[Putershark]

These stern "Lift Devices" do not cause this running condition matter of fact, they help to negate it by trying to drive down the bow "when" engine trim is correct. What happens is after installing such, many people still keep using the same amount of engine trim (or at the wrong time) as before, and do not take into consideration that they now have an even "greater" effect / force (more lift) on the stern and the hull’s running angle of attack. Many forget such, and then try to connect the dots into thinking that the fin is “now” the cause of the Porpoising... Nope, you just have more lift or drag (if the angle of attack is too great in the other direction) on the stern and you have to relearn (or learn) new trim and power habits since the boat now handles and reacts different than before and this even changes as your load changes and as you burn off fuel.

An easy visual comparison of the before and after effects of installing most plates, would be to compare the effects of your hand stuck outside of your truck window at highway speeds flat (this kid still likes doing this!) with just two fingers extended and change the angle of attack. Then feel how much less of a change in the angle of attack raises or lowers your hand when having “all” of your fingers extended and more like an aircraft wing in both shape, and surface area... Well, you just bolted on more surface area to your lower unit, and these changes (both positive and negative) have a lot more effect and much faster then before…, This is also why you can keep the hull on a plane at slower speeds and lower engine RPM’s.

As one of my flight instructors use to preach that also applies to boat operation "Power is my Pal and Trim is my Friend" and once you get the true “feel” of both, and how your boat reacts to even the slightest changes in either one… You will see that you can adjust and or correct running condition issues in most sea states OR trim out for the most hull speed at any given speed “above” that speed when the hull is on a plane. Case in point, would be in using a higher than normal bow running angle of attack to help knock down waves and spray to help keep you dry. Now you will slow down for the same throttle position over your normal speed trim position, but more than likely needed to help keep from beating both you, and your equipment to death Now if you hull is also equipped with trim tabs, you can even dig one side down to help raise up the other side of the hull to help stay dry in crossing seas and winds.


Now I do not remember if this year model hull may or may not have any intermittion mold casting issues like some of the others we have seen corrected. But I would think that a call to Dick at Merritt would help since I would think he (if anybody) would remember if they did have any

Hope this helps!