Got out on the big lake a couple times memorial day weekend, water temps near 50° so right on par. Been trying to fix a steering issue, the boat drifts to the left while on plane when you let go of the steering wheel. Adjusted drive alignment from zero to 1/4" toe in, changed power steering actuator, changed props, shifted weight load, dragged right tab, ****ed with drive trims and throttled down right rpms..... non of which fixed the issue. Thinking of swapping out the flat anodes on the cavitation plates to the ones with fins..... any other thoughts besides going to full hydro?
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Official Irate4x4 boat owners thread
- Thread starter redneckengineered
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redneckengineered
Angry
- Thread starter
- #2,432
Don't let go of the steering wheel and enjoy the boat? It's not the freeway.Got out on the big lake a couple times memorial day weekend, water temps near 50° so right on par. Been trying to fix a steering issue, the boat drifts to the left while on plane when you let go of the steering wheel. Adjusted drive alignment from zero to 1/4" toe in, changed power steering actuator, changed props, shifted weight load, dragged right tab, ****ed with drive trims and throttled down right rpms..... non of which fixed the issue. Thinking of swapping out the flat anodes on the cavitation plates to the ones with fins..... any other thoughts besides going to full hydro?
Tiha
Red Skull
Exactly the same problem. When we bought our boat we thought it was a cheap way to entertain the kids. Bought a non running boat cheap enough, fixed it cheap enough, but Gas, tubes, ropes, life vests, drinks. Even if the boat was free it is still an expensive hobby.
7-10 gallons every time we went out, usually went a couple times a week.
When the kids drive they want to cruise the whole lake at full throttle, totally not enjoyable.
cousineddie
****ters full
- Joined
- Nov 7, 2023
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- 7065
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- 89
Boat plug comes out everytime the boat comes out of the water. Good way to check that bellows are doing their job on a I/O. Also, skiing, tubing, and sand bar life take in a lot of water, the bilge works, but doesn't get all of it. Plug comes out on the ramp every time the boat comes out. Plug goes in when trailer is hooked up to launch the boat. Rain, issues with covers leaking, etc, all can cause issues when boats are left sitting outside with plugs in. I've seen several friends come to their boat after it sat in the boat yard for a month with a cover on it only to find 100 gallon of water in the motor compartment.
WaterH
Well-known member
That really turned out nice!
Brecklin
Red Skull
I need to learn how to ask for fuel money and not care about sounding like a ****. For many summers we took my brother in law with us and never once did he offer to put fuel in the boat. My dumbass even bought him bar drinks one 4th of July when we stopped.
WaterH
Well-known member
Yea, that is a problem. I don’t buy friends drinks when we take the boat, but they don’t realize how buying my drink doesn’t make up for $200 worth of fuel.
BDK
Red Skull
That would need to be pre-negotiated. I've never invited someone to go boating and then asked them to pitch in for fuel. Most of my friends would offer. Most of my relatives would not. I sure as hell wouldn't be buying anyone drinks though. BYOB and food.
Captain Call
No
I guess I have good friends. Pretty sure I've made money once or twice. 
barrelroll
Red Skull
Ouch we are still in the high 4's low 5's a gallon in southeast Alaska. Put 500+ miles on last trip.
Anyone running newer Yamaha' nizpro tuning is worth looking into. We ran the 89 octane tune for 400 hours and just switched to the 87 octane tune. Here's a bulletin I put together after testing. We ran both nizpro tunes and the stock tune on the same day. After running the tuned motor for 3 seasons the run with the stock tune wasn't impressive, we lot 500 rpm at wot.
Brecklin
Red Skull
redneckengineered
Angry
- Thread starter
- #2,442
I don't take my boat out specifically for friends. If I have friends on my boat I was taking it out anyway whether they're with me or not. I don't ask for money for fuel nor do I accept if offered. Many of them will pick up my bar tab or dinner after though just as a way to say thanks for a fun day. Now if you have a wake sports boat and spend hours pulling your friends and/or their kids around that's a different story. They should absolutely pitch in for fuel.
WTF?
degenerate at large
yeah, just sandbar hopping/ booze cruising, nobody should be expected to contribute but decent friends still will offer.
when we're fishing offshore, its understood that fuel split contribution is not optional unless the owner declines/ explicitly states it's his treat.
If you're taking people out when you had no intent to go boating and didn't invite/offer then you're running an illegal charter and need to charge passengers for 'Ice' or 'bait'
WaterH
Well-known member
This is a good additude. Pretty much how I think.
When I had my Malibu I had a couple friends that would want to go out. We would go out after work or early weekends and only surf/ski/board. Usually only be out for around an hour for the 3 to 4 of us. They always paid for the fuel for not just the boat but also my truck.
Now if my young kids were coming and another family was coming and we found a beach and pulled tubes, I never asked for money. But by God you better not run off to your car once we hit the ramp. I made it very clear that the boat stays in looking nice because we ALL chip in to clean it once it comes out of the water. I hauled my boat 7 hours for a family get together with the in-laws. Not one came over and helped me wipe it down and clean it out. To this day they can't figure out why I never hauled it out there again.
Now that I just fish, 90% of the time I either go out solo or am asking people if they want to come.
KacksterK5
Well-known member
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- Apr 27, 2021
- Member Number
- 3852
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Same. If it's just an evening cruise or creek creeping or something I don't even bother. But if we are running somewhere far 30-40 miles, I get fuel on the way and my friends will shove cash in the cup holder or venmo me even if I refuse.
Non E fuel at the gas station is $4.60 on land, I'm going to start hauling cans. Sucks but worth it to me and I have an abundance of cans for the racecar and lawn ****. Shaker siphon hose makes it easy.
Brecklin
Red Skull
If we are launching and heading up to the sandbar to chill for the day, I dont even go through enough gas to think about.
I should have specified, the times I thought maybe some money atleast offered would be nice were the times we went 40 miles down river, got fuel on the water (usually a couple bucks more a gallon than on land) and then 40 miles back up to the launch.
I would (and always have) offered fuel money if im hitching a ride with someone to any place we are both heading to. I'd feel like a **** if I didnt.
Kind of like telling your buddy (or inlaw) let's have a cookout and they expect to show up empty handed, without even asking if or what they should bring. I'll provide the majority, you just bring something small to share.
Guy (BIL) I was initially referencing will ask my wife what were doing for the 4th of July, she will say boating, and he'll ask to come. Love having him there with us, but im letting you crash at my place, hauling you and your stuff to the launch, you're enjoying my boat all day, at least offer a couple bucks for fuel or offer to pick up a couple drinks. The little bit of money doesn't matter to me but the principle weighs the most.
redneckengineered
Angry
- Thread starter
- #2,448
Another pertinent question and related to the chipping in for fuel conversation is how much fuel are you guys going through a season? I'm positive I'm on the low end. I have my boat in from first weekend of May until last weekend of October so 6 months and we go out every weekend the sun is out. I go through 120-160 gallons a season 
Wife and I don't have kids and we're the hang out and tie up type. Our boat isn't a wake boat, I don't pull tubes. We're super lucky that where we live on the lake is central to everything you'd want to do as in the restaurants, marinas, best hangout sloughs, etc. If we go more than 30 minutes out it's just joy riding and sightseeing.
Wife and I don't have kids and we're the hang out and tie up type. Our boat isn't a wake boat, I don't pull tubes. We're super lucky that where we live on the lake is central to everything you'd want to do as in the restaurants, marinas, best hangout sloughs, etc. If we go more than 30 minutes out it's just joy riding and sightseeing.
BDK
Red Skull
The main few friends I've invited are the type who would stick a $50 bill in my truck center console when I was gassing up the boat. I've also had them hand their card to the dock monkey and tell me to shut the **** up when I protest. Never had to drink my own beer when a friend was in my boat. Just spending that time on the water with good friends is worth every penny in fuel to me so I don't ask.
This was all when the boat I had use of belonged to my parents. Now it belongs to me and my health issues have kept me off the water. Hopefully sometime soon I'll be cruising up the Colorado River.
This was all when the boat I had use of belonged to my parents. Now it belongs to me and my health issues have kept me off the water. Hopefully sometime soon I'll be cruising up the Colorado River.
ThePanzerFuhrer
The Rock Breaker God
30-50 gallons a weekend. Probably at least 10-12 weekends a year. I get the trophy for the most fuel burnt on the lakeAnother pertinent question and related to the chipping in for fuel conversation is how much fuel are you guys going through a season? I'm positive I'm on the low end. I have my boat in from first weekend of May until last weekend of October so 6 months and we go out every weekend the sun is out. I go through 120-160 gallons a season
. I got a 300 gallon gas tank the fuel guy fills for me at home whenever I call. It’s better than at the pumps because i know I’m getting 100% ethanol free gas.
KacksterK5
Well-known member
- Joined
- Apr 27, 2021
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- 243
Burned about 800 gallons last year. 50 a day is easy. That's just going to meet friends and hang out. A long weekend I'll run 100-120 miles or so. so 100-120 gallons.Another pertinent question and related to the chipping in for fuel conversation is how much fuel are you guys going through a season? I'm positive I'm on the low end. I have my boat in from first weekend of May until last weekend of October so 6 months and we go out every weekend the sun is out. I go through 120-160 gallons a season
redneckengineered
Angry
- Thread starter
- #2,452
Ouch!
Our marinas only carry ethanol free 89 octane or better, a couple of them are very fair and don't gouge just for being on the water. And there's a state park with a fuel dock nearby which is my go to, I'm not sure if there's a law that prevents them from gouging because they're gov but their prices are always the lowest and in line with street prices.
WTF?
degenerate at large
A typical full fishing day burns anywhere from 80-120 gallons depending on sea state/ how far we run and how fast we troll, before kids we'd run through a couple thousand gallons a yr, probably only burned around 6-800 /yr the last few years. The little sandbar runner will go all summer on 60 gallons.
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I think last year I burned 60 gallons. But my typical day of fishing is unload at ramp, drive boat 10 min to fishing spot, electric trolling motor for an hour, use the big motor to move another 5 min, then more electric. Just repeat until I'm bored. I'll burn 30 gallons in my truck compared to 2-3 gallons in my boat on a typical day. One day I took my daughter out tubing with her friend and burned all of 6 gallons.....Another pertinent question and related to the chipping in for fuel conversation is how much fuel are you guys going through a season? I'm positive I'm on the low end. I have my boat in from first weekend of May until last weekend of October so 6 months and we go out every weekend the sun is out. I go through 120-160 gallons a season
Brecklin
Red Skull
We run about 10 gallons through the Baja every time we go out, which is usually once a week.
Curious to see how the Chaparral averages, but Ive been pleasantly surprised the two times we've had it out. I expected much worse.
Curious to see how the Chaparral averages, but Ive been pleasantly surprised the two times we've had it out. I expected much worse.
ANGELO
Red Numb Skull
Airboat is usually 25 gallons of ll-100 fuel every time. It's got to be pretty pricey right now, but fl has no water so we haven't been out recently.
I probably fill the pontoon once a month.
I don't ask for gas money I wouldn't say no though. But I sure won't be the guy supplying the food and drinks.
I probably fill the pontoon once a month.
I don't ask for gas money I wouldn't say no though. But I sure won't be the guy supplying the food and drinks.
Lbhsbz
Toyota ***
The new to me Merc 260 on my Lavey is a thirsty bitch....at least the one time I was able to keep it running for more than 30 seconds. I drained a 15 gallon tank in about as many minutes making hot laps lol. I mix 100LL half and half with non-ethanol pump premium....along with Klotz oil, it ends up being about $6.50/gallon
Wildjon
Active member
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- Jan 16, 2021
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- 3387
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- 35
My twin 400 Verados are thirsty. I burn around 50gallons every time I take it out. Granted the boat does get 2.6-2.8mpg cruising between 65 and 80mph. Did some quick math vs my SeaDoo RXTX300...fuel burn is about the same, I just no longer am limited by 16 gallons as the boat has twin 55 gallon tanks.