Sunset cruise aboard our '04 FV270 Tiki Hut running down Sarasota Bay on a tropical evening

TikiHut2

Welcome aboard for a sweet sunset in ideal sea conditions. It was one of those perfect evenings when the seas laid down, the sunset was gorgeous and the boat was running flawlessly. Welcome aboard indeed.

My handheld video is a little shaky as I'm pointing it backwards while I maintain my heading but you start to understand why I went to the effort after a few seconds. . Feel free to add your favorite pics or videos too.

For the gear heads that noticed our gauges at the end:

 In flat seas our '04 FV270 (see specs below) reaches ideal trim with our stowed gear slightly fwd of amidship, cruising at 3950-4000rpm and no trim tabs. I make tiny tiny adjustments to the the O/D while watching the engines computerized fuel flow meter until the o/d is usually trimmed slightly up up from neutral. You'll feel the hull reach a sweet spot in the balance between too far nose up and/or driving the nose too far down until it settles perfectly in the middle while the fuel gauge numbers decrease and the speed actually increases. In this boats case it's doing about 14.4gph at 30mph or about 2mpg. Not too bad for pushing an 8000lb cabin on the water at a comfortable pace.

Hope you'll share your pics/videos too. Mike

PS. Sorry, I tried every tool I could find to embed the youtube frame but here's the link anyway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OANWnmAZEZg&feature=youtu.be

frenchship

Beautiful video thanks for sharing

Black_Diamond

Sweet!  

frenchship

This is our marina facing the parlement hill in Ottawa Canada.

212rowboat

Man... Days like that, huh? Makes me wanna go launch regardless of the rain... :-) 

TikiHut2

RY, that little spray is the transducer. Good eye. Antenna is down to increase my aerodynamic coefficient.

Drew, rain! omg I brought the boat back home friday and it's rained over 8" in 4 days. I'm drowning in armadillos ('possums on the half shell) and fire ants looking for high ground. Here's my normally dry front yard/pasture yesterday.... My buddy said it's time to launch the TikiHut..... I will when the animals start coming two-by-two..... which could be tomorrow.

raybo3

Nice video Mike....

TonyWalker

Videos and photos.  I love them.

MarkB

Nice video! I want to go boating now. 

Glassguy54

Beautiful video! We have friends that have a second home in Sarasota and we'll likely be visiting 'round about March. They don't have a boat though, what a gyp! Our usual trip to Mexico is off this year due to the kitchen addition we've been up to our ears in since April.  When I think of the boat that money would have bought..... We have only put around 15 hours on the 246 this season - waaaaa!

Lifes Good

Awesomeness!!!

pepmyster

Very nice!!!!!

TikiHut2

Thanks guys. My boating season is just about to re-start.... if the rain ends, which it will. Hey any clues on how to embed the Youtube frame rather than just a link?

G54, The light's always on. Just drop me a line when you get close to town and we'll look at the schedules/weather. Same offer goes out to the rest of the Rinker tribe.

Tony, I'm lazy about getting the camera out. It was the admiral that looked back and said "turn around, you've gotta see this sunset". Man, I also can't believe how much smoother the boat's running after re-setting the outdrive alignment. Unbelieveable. It just purrs.... like it should. We'll be getting together soon. MnK

TikiHut2

Still on the fence but probably at least through the upcoming season.

rasbury

And replace with what?

TikiHut2

Surely you have a nice picture to share that reminds you of why we keep these water toys...?
My classic sunset picture that reminds me why I keep it..... 

Black_Diamond

I was talking with a friend today, an avid fisherman with a 19' and outboard. He spends his cash on fishing gear mostly. His theory: spend it on that or something else (or his wife spends it). Either way it gets spent!  May as well enjoy it!

Dream_Inn

well, here's one....and one that is similar to yours, with the sun, of my old 310.

DSC00742a.jpg

JoeStang

Nice video, looked like a great calm sunset cruise.

Michael T

DI, is that a 310? Looks like your 400 to me? MT

halifax212

Great photo Frenchship, I was on the walking path below Parliament checking out the river and locks. What a great area you are in for boating!

Dream_Inn

MT, yes that is the 400.  I also put my 310 in with a sunset but it didn't attach correctly.  Here it is:

BoatAway

look under your YouTube video, to the left of where it says "Share", click on "Embed". copy and paste that link in your comment. I can't remember if you need to click on one of the appropriate Vanilla Forums buttons or not.

what a sunset! nice video. was that GPH on your display?

TikiHut2

Thanks for the embedding tip but I spent yet another 30mins trying every option again and still no youtube frame. I guess either me or the forum has it's software limitations. Tried the youtube>share>embed code directly into the text frame and in both the image and hyperlink boxes. No go.

The gauge on the dash is my '04 ver of the Merc Smartcraft multigauge plugged directly to the engine computer. I have it set to gph in that last scene showing a solid 14.2 gph at 30mph/4000rpm in neutral sea conditions at best trim. You should've been there. I still owe you one. Cya, Mike

Michael T

Thank you for that Steve, I feel a bit better. I can't even post a picture with my friggin windows 7 - guess I'll have to break-down and spend some gas money on software. :-(  MT

gslpro

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dS5smR3sPY

Tiki,
   This is just copied and pasted address right from the main address line at YouTube.  Does it show for you?  

TikiHut2

Thanks Gary. It shows in my screen. I'm not too sure what's up with my insert technique. Pretty sure I've tried it all. Must be some sort of issue with my win7 Chrome settings.
Thanks, Mike

gslpro

I am also using Win7 and Chrome.  Hmmm.  Not sure. I just copied and pasted it here in the window, no embedding or anything else.  

raybo3

You know you guys keep putting up these video's and now I am starting get withdrawals and my boat doesn't even come out of the water for another 3 weeks...

Dream_Inn

Raybo, I hear ya man!  With some family stuff going on, we just haven't been able to have 'family time' on the boat for a few weeks and looks like it's not gonna happen much more this year.  At least we had a really great summer!  Gonna do the oil change tomorrow.

Dream_Inn

Next weekend we are planning on going to the boat for a little.  I've been going every weekend, but the family hasn't been cause my FIL is here from OH and had knee replacement 2 weeks ago.  He is still using a walker, so the admiral doesn't want to take him to the boat yet.  I've just been getting some things done and playing around a bit each time I'm there.  I figure getting some things done now will allow me later in October to just enjoy time on the boat if the weather is good, if not I'll be that much closer to having all my maintenance done.