scorpion helming

[gtflash]

Just purchased a 2nd hand 7.5 scorpion with single outboard! Had 1st trip out in a messy solent yesterday! I found the boat less intuitive to drive in rough than i expected and wondered if anyone had any words of wisdom of these fine boats! Couple of points i noted was that it didnt seem to like beam seas much and it twisted its arse when it came right out the green stuff despite landing well.... also poor low speed manovering too and it reated to the wind alot more than i expected it to...

Otherwise Very comfy boat great at slicing through the wave. In comparison to my previous yankee boat ive increased my average cruising speed by atleast 15 knots!!

just those jockey seats i got to get used to now!

ps it aint got trim tabs and they seem to be standard kit on most scorps! shall i buy some?

thanks

GT

[MarkM]

I do have trimtabs on the Scorpion 7.5 and I don't recall the problems you experienced.

[Zippy]

Evening,

i found it difficult moving from a 6 meter coastline to a 7.5 scorpion.

firstly there was a lot more power which took some getting used to. particually when in rough weather. i have fount it easier to keep the boat level in big seas by using the torque from the prop to the advantage.

initially i found when trimmed in it would ride hard on the port chine. remedy for this i have found is to trim out a little and be a bit more active with the steering when coming off the tops of waves.

slow speed the nose tends to wonder a little but i dont think any more than most ribs i have had or driven.

i have found practice makes perfect (or better than i was) and it really it a joy to practice!!


you got any pictures??

[Chris Murray]

I came back from Poole yesterday (to Southampton).

The sea could have been more comfortable but we still did over 30kts most of the time, with a burst of 44kts as we approached the Shingles.

Perhaps not the best day to try out a new boat?

Regards,

Chris.

[gtflash]

u not the bright yellow one are you?? if so you looked good going past calshot!! Mines another yellow one now out and about. My average speed from calshot to just by lymington was 35.6 kts so she was running well none the less! Slower on way back as had a pasenger! do you scorp guys use tabs for healing or to control the nose more. Cheers gt

Originally Posted by Chris Murray

I came back from Poole yesterday (to Southampton).

The sea could have been more comfortable but we still did over 30kts most of the time, with a burst of 44kts as we approached the Shingles.

Perhaps not the best day to try out a new boat?

Regards,

Chris.

[Tony]

Hi Gt and congrats on becoming a Scorpion owner!
I use the tabs mainly for keeping the nose down in tricky conditions. They really do the trick.
Are you going to post some pix?
Tony

[gtflash]

Originally Posted by Tony

Hi Gt and congrats on becoming a Scorpion owner!
I use the tabs mainly for keeping the nose down in tricky conditions. They really do the trick.
Are you going to post some pix?
Tony

will do very soon....

[Limey Linda]

Perhaps I am missing something here. Why would you need trim tabs on that size RIB? The only reason I can think of is to try and keep it level in a cross wind/sea. Check your engine set up first. Is the "full in trim " stop bar set correctly? IMHO they are a waste of money and add additional complication.
Maybe some of the problems are " driver error" For example: if you are in a beam sea you probably need to "tack" your course.

[codprawn]

I tend to agree - I have bought trim tabs for mine but they haven't been fitted yet. Don't really find a need for them - maybe his engine isn't offset like mine?

As to poor handling at low speed in windy conditions I think that's true of all RIBs. A bloke I know who has a 1920s sailing barge reckons it's much easier to manoeuvre than a RIB - and he has no bowthruster and it's single screw.

[simmons0]

Ive found times in every boat when I couldn't keep the bow down quite enough when trying to push on a bit into a head sea. Trim tabs would of been nice and if they wern't so expensive we might have them on ours.
H