PDA

View Full Version : Learning the Minx Questions



rbarna
05-22-2009, 09:16 AM
I'm paying my seat-time dues during the week, I actually use the Minx to get to work! That's 26nm each way in the hudson river. Definitely a good way to get seat time fast.

It's fleet week in NYC and I got escorted past the ships by a Navy RIB with a machine gun on the bow! That was an experience.

But anyway, I have a few questions:

1) I'm trying my best to avoid tabs (only using for weight and wind), and am using trim only. I get going 40+ in chop and then a wake comes along. I slow down- boat leans way to starboard! Should I be slowing down faster? Slower? Should I not slow down?

2) When I'm going slower in larger chop, maybe 30+ things are pretty wacky, it seems like if I slow down for larger waves it makes things worse? What should I be doing when it's too rough to go 40? drag tabs?

3) There is occasional need to avoid debris. If I'm going 50+ do I need to be concerned about trimming down before making evasive maneuvers? Obviously I'm not going to jerk the wheel, but I might turn while throttling back. Should I only turn? Should I trim down while turning? Should I avoid throttling back?

In general, I'm trying to avoid spin-out and stuffing it.

Thanks!

jvcobra
05-22-2009, 09:22 AM
Tell me more on how you use it to get to work, that's cool. Where do you moor it?

My tabs drove me crazy at first, for a few seconds I though the boat was going to flip. I ended up not using them at all during rough conditions except at slower speeds to balance the weight.

rbarna
05-22-2009, 09:25 AM
One slip at Chelsea piers on 17th and the west side hwy
Other slip at Piermont, NY 5 minutes from my office

In the morning, walk to the pier (6 blocks), jump in the minx, go 26nm N, get out, jump in car, go 5 minutes, work!

Afternoon, drive to pier, jump in minx, go 26nm S, walk home (6 blocks)

It's awesome! It's also faster than driving on the way home, especially when there are yankees or mets games.

VetteLT193
05-22-2009, 09:43 AM
I'm paying my seat-time dues during the week, I actually use the Minx to get to work! That's 26nm each way in the hudson river. Definitely a good way to get seat time fast.

It's fleet week in NYC and I got escorted past the ships by a Navy RIB with a machine gun on the bow! That was an experience.

But anyway, I have a few questions:

1) I'm trying my best to avoid tabs (only using for weight and wind), and am using trim only. I get going 40+ in chop and then a wake comes along. I slow down- boat leans way to starboard! Should I be slowing down faster? Slower? Should I not slow down?

2) When I'm going slower in larger chop, maybe 30+ things are pretty wacky, it seems like if I slow down for larger waves it makes things worse? What should I be doing when it's too rough to go 40? drag tabs?

3) There is occasional need to avoid debris. If I'm going 50+ do I need to be concerned about trimming down before making evasive maneuvers? Obviously I'm not going to jerk the wheel, but I might turn while throttling back. Should I only turn? Should I trim down while turning? Should I avoid throttling back?

In general, I'm trying to avoid spin-out and stuffing it.

Thanks!

Grizz told me at AOTH that I need to do the quickie tab modification to get them to come up higher, I certainly believe he is correct. My boat flies really level so it's going to be needed to help get the bow up more.

With that said:

1) yes, keep tabs up. when you slow down, slow then add throttle back again.

2) when it is rough you have to make a choice as to drag tabs or fly above the water. if you fly above, slowing down will make it worse. if you drag tabs don't push it.

3) I can't say exactly what I do here, but it's seat of the butt feel with the throttle and wheel.

rbarna
05-22-2009, 10:56 AM
I drive open wheel race cars. Counter-steering is an in-grained concept for me. Is there ever a need for counter steering a Donzi?

VetteLT193
05-22-2009, 01:30 PM
I drive open wheel race cars. Counter-steering is an in-grained concept for me. Is there ever a need for counter steering a Donzi?

single engine boats in general have torque applied one way... I don't think of it as counter steering, but you have to steer through that... you naturally are doing it to go straight at any speed. when you slow down you are cocked too much to one side so the boat turns. steer through that and for me, I add throttle to counter it. You'll also want to turn out of some turns when the boat starts to roll onto its side.

Use your gut instinct, take your time learning it, and you'll be fine. It's all feel for me.

As far as trim, trim out and keep the tabs up while turning. tabs down can make you spin or worse. the drive trimmed in can make you spin too.

RedDog
05-22-2009, 01:37 PM
IMO you are going to have to be really pushing it and trying some irresponsible maneuvers to spin a Minx - regardless of trim and tab position.

gcarter
05-22-2009, 01:53 PM
Below 40 MPH, no round keel, 24* deadrise Donzi is going to feel real stable, i.e., it'll roll on its side to the left, they wallow and to some folks, it feels uncomfortable.
For extended running below 35 MPH or so, a little tab settles it down.

rbarna
05-22-2009, 01:55 PM
Good pointers!

Well, the other day I almost fell out in some confused wakes. I think I slowed down or who knows what, but I ended up with the port side in the air and the starboard in the water. That totally freaked me out.

-Ross

mrfixxall
05-22-2009, 02:56 PM
Good pointers!

Well, the other day I almost fell out in some confused wakes. I think I slowed down or who knows what, but I ended up with the port side in the air and the starboard in the water. That totally freaked me out.

-Ross

Ive done that one before avoiding contact with a young chick on a wave runner, i just throttled through it and the boat settled back where it was soppose to be..

zelatore
05-22-2009, 05:33 PM
I drive open wheel race cars. Counter-steering is an in-grained concept for me. Is there ever a need for counter steering a Donzi?

By counter steer, I assume you're talking about an oversteer situation? You won't have that with the Minx.....if you do, something really bad is happening!

Open wheel huh? whatcha racing?

rbarna
05-22-2009, 08:33 PM
counter steering is used to correct extreme oversteer
I race scca formula continental in a 2003 van diemen zetec

gcarter
05-22-2009, 08:54 PM
If your race car had rear steering as well as rear drive like your boat does, what wouold it do?

mattyboy
05-23-2009, 10:00 AM
river running is a little different, some rivers have a natural repeatable swell that you have to get in time with took me a little while to get used to it. then some don't . they also have spots where the water gets hard usually with narrowing channels or a hard shallow bottom.

the hudson in those parts is quite funny it can be as flat as glass or can be 5 foot white caps then throw in the floating piers and the barge traffic and it can be a real adventure.

you have expierenced some of the quirks in handling in a classic now you will have to remember when and why it does it.

the biggest thing is for a car term is not overdriving your head lights .

as you get familar with the boat and the river you'll know where the water changes after you get south of the GW more ferry traffic this will let you setup the boat for the conditions before the conditions are on you.

wakes take some time to get used to and your approach to them is important seeing them coming is a biggy reaction time is critical so maybe depending on conditions a slower cruise with tabs down a tad will help you carve turns and avoid objects and keep the boat level and planted through the rougher water floaters are harder to pick up in confused water
the classic hulls can really carve a turn setup correctly the 16 could do a 180 at 30 -35 mph pretty easy depending on the turn though someone is in the sky and the other is looking real close at the water conditions ;)

on a flat day fly her you'll have more time to see rougue wakes and floater

you'll get the hang of the wakes and will know by how you are approaching it, what made it wether to take it straight on and fly over it, pull the nose down and cut thru it or surf it and walk the boat over it

man a donzi commute would make the work day a pleasure I mean when i go in by ferry it makes my day better than rubbernecking at the tunnel for sure