Chaparral 267 SSX, Owner'S/Operator'S Manual

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The maximum angle is commonly known as the “hump.” You
should get over the hump as quickly as possible because visibility,
handling, and performance are limited until you do. Only a few
seconds at full throttle should be needed; however, the way your
boat is loaded, the wind, and sea conditions affect the time
required. When the boat gets over the hump, it reaches its planing
attitude. Then, accelerate until your boat reaches a comfortable
plane and then throttle down to cruising speed. This also provides
for better fuel efficiency.
When maneuvering at low speeds you can reverse (move throt-
tle forward or aft) the shift mechanism. This will react in a
braking action.
Steering Your Boat
Watch the stern when you turn! Steering a boat can be compared
to driving a car on slippery or icy pavement. Be cautious always.
When you turn the wheel, the stern responds first by swinging out in
the opposite direction of the bow. When you are trying to avoid an
object in the water, this swing could turn out to be critical.
Always give yourself plenty of room to make a turn. You also should
slow the speed of your boat while turning. Never make sharp, fast
turns as this could cause loss of control. Remember that your pas-
sengers should be seated whenever you’re underway.
Trimming Your Boat
Trim refers to the way a boat floats on the water. Your boat will work best
when it is trimmed to run at an angle between 3 to 5 degrees to the
water. You can trim your boat by shifting gear or passengers or, if your
boat is so equipped, by adjusting the drive unit angle or the trim tabs.
Power Trim
The operator can adjust his craft to the ideal boat angle for load and
water conditions by trimming the drive unit (Figure 5.3). The power
trim system allows the operator to adjust the drive angle while under-
way by changing the angle of the outdrive in relation to the boat’s
transom. It also allows the operator to raise and lower the drive for
trailering, beaching, launching, or operating in shallow water.
Note: Refer to your engine owner’s manual regarding the oper-
ation of the power trim controls installed on your boat.
Drive Angle
The drive angle of the boat is the relationship between propeller
thrust to the planing surface of the hull’s bottom. You can improve
the performance of the same boat under varying conditions by
adjusting the drive angle.
Moving the drive unit angle towards its innermost adjustment brings
the propeller in as close as possible to the transom. The angle of
the propeller causes an upward thrust which pushes the boat’s bow
downward as shown on Figure 5.3.
By gradually shifting the drive unit from its innermost adjustment
towards the outermost adjustment, the propeller thrust pushes in a
downward motion. This motion as shown in Figure 5.3, tends to lift
the bow.
After reaching plane, under certain load conditions, your boat could
have a tendency to bury its forward V-ed section. The boat will
begin to plow and lose speed. If the water is choppy the boat will
yaw. A boat will spin out if its bow is excessively buried. The only
way to correct this situation is to increase the angle and swing the
5-12
WARNING: Check behind you before coming OFF plane. Many
accidents occur each year as a result of a driver coming off
plane while being followed by a boat that is unable to slow down
in time to avoid collision.