Skeeter WX1880 Porpoising

Hello All

I purchased a 2007 Skeeter WX 1880 last spring and the boat porpoises a quite of bit. I have done lots of research online but I was wondering if anyone on here has experienced this with this model? The boat has a 150hp Yamaha 4 stroke and a T8 kicker. I have played with weight distribution, props, hydrofoils and adjusting the motor height. The hydrofoil (Stingray XRlll) worked but I did not like how it affected the steering and losing 5mph of top end speed. I don’t think weight distribution is the issue since I only keep the bare essentials in the rear such as 2 batteries and I keep everything up front in the massive storage areas – I even tried adding two 30lb sandbags in the front deck to no avail. The porpoising is very noticeable in calm water where the front of the boat just bounces. Could it be that the T8 on the transom is causing this? It is XL shaft length and weighs 110 lbs. I just cant seem to get it to go away. While the porpoising is not a super huge deal, I paid a lot of money for this boat and want to get the best performance out of it. Is there anything else that anyone else has tried that alleviated this issue? Wedges, jackplates, props, etc?

Thanks in advance.

I would give Ricky at Brainerd Props a call, he is very knowledgeable on different boat and motor combo’s and will be able to recommend the right prop and set up to help eliminate your porpoising problem.

http://brainerdprops.com/

I have an ’09 WX1880 with a 150 4 stroke and it will porpoise with too much weight in the back or trimmed up too high. I had six people in the boat and had to trim it all the way down to keep it from porpoising. I don’t have a kicker and that would be more weight in the back. With two guys and normal gear the higher the trim the faster it will run. At about 2/3rds up trim it will start to porpoise.

Shawn,

Check out this discussion. This member was having issues with a heavy load. Very similar set-up as your.

http://www.in-depthoutdoors.com/community/forums/topic/skeeter_1032284/

FDR

What pitch prop are you currently running? I am running a hydrofoil on my Lund and didn’t lose any top end and have better boat control at lower rpm’s and no steering issues at any speed. A call to sbc would be in order, as they have set many, many of those boats up.

I actually owned and ran a 1880 with a F150 for a couple years. I did not have any noticable issue with that. I had a kicker and did not run a hydrofoil.
What length shaft on the big motor?
what pitch prop?
At what speeds are you starting to trim the big motor out at?
What are your wide open throttle rmps?

Those couple answers may lead us to the answer

Eric Rehberg wrote:

I actually owned and ran a 1880 with a F150 for a couple years. I did not have any noticable issue with that. I had a kicker and did not run a hydrofoil.
What length shaft on the big motor?
what pitch prop?
At what speeds are you starting to trim the big motor out at?
What are your wide open throttle rmps?

Those couple answers may lead us to the answer

Hey Eric,

I have my boat in storage for the winter, but the shaft length on the motor is whatever is standard on this model since the motor has not been changed. I have tried multiple props, but I own 2 props; 3 blade SS 19 pitch prop that is standard on this boat and also a 4 blade Appolo 18 pitch. I begin trimming the motor when I get comfortable at the speed I am going in the weather conditions. The boat porpoises at multiple speed including at max throttle which is at 48mps with the 3 blade prop and 45mph with the 4 blade. Max rpm on the 3 blade is 6400 and 6300 with the 4 blade. The porpoising is worse when I am traveling with a chop and I usually have to throttle up out of it until it settles down but can never fully get rid of the “bouncing”.

Does it porpoise when the motor is trimmed all the way down ?

pale ryder wrote:

Does it porpoise when the motor is trimmed all the way down ?

I probably should have mentioned this in my initial post, but when the motor is trimmed all the way down, the porpoising is very minor. But once I trim up at all, it porpoises.

Couple things. That motor is supposed to run 6000 rpms at wot and fully trimmed not any more. Very little trim is needed when not running wot. If your going wot you should be able to trim it all the way out and not have it porpoise or blow out.

The black stainless prop that comes with that boat isnt a bad prop but there is much better out there.

I ran a 19p reliance series prop from yamaha for the hole time I had the boat and was very happy with it.

I dont recall for sure on that motor but it should be mounted on either the 2nd or 3rd hole down from the top.

The only thing left that i can think of if those things dont take care of it is the hook on the back of the boat is not correct. This would be very rare but a possibility.

Eric Rehberg wrote:

Couple things. That motor is supposed to run 6000 rpms at wot and fully trimmed not any more. Very little trim is needed when not running wot. If your going wot you should be able to trim it all the way out and not have it porpoise or blow out.

The black stainless prop that comes with that boat isnt a bad prop but there is much better out there.

I ran a 19p reliance series prop from yamaha for the hole time I had the boat and was very happy with it.

I dont recall for sure on that motor but it should be mounted on either the 2nd or 3rd hole down from the top.

The only thing left that i can think of if those things dont take care of it is the hook on the back of the boat is not correct. This would be very rare but a possibility.

Hey Eric

Thanks for the feedback. After looking through my notes, I was incorrect on my RPM’s. With the 3 blade, I max out at 5800 rpms and with the 4 blade I max out at 5500-5600 rmps