let me know!