We went to lake Fenton yesterday even though it was quite cool out. only about 47. One other person at the ramp, loading their competition bass boat. They was doing some shake down runs themselves. One guy came over to the prep area and said hello. I giggled inside as I knew that he was going to ask a question that I could only answer by pointing at the name of the boat on the transom. He complimented my boat and then asked "What year is it?" I pointed at the transom and we both laughed. He then commented that I must get that question all the time. I said I hadn't yet. That this was the second time out, but I'm sure I will get plenty of opportunities to point out her name in the near future. (The crooked "K" really is bugging me. Going to pull that off and put a new one on hopefully straighter)
I have read other forums of glastron v143s hitting around 50mph with a 70hp motor. low to mid 50s is my goal for a top speed. I know this is not a glastron v143 but the hull is a clone of one and has to be close to the same weight. I want something I can fly on when I want to and pull a tube for fun the rest of the time or just cruse around when we feel like it. I know I could go to a 115 merc but if other posts are accurate, I should be able to get what I want with what I have.
I am happy with how she sits now in the water. (posted a pic of how low she sat with the jack plate below) I wouldn't worry about a tuber getting back in the boat out on the water and swamping the boat. I keep messing up figuring out the speed on this boat. I did use the GPS (Top speed 38mph GPS) but don't know if I lost speed with this set up or not as I only looked at the GPS speed on my phone and didn't compare it to the dash mounted speedo. I am looking at options of a 4" jack plate so I can still have the adjustability to tune her a bit more without having to hang the motor and move it a bolt hole at a time. I cant imagine that a 4" set back will get me anywhere near how low she sat before.
The only issue I had on the water was when my wife got in the boat with me, It was listing badly to port side. I weigh more than her so no comments on the wifes weight. Driving the boat solo it did list more to the starboard side as expected although I did notice it was less with the fuel tank under the bow of the boat than when it was in the stern suggesting that the weight in the boat was more port side with the fuel tank moved up. When I let her drive, the boat still listed to port. Something is off balance here, next test run we will move the tank back under the splash well. As I type this out it seems that moving the fuel tank up front, also raising the center of gravity may be effecting the listing we are seeing. We moved the fuel tank up front to counteract the little bit bigger motor and the jack plate I started with. I planned on testing with the jack plate still in place, but decided to go ahead and remove it and test leaving the fuel up front. We will test with fuel tank movement first then battery as well, back aft with no jack plate. If we go back to the a jack plate I will use the smallest setback jack plate we can find, I will test as is with all weight in back and start with moving the battery only back up front first then fuel tank only if needed. I really prefer the option of motor adjustments on the fly as I would like this boat to perform differently as needs apply.