Turning Radius

[Higgy]

Found a whole series of vids on YouTube from this Sunrise Marine about how the Chap is better in every way than Yamaha. I'm not trying to start a shouting match, so please let's not do that. I like the Chaparrals. I think they are beautiful boats and would be proud to own one. What do you guys think of this video? Seems like they are simply not turning the wheel on the Yammie. I know my boat turns tighter than that. Are they saying that the Vortex will turn that tight without cavitation? The AR192 looks like a 2016, which means articulating keel. Does the new keel affect it that much? What do you think? Like @MikeyL used to say, let's play nice.

 

[Higgy]

And another on reverse maneuvering. I like how the driver is wearing dark clothing in this one so it's harder to see him NOT turning the wheel.

 

[Noko]

I'd say the the drivers in the videos made all the difference. Seeing as I can spin or do a 360 in my boat while its sitting still tells me that the Yamaha driver wasn't doing it right. The reverse gate on the Chapparal looks pretty cool.

 

[Bill D]

I can honestly say that I disagree with what was shown in the first video. I can throw people around the boat by making sharp turns if I wanted to.

But, I have little doubt that I could not slalom around those buoys in reverse in my 242. Although it never occurred to me to try.

 

[Julian]

Interesting....I agree with @Bill D that something is amiss with video #1....there is NO WAY that the Yamaha's have that sort of limited turning ability! I could understand how they might get this to occur with the newer boats with rack and pinion steering....if their stance is "with the same amount of rotation on the steering wheel" this is what happens....but if you hard over on a Yamaha (at least mine) you can throw someone out of the boat!!!!

I do think the reverse gate on the rotax engines functions better with that side discharge.

 

[Pinhacker71]

I had an ar192 and now have a scarab 215. Both handled well. Scarab is better in reverse but I can't tell a difference in forward turning radius. Obviously a little favoritism in the video.

 

[DBamaC]

Seeing as I can spin or do a 360 in my boat while its sitting still tells me that the Yamaha driver wasn't doing it right.

Exactly. I can even do that move in my single engine boat, even though it probably takes more work than you double engine guys. When I'm pulling away from restaurants with straight pull in docking, I always back out straight and do a 180 in my boats length. There always seems to be someone who hasn't seen a boat do that before.

 

[subysti]

I hate to say it but it may not be that far off. If you watch the video before they have them side by side you can see that chap is skidding across the water like the Yamaha did before the keel. The keel stops it from skidding but the chap is almost fishtailing. I saw someone last year doing this with a chap when pulling a large tube with 4 people and when they made a hard turn and whipped the tube, the tube would actually pull the back of the boat sideways. I'll keep my keel, when I whip the tube hard I can almost get it parallel with the boat and look at the expressions of terror of the riders as they wait for the slingshot!!

 

[McMark]

All boats are beautiful.

 

[DBamaC]

I agree. Those Chaps in particular are extremely classy looking boats. I really like the look of the Scarabs as well, but there are no dealers anywhere near where I live so I have never seen one on the water around here.

 

[Julian]

It might also be the throttle use and level that could cause a big difference. Sure looks to me like there is a ton more jet wash from the Chap...which would suggest he turned and powered up at the same time....(added jet wash starts right at the yellow dot in the image below):

 

[bobbie]

@Julian Good eye, detective!

 

[subysti]

I'm wondering if the jet wash is from the boat skipping on top of the water so it's spraying more on top of the water instead of below.

 

[Julian]

@Julian Good eye, detective!

If you think about it, the best way to get these boats to turn hard IS to give them hard throttle in a turn.

Now PERHAPS the Chap was designed with a very flat bottom....if so I don't want it! My old LX210 had a flat bottom and was AWESOME fun to spin....but was horrible in ANY kind of chop or waves as a result. Having some deadrise and V to the hull makes the ride so much nicer.

 

[smashedheadcat]

I don't think these videos are telling lies, but they are somewhat misleading (because they are obviously biased). The videos in question here show two (actually four) boats that maneuver incredibly well at speed. When Yamaha added the articulating keel, one of the drawbacks was an increased turning circle (under some conditions). Chaparral used a particular speed that showed their boat as the best performer. I'm sure they didn't cheat the test, they just stacked the deck in their favor. Chaparral won't compare low speed tracking in a video like this, because they probably don't track as well as a yamaha with an articulating keel. It's sort of like the old chevy vs ford towing test. Even though the 2011 Superduty was more powerful, GM found that the ford's power tapered off at altitude. Naturally, all of GM's towing tests were performed and videoed at altitude where it appeared most advantageous. Both are great boats. Both have their advantages. You have to expect each builder to show videos of their boats out-performing their competition. It doesn't make it fake, it's just not an accurate representation of the whole picture.

 

[DBamaC]

Mine turns quick enough as it is. Like you said, we can throw people out of the boat is it is. Why would we want to turn fast if we could?

 

[Julian]

They have been churning out videos....and make a good point in this one.....the stern looks much easier to board on....this would come in especially handy in big raft ups like at Shelbyville!

Of course as @smashedheadcat points out...there are pros and cons to Every side of these discussions.....on this one...the Yamaha has cup holders that you can reach from the water due to its layout....the Chap does not. What do you do more...board or drink?

 

[Rob9550]

Said it before and I will say it again...some one needs to make the same bucket for the Yamaha. It can't be that difficult...

 

[Julian]

Said it before and I will say it again...some one needs to make the same bucket for the Yamaha. It can't be that difficult...

I think the shape of the stern will also play a big role in a side forcing bucket....I fear that putting that bucket on a Yamaha would just point it at the transom....

But @Cobra Jet Steering LLC or @JetBoatPilot would be the ones to make it if it were possible/practical - but have to assume they patented it!

 

[Julian]

Patented by Brunswick Corp