Finally pulled the trigger and got my 1st Surface Drive.
Since 1988 I had always run Long-Tails. GD 11 HP, MB 25, MB 35 and a BW 40. All good motors.
Picked the Motor up yesterday at WC Customs. The whole ordering process was solid and the communications throughout was fantastic. As my boat is older, they went out of their way to sure up the transom and now it's solid.
The Motor is a GTR 40 HP HD stock. CA57 prop.
Weather was overcast with a good 10-15 MPH wind out of the south. Good chop when out in the open.
Boat is a 2000 Lowe Roughneck 17/60 with pods attached to the back..
I love this boat as I hunt mainly out of it. It is extremely stable with 3 guys pulling up on a bird.
It has an open design and a short front deck, enough for the dog.
It also has 2 pods in the back inside the boat and I have pulled the foam from those and store my batteries in them.
On this maiden voyage, it was me (200), dog (75), full 6 gallon tank in the back. Both batteries are in the back.
I pushed off and engaged the reverse, something I was not used too. Loved it. It pulled the boat fine.
I then took off and got 150 yards out and the motor quit, Gas line was cramped off.
.I fired back up and ran it about 3500 RPM and played with the trim to get used to it.
Boat jumped on plane and I ran it 20 mph for a good run.
I was going east and the wind was coming from my right. I noticed the tiler wanted to pull left and thought it was just the wind. I then traveled with the wind at my back , in my face and to my left and still had the hard tiller pull. The pull was greater with higher RPMs.
When I opened it up, I hit 27 mph constantly and had several spikes at 28. I couldn't hold it there as there was to much tiller pull left. Max RMPs I saw was 4300.
I played with the trim in several positions and felt it ran best with the cavitation plate just above the water.
I ran it sitting down mostly as my grab bar is just not in the correct position. But sitting down the handle feels high.
Most comfortable speed was 20-21. Now for me, with a Long-Tail background 20 was crazy fast enough for me. My best Long-Tail speed was my BW 40 hp when I hit 21 empty with the wind at my back.
Nice to be able to turn without the handle being ripped from my hands.
Overall I was very impressed and happy with my first run. I plan to take it out on a calm day to see if this handle pull is still there.
If the motor still pulls to the left(Away from me if I hold it with my left hand) which way should the motor be moved? To the left or right?