2004 Sportster Porpoising

[boatwiser]

I'm a fairly new owner of the 14.5 foot Sportster LE DI 130Hp 2 stroke boat. This boat is real quick and a riot to drive but it always wants to porpoise unless it is being run wide open. When we just want to cruise around at 25-30mph the front starts to bounce up and down and becomes uncomfortable.

The transom does not have enough area to mount trim tabs that I can see. Can the ride plate be adjusted or any other adjustments be done to help with this? Thanks for any help.

 

[seadoodude1]

It blows me away why these boats don't have trim on the jet nozzles like the PWCs have or another factory trim option. I know there are aftermarket solutions. I was looking a while back and found several options. Search here or on google for seadoo jet boat trim.

On my mercury powered challenger I was able to adjust the ride plate enough to help and there is other adjustable and expensive trim options. On the seadoo powered models I think the ride plate is fixed but replacable with aftermarket extensions. There are also a few other options like a nozzle replacement that is adjustable for up and down trim and hull installed fixed or adjustable trim tabs.

Search and post back what you find.

 

[seadoosnipe]

Vts....

I don't know why they did not do it on all models but on my 1997 Challenger, I have a VTS. I can't see having a boat without it. When I first got into research on these things, I thought most of them had it. Then, I learned that it was not so.

When I'm at idle, my VTS is pulled all the way back. This points the nozzle downward. Then, when I nail it, as it's coming to plane, I start pushing up on the VTS slowly, till I'm up and the boat is light on the water.

When I'm pulling a tube it's good because I can push it down and direct the jet blast away from my daughters a little bit........

But, I think they should have VTS on all the boats..........:cheers:

 

[99SK04GTX]

You should be able to install a pump wedge

The wedge puts a slight down angle on the nozzle

 

[despower]

I have the same model Sportster in a 2006 model year. I haven't noticed the problem all that much, but the Sportster is new to me this year and I haven't been out in it much due to an MPEM failure in August that still isn't rectified .

Concerning the VTS (variable trim system), can this indeed be installed as an aftermarket accessory? Sounds like it is a useful thing to have. Any pointers to aftermarket providers? From what I have seen, it isn't a system that could be easily installed by a DIYer, but I don't generally steer clear of challenges.