Pedal Theory 101

[Fired Up]

The pedal adjustment thread got me thinking. Now this may be an old topic for some but new for others. So what is the best way to work a two pedal system? Some say DON"T use the up pedal at all ..cut it off. Others will say "I use the up pedal only to hold the plate up against the stop to keep the plate from sucking down" and I think there are a few that will use it to lift the plate, I don't know. In my inexperience I've found myself just resting my foot on the down pedal after lifting it and not moving from there. But I think there is inherent danger in mashing it back down if your boat gets a little too loose. How about some practical suggestions for us rookies out here...

[BigBoyToys]

Don't touch the Up pedal wink That's the only practical answer I could give a "Rookie" wink IF someone decides to use the UP pedal, he/she should be VERY experienced with the boat and know how it's gonna act in certain situations. An UP pedal at the wrong time and/or too much UP pedal can spell disaster
BTW Sam, you ain't a rookie....you took 2nd place your first race! I'd say that's doing good. How's the boat coming along?

[pgf127rt]

Sam, especially in a Canyon always stay in contact with the down pedal, and if the boat makes a strange move, instant light pressure on the down will drop the nose and possibly avert a bad situation, on mine with arund 1000 hp i couldn't ever let the down all the way up or it would leave the water, my style may not be right for you or others but I am safely retired now and never got wet.
[ April 12, 2003, 04:03 AM: Message edited by: pgf127rt ]

[058]

What PGF127rt said. I always have to use just a bit of "down" in my Hondo. The only time I can get off the plate is with two fat guys in the boat. :D
[ April 12, 2003, 08:42 AM: Message edited by: 058 ]

[BGMAN203]

The only time you will ever be able to get out of the down all the way would be on a closed course race track. Two reasons....first that is the only place you will most likley find smooth water....and second the rescue is right there if "stuff happens". I can only get out of the down about 1/2 way at the river in the middle of the day and I will never look for the up pedal at the river, even at 5am.
[ April 12, 2003, 11:18 AM: Message edited by: BGMAN203 ]

[BILLY.B]

I have only driven a couple of runner bottoms and I know the handling is a lot different then a Biesemeyer , but I'm always able to come off the down peddle (decent water) , and if the nose started to suck in I would go over to the up and just rest my foot there and it would allow the boat to free up until I ran out of gear . To solve the problem of having to go to the UP peddle I added a second row of bolts to the cavitation plates and the plate sucking problem was over and no more UP peddle . One word of advise that was told to me years ago from a veteran BAF driver ,never get off the throttle while your on the UP peddle !!! ,it will spell DISASTER.. eek! :cool:

[Dragboat Dad]

Pedal 101 has been very informative for me. I am a rookie and always looking for advise. I'm still working on the down pedal, I'll leave the other one alone.

[Terminal Velocity]

BillyB you've peaked my curiosity on this second row of bolts on the Cav Plates how far back from the first set did you go? We're yours straight across to begin w/? I have noticed that some of the newer hulls in have the everyother one staggered. Are you running 3/16 or 1/4" plates and how long are they from the transom? what year Biesmeyer are you running? Mine is '77.
Thanks in advance

[77charger]

I only let off the down pedal if the water is smooth.Mine has an up pedal that will keep the plate from being sucked up i tried it no major difference since the plate doesnt get sucked down.I always rest my foot on the down pedal now incase i have to hit it or a roller comes up

[Fired Up]

Can't you just set more tension on the springs to keep your pedal (plate) from getting sucked down? I would think you'd see or feel the pedal move down if your plate was getting sucked back down.

[Ian]

When we first got our boat I noticed the plate getting sucked back down after I came all the way off the pedal. To cure that I added more tension on the spring, just like you suggested Fired Up. On my boat I'm almost always able to come completely off the pedal, even in some chop, it just tends to dance around a little more when it's rough.

[Fiat48]

I use the down pedal only (I actually remove the up pedal)and very strong springs to return the plate. My experience is that once you move your foot to that up pedal, you can't get back to the down in time if you need to plate the boat. The plate will suck back down if you don't have enough spring tension. How you operate the pedal realy depends on how much rocker is in the bottom of the boat, engine placement, v drive location, strut placement and strut angle. Some flats I have had, you could set the boat and almost immediately get out of the plate. Other boats (like the one I have now) require just a little plate or the boat wants to gain altitude at the other end. You'll just have to learn your boat and create your own driving style. Called "Seat Time". wink

[stix818]

My old man used to have an up pedal in his Hondo until he got out of shape. The boat tossed him out but his foot got caught in the pedals. The shoot jacket about deployed itself and if it would have he probably be missing a foot. Ever since that day he cut the up pedal off and I will probably do the same. In the mean time I just rest mine of the down pedal and use accordingly. I haven't been driving that long but I have years of experience around and they too prefer to cut it off.

[BILLY.B]

Terminal Veloscity ck your PM's.

[Terminal Velocity]

Got it B. Interesting, I may have to come down to needles for the day and see how you did it. And see how the plates bend when you push the down. Again thanks for the reply.

[Fired Up]

Ian,
When you say your plate was getting sucked down were you actually able to see the up pedals move by themselves? Was the down pedal going back down by itself after you came off of it at speed? How did you know the plate was getting sucked down? I'm curious to know what to look for.

[DUCKY]

I have only driven a few boats with up pedals, but the way I see it, if the system is properly adjusted, so the up pedal will not create excessive rocker in the running surface, and only allow you to prevent the plates from being pulled down, then there should be no problem with it's use, and no reason to fear it or remove it. Just my $0.02 Would you like your change with that? :D

[Ian]

I myself am pretty new to drivinig so like many of you I don't let my foot get to far from the down pedal. Before I tightened up the spring I could feel the down peddle getting pulled away from my foot at the big end of a pass. So to answer your question I couldn't see the down peddle getting sucked down, but I'm not ballsy enough to check my guages when I'm doing a pass let alone look at the pedals, but I could definately feel it. I think if it's happening to you, you'd know it. I don't know about other guys set-up but my up peddle won't lift the plates, it is just there to keep the plate from getting sucked down, a problem easily fixed by adding some tension to the springs.

[DUCKY]

Ian:
...my up peddle won't lift the plates, it is just there to keep the plate from getting sucked down. That's the way it should be!

[stix818]

I think your right on that DUCKY. We cut ours because he didn't like having his foot trapped in them.
[ April 20, 2003, 11:32 PM: Message edited by: Stix818 ]