Rooster Tail Question

[Dstyles75]

Hey guys, This is going to sound like a layman's question but how do you make a rooster tail on a boat with a I/O drive? And is it bad for the boat and the engine? And is it unsafe? I know it's not good to run the boat with the drive up, so how far is too far? I don't want to do anything stupid to my boat while just trying to have fun. Thanks

 

[Gimme Fuel]

I would not recommend trimming up far enough with an I/O to make a rooster tail. Do you have an alpha or bravo drive. An alpha has a wider trim range than a bravo but if you have to trim it waaaay up to make a rooster, dont. It is extremely hard on the u-joints in the driveshaft. If you start to feel a vibration or hear a noise when trimming up, you have gone too far. I hope this helps.

 

[illMATTic]

Most I/O trim buttons only let you go up to a certain point. You would have to use the trailer button if you have one to get it to go up even higher to throw the roost.

Like stated above, it can be hard on your joints. BUT I am sure throwing one once in a while wont hurt.

Check out this ZT throwing one at 70+ mph in the middle of the clip.

 

[Dstyles75]

Most I/O trim buttons only let you go up to a certain point. You would have to use the trailer button if you have one to get it to go up even higher to throw the roost.

Like stated above, it can be hard on your joints. BUT I am sure throwing one once in a while wont hurt.

Check out this ZT throwing one at 70+ mph in the middle of the clip.

Thanks MATT, Watching that vid is what made me want to ask that question. I don't know if I have the guts to try that if it might screw something up.

 

[sim]

I love when the sun pokes through the tail in that clip

 

[Gimme Fuel]

I have a friend with a Volvo Penta in his Crownline...he used to think it was cool to throw roosters......kept taking out his gimbal bearing and wondering why. After about the 3rd time, it needed a whole new gimbal housing.

Yes, most older merc side controls have a trim and a trailer button. The angle at which the trim button stops working is controlled by the trim limit switch on the side of the outdrive. This sensor can be rotated to adjust the point at which the switch stops and they have been know to get out of adjustment. On an Alpha, running a little into the trailer won't hurt.

With the newer twin lever sport boat controls with a trim button, these do not have the two switches so the one switch is used for trim and tilt and there is no trim limit. In this case, you must pay attention to your gauge and listen to your gimbal for noise or vibration to determine how high you can run the drive.

The bravo on my 253 Convincor would not get even close to making a rooster with out begining to vibrate. When I pulled my motor I found that my drive coupler was giving out, which caused added vibration when trimming. If you are running big power, just be easy on her, and it will last a lot longer....those things are pricey

 

[81 enchanter]

ive only done it a couple times on my sunny, its a 454 with bravo. i can throw a pretty good roost without triming with the trailer button but not something i would do all the time. my checkmate wouldn't throw one worth while but the sunny can throw a good one. only done it 2 times by the south state park at higgins lake

 

[winter]

You could easily throw a tail with a surface drive and proper prop ;-) Not sure if spending $12k + is worth it, but figured I'd throw that out there, lol. I'm not sure how that Zt was throwing one that easily at speed. Most Bravos will cavitate as the tail begins to come up. I suppose you could always bolt a spoiler to the outdrive to shovel water upwards. Wouldn't hurt much and it would be cheap!

 

[Big Red]

HORSEPOWER

 

[keith4216]

91 253 Convincor