Hull Hooking

[AHudgins]

I have a 1995 Maristar 200 with porpoising problem that other people have mentioned. Mine gets worse over 30 mph and is impossible to barefoot behind unless your passengers enjoy riding on a roller coaster. I can put 3 people in the bow and it doesn't help at all. My local MC dealer verified that it was a common design flaw and that hooking the stern will fix the problem, but he doesn't do fiberglass work. I talked with a guy who says he can do it for about $600. He showed me that there was already a small hook directly behind the prop and rudder, but that the hooks needed to be added further out towards the side of the boat exactly where it rests on the boat trailer runners.

Can anyone tell me where the hook was added to their hull?
Thanks,
Ashby

[jkski]

I had a 2002 PS 197 that I had the local dealer add a hook to, and a friend had an 2003 PS 209 that they added a hook to. While mine was for a better performance, the one put on the 209 was for the porpoising that you are experiencing. The hook needs to be added to the hull where it meets the transom and extend out only about 8 inches to either side of the center line of the boat. I do not know exactly what your hull looks like, but any experienced MC dealer should be able to solve your problem and do it to factory specs.

[AHudgins]

The Maristar has a fairly deep V hull for a ski boat. I have owned a 1979 MC, and a 1987 Prostar which are basically flat across the bottom of the stern. I looked at a 1985 MC that had been hooked and all they did was add about 1/8 of an inch across the entire width of the stern. My Maristar has several chines and the fiberglass guy told me that the hook the came from the factory (which is directly behind the rudder) isn't providing any lift because of the turbulance in the prop wash. He said he has done this to many I/O boats and that the hook needs to be added further out in one set of the chines, just the same as you would add hydralic trim tabs. It makes sense because he said the water is forced up away from the center of the V. I just find it hard to believe that adding a small hook to my boat will raise the stern enough. Putting 3 people in the bow had no effect. My MC dealer said that the hook will cure the problem, I just wanted to get some other input before I have the work done.
Thanks.

[AirJunky]

I've often wondered why MC didn't just add a trim tab to the stern of these boats with the porpoising problem. If adding the hook to your Maristar is a problem due to cost, getting it on the trailer or whatever, then maybe adding a trim tab would be an option. It could be a manually adjusted one like Supra has installed for years. Or an adjustable like Bennet & other manufacturers make for other types of boats.
I can't imagine the stress on the transom would be too much for it & I'd bet it would solve your problem. Might even give you a little adjustment to your wake.

[bigmac]

I just saw a 2006 MariStar 230VRS at the dealer and I note that it had a 12x22 centered wake tab installed at the factory. Must be something to it. I'll be curious to see the reports of its effect on the MariStar's wake.

[east tx skier]

Doesn't sound like it is an option for you, but if it were me, I'd find a MC dealer with a glass guy to do it. Sounds like a very specific job that would be hard to fix if not done just right. My $.02

[6ballsisall]

One would think by reading the thread title that this thread may be something other than it is. Visions of the streets of Las Vegas, lots of loose women and pimps wearing "fly" clothes come to mind.

Ok I will stop now. I think the lack of boat ownership really has done something to me. :cool:

[JEREMY79]

Jeff, calm down man. You will find another boat.
Whats with the new words

"fly" "snizzle" :confused:

[6ballsisall]

Jeff, calm down man. You will find another boat.
Whats with the new words

"fly" "snizzle" :confused:


again, post trauma for non boat ownership. I am seeing someone about this :D

[AHudgins]

Thanks for all the feedback everyone. Because my Maristar has the "Euro platform" which is a crappy excuse for a ski platform, I have very little room between my exhaust ports to install a hydralic trim tab. After almost a year of deliberating, I am trying to decide between some manual adjusting trim tabs, and the hull hooking. I just don't like the thought of drilling holes below the water line, and my MC dealer recommended the guy I have been talking too. He told me that adding the hooks further away from the center line of the boat will also keep the boat from leaning in the turns, which it does. Cost isn't a problem, hell it's a MasterCraft. I'm just going to pay him cash so my wife won't know about it!!! I wish I would have just kept my 89 Prostar Powerslot, but we needed the room for all my kid's friends.

[Diesel]

You can experiment on your own with tape. Take a few layers of duct tape and attach it in narrow strips along the trailing edge. The MC rep that did mine spent many hours on the lake adding layers of tape until he felt the boat was running right. From that he was able to determine how much glass to add and where. I don't think you can just add a "generic" hook without first spending some time on the water.

Here is the delicate matter with adding hook as I understand it:

More hook = bigger/harder the wake.
More hook = slower the top end.
More hook = more hull in the water on plane which = more boat spray.
More hook = less porpoising.

This is why it is very important to add just enough hook to elliminate the porpoising and no more. Also if the hook is not equal on both sides you will have a boat that does not track straight and will always lean while under way. The spray will also be uneven if the hook is not done correctly.

After all was said and done my 205 was solid as a rock at all speeds with 2-3 people in the boat. If the rear seat was loaded with 3-4 people and no one in the bow it would still porpoise ever so slightly at speeds over 40mph. I did notice the spray came forward considerably and the boat was much more stable at high speed. The hook extended out about 8-10" from the center-line and was very noticeable to the touch and you could definitely see it. I really could not say if it affected my top end since you could not run WOT at all before the hook was added. But with the LT1 it could easily hit 46+mph and could pull a pair of footers at 41-42mph so I was not disappointed. Also I could not tell any noticeable difference in the wake. The rooster/bump did appear to grow a little bit but not enough to really matter.

I would try to find somebody that has done a few and is willing to spend some time on the water to make sure it is done right. Our dealer did try to have the local glass shop fix it and it did not work. MC sent someone from the factory to our dealer and they had it done right in a couple of days.

Good luck ;)

[gregg]

Just an update from a previous thread. I have on backorder from Overtons a Bennett x-14 wake\trim tab for my 2002 Maristar 210 with the same concerns. Talked to Michael at Bennett and he said Overtons should get a shipment of the tabs sometime this week. With any luck I will have it early next week sometime and get it installed. I also thought of adding the hook, but after talking to Mastercraft, it seemed an adjustable tab is the best choice. Will post a new thread when my tab is on and tested.

[east tx skier]

Diesel, great post. One question, I was under the impression that the wake improved on the 190/197 after the hook was added for 03? I know you're speaking from experience here, but I just wanted to ask.

[Diesel]

Diesel, great post. One question, I was under the impression that the wake improved on the 190/197 after the hook was added for 03? I know you're speaking from experience here, but I just wanted to ask.

I am sure it depends upon the situation and my statment in regards to wake is probably not absolute. I would guess by adding hook the 190/197 was placed back on the proper riding surface which was origainally designed to provide an optimum wake. By not fully utilizing the entire riding surface I guess the 190/197 was creating an ill wake. Just a guess though...........

[east tx skier]

I figured that by adding the hook, it basically had less of the arse end in the water, leading to a better wake. But who knows. Definitely creates more drag and lower top end according to what I've read.