Boat lean

[dbenn4747]

Hello everyone,

I have a Diamondback that we work out of in TN. When we take off in water, it torques real hard to the right dipping the RR. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Deano]

Torque roll kind of goes with the territory to a certain extent.
There is plenty of help to be had here, although you need supply more information so we have a basis to comment.

How long and wide is the hull?
What engine are you using?
Are you running a reduction, if so what ratio is it?
What prop are you swinging, who made it, and what size is it?

 

[dbenn4747]

Thank you for responding.

15' x 7 1/2 hull
454 engine
CH 3 2:1 reduction
props come from powershift productions, 3 blade 37" length

This boat is a 2012 model and has always rolled but its got to the point a left hand easy turn is almost impossible.
I'm no expert so when I found this forum I was very relieved!!!!

 

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

In reading your post it implies this condition has worsened. Torque roll is generally related to the application of power.

Wider blades by design grab more air which tends to intensify the effect.

In a boat that has a prop turning to a right hand rotation the boat builder would generally suggest a left hand steer to put drivers weight as a counterbalance when running solo.

Have you recently made any changes to the boat that may have caused this condition to worsen?

Load shifting to port is a trick you can try but its effect is not going to cancel a large power application.

When I was taught to drive an airboat the first rule was “when in doubt POWER OUT” !

The second rule was in deep water there are two ways to turn. “You turn at or slightly above idle or on a plane.” This was to prevent dipping a corner.

I find being smooth and adding power slowly in deep water helps mitigate torque roll.

 

[dbenn4747]

It is worse than our other boat. They are both identical and have had rough lives. The polymer is thicker on the one with the issue thats the only difference. Was just hoping I was dumb and couldnt see the reason before trying to move things to offset the roll.

 

[SWAMPHUNTER45]

Maybe one bottom is more round than the other ?

Round bottoms run dry better but roll more.

Only other thing I had seen a guy do with a similar issue on a net boat was add flotation pods. That would be something to consult with DB on possibly.

 

[Gladesman06]

Check the rear motor mounts. A boat that torque rolls bad will get worse as the mounts wear. In the past I have also put stiffer mounts in the rear under the gear/belt box and it will take some of that torque roll away. For example if you have the rubber cone motor mounts in the rear and you were to change just the top ones (the ones the box sits on) to the white poly cones you would see a big difference in the amount of torque roll.

 

[John Fenner]

15'× 7-1/2', I bet the width is measured at the top, the bottom likely measures 6'8" or less, typical of a DB design, there, is the issue of the torque roll due to no weight displacement on the water, that size and design would top out with say an aircraft O-540 for weight.
Having a 454, a Century drive, cooling system plus the 3 gallons of water in that is a lot of weight on the back of that narrow hull.
2 things to consider here, a lighter weight powerplant and gear drive "aluminum block LS base" and "ox, ballistic, etc" weigh close "or,, slightly more" to a fully dressed O-540, that would be an option but being the powerplant and accessories serve their purpose well, I would say, have another hull built that is truly 7'6" on the bottom, transfer rigging and powerplant to that hull, "will have to modify trailer" would be the better option.

 

[JLP3314]

15'× 7-1/2', I bet the width is measured at the top, the bottom likely measures 6'8" or less, typical of a DB design, there, is the issue of the torque roll due to no weight displacement on the water, that size and design would top out with say an aircraft O-540 for weight.
Having a 454, a Century drive, cooling system plus the 3 gallons of water in that is a lot of weight on the back of that narrow hull.
2 things to consider here, a lighter weight powerplant and gear drive "aluminum block LS base" and "ox, ballistic, etc" weigh close "or,, slightly more" to a fully dressed O-540, that would be an option but being the powerplant and accessories serve their purpose well, I would say, have another hull built that is truly 7'6" on the bottom, transfer rigging and powerplant to that hull, "will have to modify trailer" would be the better option.

Yeah that like John said!
I owned a new 14' X 8' that started as a 2 blade Powershift wide blade-then I "morphed" into a 3 blade wide Powershift.
Ask me about the 2 times I saw the port gunnel dip below the top of the Kissimmee River in the deepest part of the river before I "morphed" it into a counter rotator!
Nothing but sound good advice above, and I'll add that if your torque roll is to the port like mine was then when first coming up on a plane-plan on a right rudder for a few seconds with that full throttle, (turning away from your torque roll) that saved me a few times. That and the weight distribution should help. That's not one of the TVA boats I saw when I lived there in Nooga' is it?

 

[dbenn4747]

Thank you all for the advice!! We havent had a chance to try anything just yet but we are in the process. We are in west Tn working in the swamps with floating excavators. These boats see stump, sand, rocks and whatever else people throw over the bridge. Again, thanks. Any other advice, feel free to continue.