Want to see Pic's of Charger STV, Laser LTV, and other STV's Running top speed

[Fairbanksrabbit]

Want to see Pic's of Charger STV, Laser LTV, and other STV's Running top speeds.

I was reading on the Laser LTV center pad mod that some of you are doing, or have done. I have a few questions? What are you using for material? Is it all laid up? or is something fiberglassed over top of? It almost looks like some of you installed a piece of something? Can I see more pics of this mod being done, Please.
I'm kinda having the same problem with my 18 Ft Charger STV, (Needle Nose) it was fine when I had the 2.4 bridge on it, the odd time in the high 80's to low 90's it would lift, I would get out of the foot throttle slowly and it would settle back down, didn't want to get out of it too quickly and stuff it in. Now I have a 260 on it and it is way more frequent, Sometime at 75 and 80 under hard acceleration it will do it, ( running a 4 blade 26P cleaver on it) but now up top it happens super fast.... 95 to 97 ish. The last time I was out last year..... Last October... Lakes freeze here in November. I got out of it too quickly and when it landed back in the water, it landed flat the prop blew out and I did a 180 degree turn to the left in about a 300 foot radius at 85. Broke three ribs on that one...... lol. Was glad I went out with a spotter boat.

So it is time to do something about this. I think it is because the center pad is too short in comparison to the out side sponsons in length, and the pad should almost be an 1 1/2 to 1 3/4 deeper. Any help you can give would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks Chris

[idvette]

This seems to be a common issue with the design of these boats, and the reason why the pickle fork design came about as I understand. The tunnels are just too long and trap too much air. General consensus is 90mph is pretty much tapped out for these boats, after that all bets are off, buy another boat if you want to go faster. I can imagine though, if you were to add material to the centre pad to make it deeper than the outsides, it would have to let air out the sides when on the pad. I haven't heard of anyone doing that to one of these boats yet though. Hopefully someone who has run one or modded one can share some insight.

I thought there was only one fast boat in Sudz???

[rock]

I bought an STV a couple years back that was originally a roundy round boat. Those guys do all kinds of things to the bottoms to make boat handle the way they want it to. This one had a capsule and a rather large extension of the pad. Honestly it looks like someone just attached a 2x8 to the pad and glassed over it. I told the guy I was going to remove it and he insists it makes the boat quicker and runs much drier than before. I don't doubt it runs drier but I think that is just till it blows over then it will be real wet again. I understand and agree with the air maybe having an escape route out the sides but the boat is also an inch and a half higher in the air. Not my cup of tea. Especially over a hundred mph.

Rock

[mistah_max]

1998 charger stv. running a max speed of 92.5mph. its for sale right now in canada. baught a 22 talon. they are good boats but dont think you'll bust 100 with the charger model.. the ltv model is faster. they dont like weight. i loose 5-7mph when my 120lbs gf is in the passenger seat. I run a worked 30 chopper 1in above the pad. 225 promax with lightly shaved heads. I personnaly loved the boat. just wanted something bigger that would run 100.

[Fairbanksrabbit]

Love it....! Please keep the pics coming

Thanks Mistah_max

[Krazymaan]

Here's my Hard to find (hate the word rare) Stratos 200VT Rocket with a severely modified Evinrude XP200 engine. I've had the motor at almost 8k and it still wanted to go harder. I believe its a 1987. I don't know the top speed yet. Just got it at end of the year last year.

[panther150]

I have personally run with this boat many times, its the cleanest example of this hull I have ever seen , runs really well too. Max is a super straight shooter to deal with too btw.

1998 charger stv. running a max speed of 92.5mph. its for sale right now in canada. baught a 22 talon. they are good boats but dont think you'll bust 100 with the charger model.. the ltv model is faster. they dont like weight. i loose 5-7mph when my 120lbs gf is in the passenger seat. I run a worked 30 chopper 1in above the pad. 225 promax with lightly shaved heads. I personnaly loved the boat. just wanted something bigger that would run 100.

[Tim66482]

This is my raptor

[Scream And Fly]

A few years ago I posted photos that Marty from Diamond Marine sent me of old LTVs and STVs from the 1980s. I'll post them up again - there are some very interesting photos, including the stern-drive powered LTV.

Greg

[Fairbanksrabbit]

Thanks for the pic, would you have a pic of bottom from the rear. looks like your pad is deeper than what I have. Thanks Chris

[Fairbanksrabbit]

Thanks for the pic, would you have a pic of bottom from the rear. looks like your pad is deeper than what I have. Thanks Chris

[Fairbanksrabbit]

What year is that Raptor? Do you have more pics of this boat and pics of the bottom of the hull, It looks like it is running vary clean in the water. What kind of speed were you getting with this set up? and the set up?

[Mike Nass]

Here is one from about 92... bridgeport on it then, later a 260, then a 280 SS... ran 11's in the quarter mile in the 90's i have some better pictures somewhere...

[texasvector]

thought there was vid of one running hard in one of the river ranch vids on youtube.......wanna say green boat but cant remember

[90 5.0]

I'd do a search I seem to remember a lot of talk at one time of raising the center pad on those and on shadows as well.