St. Martin's Power Boats
St. Martin Powerboat Model F-11

I own a St. Martin model F-11. This boat is non functional in that was designed for appearance alone. As a practical matter when equipped with the 9.9 horsepower motor for which it is rated the nose of the boat rides high in the air blocking forward vision. The rear of the boat rides so low water comes over the rear of the boat. The motor, even when raised to it's highest position, rides so low in the water that water enters the motor cover and wets the ignition causing the motor to quit.

The boat does not respond to trim changes or prop pitch changes. St. Martin dealers acknowledge the problem and suggest adding three 50 pound bags of water softener salt in plastic bags to the front of the boat as trim ballast. This is only a 202 pound boat. This fix does little to solve the problem.

I added the the suggested 150 pounds to the bow of the boat and then sat on the nose of the boat during operation (I weigh 195 pounds) which did hold the nose down during operation. Anytime 345 pounds of ballast is required to trim a 202 pound boat there is a serious design problem. This added weight exceeds the weight limit of the boat assigned by the Coast Guard. The top speed of my boat is 5.4 MPH on GPS. Average speed for this size boat should be about 15 MPH.

As a Mechanical Engineer I am familiar with design flaws. After two years of attempting to make this poorly designed junk function I have given up. I can not sell this boat to someone else with a clear conscience. The alternative is to cut the boat in half and dispose of it as hazardous waste as it can not legally be put in a land fill.

Hull Identification Numbers (HIN) are not engraved on the right rear of St. Martin boats as required by federal law. A Manufactures Statement of Origin is issued with the boat—but that number is not on the boat hull. This is probably done to avoid legal responsibility as the boat could not be

Company: St. Martin's Power Boats
Country: USA
State: Ohio

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