View Full Version : Flat turn spins
gibbons
08-07-2009, 10:30 AM
We used to have fun occasionally doing flat spin turns. For those of you who may not have seen/done this, you are go full speed, and instantly whip the steering wheel hard right, and cut the trottle. The boat will whip around 180 degrees in its path so fast it's incredible. Once spun , the transom raises up like it's now the bow, and it planes to a stop with the boat's own rollers coming over the bow. Conditions had to be right... smooth water, no one else close by, everyone ready, expecting it, and hanging on tight. We have a 94 205 with a very flat bottom, the older boats are probably better at doing these than the newer V'ed and heavier boats(?)
Anyway, ever since I added the tower, we have pretty much quit doing them. The tower is pretty heavy, which raises the boat's center of gravity. I have never felt like testing to see if the tower would lever the boat onto its side!
Anyone doing spins with a tower? Any horror stories to convince me to never do it again with or without a tower?
ncsone
08-07-2009, 10:36 AM
Relative to the boats' weight, the tower weight is minimal - maybe 200 lbs vs. 2500+ lbs. So, I don't think that there is a significant change in CG by having a tower on.
But, you won't catch me doing power turns due to all of the lateral loads that that 'whip' puts on all of the underwater running gear - tracking fins, drive shaft support, rudder, etc.
flipper
08-07-2009, 10:37 AM
There is a youtube video on here of somebody that managed to submarine his boat. Your boat isn't going to flip over. People with towers do it all the time.
There are however a few threads on here debating how hard it is on the boat itself though as far as rudder and drive parts. That said, I do them all the time never had a problem
scott023
08-07-2009, 10:49 AM
HA HA HA.
Waiting for the responses on this one... should be interesting. There have been more than a few discussions on this since I joined, and thereare certainly nay-sayers on this subject.
PhotoInc
08-07-2009, 11:16 AM
I use to have fun doing this, but then I noticed I had a large amount of water in my gas tank. My tank vent on my temperamental 87 Prostar is mounted on the back of the transom and seemed to be the prime suspect for letting water get in the tank on these turns. After I replaced the tank, for other reasons, I haven't done any of these turns, and I have no water in my fuel tank. So now I just remember the good old days.
David
kyfooter
08-07-2009, 11:50 AM
Used to do them in my '86 MC...Great boat for what I call bat turns. Then I read the manual and saw a section about ensuring the shaft/transmission are in perfect alignment. Once I unbolted the coupler, I saw I was out of alignment by about 3/4". Re-centered the engine and never did them again...fun to do in someone else's boat.
At age 10, I was riding on the engine cover of a Ski Supreme going 50+ when my friend's dad did a bat turn. I got tossed out of the boat and tumbled across the water for a good 40-50 feet. That was my first experience with a bat turn...wanted an inboard boat from than moment on.
Relative to the boats' weight, the tower weight is minimal - maybe 200 lbs vs. 2500+ lbs. So, I don't think that there is a significant change in CG by having a tower on.
But, you won't catch me doing power turns due to all of the lateral loads that that 'whip' puts on all of the underwater running gear - tracking fins, drive shaft support, rudder, etc.
That 200 pounds makes a nice lever arm when it's moving sideways and the freeboard or chine catches a wave, though
Maristar210
08-07-2009, 12:35 PM
That 200 pounds makes a nice lever arm when it's moving sideways and the freeboard or chine catches a wave, though
Agreed........
airbornjim
08-07-2009, 01:15 PM
Tried one in my X-2, not going to happen like the old '85 "stars & stripes". I'll settle for remembering what it was like.
2RLAKE
08-07-2009, 01:24 PM
do them all the time ... do take the wakeboards out of the rack first
if fact, i feel like doing a couple tomorrow ... POWER TURNS
chudson
08-07-2009, 01:29 PM
Used to do them all the time too then one time the boat was in the hoist I noticed little hair line cracks on each side of the fins, I stopped doing it.
Age Fighter
08-07-2009, 02:38 PM
Tried one in my X-2, not going to happen like the old '85 "stars & stripes". I'll settle for remembering what it was like.
If I am not mistaken, a V drive like an X-2 will not do this the way a direct drive will.
And btw, this kind if turn is not what I usually call a power turn. I thought a power turn was what a sterndrive owner does to go pick up a tuber, thus sending out rollers in all directions to screw up a cove for all the inboard owners.
A bat turn is different...or so I thought.
Witness140
08-07-2009, 04:05 PM
If I am not mistaken, a V drive like an X-2 will not do this the way a direct drive will.
The X2 is a lumbering whale of a boat to drive compared to the 190/197/214. Not even worth trying.
TMCNo1
08-07-2009, 04:34 PM
Uhhhhhhhhhhh powerturn,........................................ ..........never,:rolleyes:
50271
50272
never,:rolleyes:
50271
50272
Never say never :D
Used to do them in my '86 MC...Great boat for what I call bat turns. Then I read the manual and saw a section about ensuring the shaft/transmission are in perfect alignment. Once I unbolted the coupler, I saw I was out of alignment by about 3/4". Re-centered the engine and never did them again...fun to do in someone else's boat.
At age 10, I was riding on the engine cover of a Ski Supreme going 50+ when my friend's dad did a bat turn. I got tossed out of the boat and tumbled across the water for a good 40-50 feet. That was my first experience with a bat turn...wanted an inboard boat from than moment on.
Ski Supreme 50 +?
kevkan
08-07-2009, 06:31 PM
We always called it a "power slide".
thatsmrmastercraft
08-08-2009, 01:09 PM
Ski Supreme 50 +?
Perhaps gravity assisted full throttle down a waterfall?
I hear it messes up your teak and you will need to add teak oil to it.
Do a search here and you might find a thread about how to fix it.
I had an 89' with a 454, that particular hull and weight ratio would allow that boat to spin like a top. My buddies American Skier wouldn't do them for his life. I do remember the older Supremes spinning well.
Have to say I have never done one with the 86'. Well not a serious one anyway.
michael freeman
08-09-2009, 08:49 AM
I hear it messes up your teak and you will need to add teak oil to it.
Do a search here and you might find a thread about how to fix it.
...BUT be sure to use the correct teak oil or your boat will burst into flames when you attempt the bat turn. I believe someone mentioned which oil in one of the posts.
BTW, when I was test driving the X30 ('06) the salesman told me to hang on tight and watch as he proceeded to do several bat turns. I ended up ordering an X30 instead of finding something in dealer stock. :) The boat had no problem doing the turns.
bigmac
08-09-2009, 08:56 AM
If I am not mistaken, a V drive like an X-2 will not do this the way a direct drive will.
No, the things that make a DD good at power turns are also the things that make it a crappy wake boat. I'd always thought of DD's as one-trick ponies, but I had forgotten about the power turns. Two tricks, I guess.
Although no tower was involved, let's not forget the classic power turn demo...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLKyezAI0II
No, the things that make a DD good at power turns are also the things that make it a crappy wake boat. I'd always thought of DD's as one-trick ponies, but I had forgotten about the power turns. Two tricks, I guess.
Although no tower was involved, let's not forget the classic power turn demo...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aLKyezAI0II
power turn demo?