I think the 1/8" down helps hold a little air under the edges and keeps the boat up on the spoon more.  That is why I really want to see yours running so I can learn a little more before I start adjusting the way mine is put together.  Was the pump in yours set back when you got it?  I can't recall and it's too late to scroll back through your build tonight.  I know my boat doesn't appear to have ever had a turn fin either.  It will be interesting to see how well yours turns without one so I'll know if i want to start out with the hassel of adding it.  I just can't wait till the day mine rolls out and fires up.  I just think your boat has those classic lines and looks nice sitting there ready to go.  I'm just a little jealous but also excited to see yours out there and ready to run. 

 Well it got wet today for the first time, and it was, well...... interesting    . 

 

 

 

 

  First off it wouldn't start  , no fuel pressure.  Had to blow into one of the tanks to prime the pump again.  I think I know what I did wrong there.  I put filters between the tanks and the T , because I wasn't sure how clean the tanks were.  And I think the electric pump doesn't like the filters there.  I was thinking that coming down the ramp (forward) the pickups in the tanks uncovered (less than half full) and then the pump wouldn't prime again without some help.  Easy fix, move the filters.

  Got it fired up, idled around to the other side of the dock and steele211 asks, where are your water dumps.  No water is coming out of the transom.  Forgot to turn on the water from the pump  .  Easy fix, open the valve  .   Forgot to mention after I opened the valve I fired it back up while he held me at the dock (diverter all the way down and in reverse  ) and I kinda sprayed him (sorry bro  ).  About now I'm starting to feel like an idiot newbie.

 We head out, get to the end of the "no wake" zone, and I roll into it.  Wooohooo it moves  . It jumps right up on the water, cool.   Running along about 2500rpm and its porpoising a bit with the diverter all the way down  . My great idea,   go faster  ,  this crazy boat trys to hop all the way out of the water at about 35 mph, that was a bad plan. Back to the dock.
 I hang off the side of the dock and drop the outer plates 1 1/2 turnes on the turnbuckles.  Get ready to head back out and my "boat bitch" asks if I can add some kind of bull riding strap under the seat for the next trip  .  Back out in open water and I hit it again.  This boat leaves way harder than the old boat, pops right up on the water and flattens out (a bit), This thing really likes to fly the bow !!  Diverter about half way and all is OK.  My first thought, Hammer it !!!    5100 rpm  and 62mph    running like crap. These carbs need help, still wont open the secondaries.  It feels like its dragging a sea anchor when you lift. And still rides bow high,  Even with the plates wayyyyy down and at only 62 mph you could feel the hull was really trying to air out.  Its going to take some work, but I think it will be OK, its just going to take lots of testing. 

 Now for the bad news, we pulled it out of the water and were shooting the shit and telling lies about haw fast we were and I noticed something bad. I was looking at the exhaust side of the heads (by the headers) and could see an even discoloration of the new paint above the ports (normal) except for #4, no discoloration, the paint looked fresh.    Checked the oil.............. milkshake  . I was thinking it was an intake gasket (again) from the last run in the old boat.  Strange thing is I pulled the plugs when I got home and it looks normal.  I was expecting it to look clean from water.  I'm going to do some checking this week and see whats going on. 

 I was really surprised how high it sits, you can see in the pics that almost 1/3 of the pump is above water.  And the one time it died coming into the no wake zone, no water came over the transom. 

I hope everything is good with the engine.  I was wondering if that spoon shape would make it want to pourpois with out some extra down on the plates or extra speed to get it up on the hump.  I'm definately going to do adjustable plates on mine.  I think once it is up and running on the spoon it won't need the down in those plates.  Do you think the setback contributes to the nose high attitude?  Like it is riding behind the peak of the spoon and you need to get it to push up on top of that peak before it will sit level?

Well I'm sure your all just sitting on the edges of your seats waiting for more info about this thing so here are today's progress (?) pics. 

 Somethings missing here 


 Oh, here it is.


 Something missing here too  . 


  Its getting some top secret, don't ask don't tell, pump changes    And a few "little" changes in the motor.   

Wow, I guess your pump is set back.  Mine is 4 inches in front of the transom and you look to be 2 to 3 inches behind it.  Hope you get it all back together and get back out on the water.  Can't wait to see what top secret tricks you have up your sleeve.  Good luck!

Broken or not, thats not the issue here.   

 Its not making enough power and changes need to be made.   

You only need to change one thing..........................from this      to this

I love ya man   I know you got something up your tainted sleeve

You only need to change one thing..........................from this      to this

I love ya man   I know you got something up your tainted sleeve

 Keep your little bow ties out of my thread, youngster !!  We don't need any of that propaganda over here. 

 As far as something up my sleeve,  Well.......... lets just say that after a lot of thinking, measuring and talking with people with more smarts than me.  I think I understand what this hull wants and what I did wrong, if this works I should see some real improvements in speed.  Or its going to toss my azz into the water. 

Alright Proppy, I got the top secret vortex exhaust ramps done in the heads . Come buy the shop in the morning and pick em up. This thing has already tried to fly off the welding table twice today. Maaaaannnn this boat is goin to haul some AAASSSSSSSSS biatches.....

 Stop giving the secrets away, and get back to work and cut some rail kits.  If that water jet aint sprayin it aint makein money.   

 Thanks John,  I was thinking about moving mine down on the pump brace too.  If it has any issues priming after moving the filters, that's where its going.  The strange thing is my old boat had its pump mounted on the back of the terminal strip on top of the bell housing and never had a problem.  Maybe its an issue with the Holley pumps, the old boat used a Carter pump.

Its not making enough power and changes need to be made.   

That's what I'm talking about!

Boat looks great!

My question ... did you leave the motor where I had it? I had to move it that far forward due to the blown alcohol dealio to keep the nose down (weight forward). If you left it there, you might be fighting gravity (boat starts to get on plane behind the rocker and then is too heavy due to motor placement and drops back down? then the porpousing starts?)

I still would like to help if you can ever make a trip down. You should plan a trip to lower river this summer!

Again, looks great! You have a blast with it.

Brian

Sorry guys, didn't see your replies until now.

 Brian, the motor is about 6 or so inches back from where you had it. Your right though, I might need to slide it back a bit more with my (modest) power.  Its going back together now and I'm going to try some of your other suggestions before moving the motor (it looks to good where it is  ).  I think I'm going to have some new decals made for it and name this thing  "Balancing Act" , or "teeter totter"  .

 Tom, (as you already know) I got the impellers, and other parts.  Thanks for the "hook up".


 Its on its way back together,
 Motor is back together and in the boat again.  The water issue was leaky intake gaskets (again) probably from the old boat.  And a pin sized hole in the wall of the #4 exhaust port (injecting water into the port), Some idiot got a bit to excited porting the heads (me  ) but all is well now.


 I added a water bypass valve (just in case) this time.


 I also picked up a new impeller and a split bowl (with some secret work done  ).  Now I can try some of Busbys set up suggestions on this little bit## and see if I can make it happy again.  Happy happy joy joy, now I get to polish another bowl  .