How does pad width affect boat handling?

**idvette** · 09-18-2017, 05:28 PM

I have a Canadian Edition Vision, which is essentially a shorter version of a V-King. Over the weekend I met Jim and Don Tucker of Canadian Edition at a race we hosted in town, and talked very breifly about the boat. Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to get into details, but learned that it is a V-King shortened by 18" and the pad was widened by 1" to run with a 90hp motor, as Canadian Edition didn't have a smaller boat at the time (no Vipers here). They said with the wider pad and shorter length I will have a very hard time ever getting the boat to run well with the 2.4 v6 I have on it. So what I was wondering was what effect does the wide pad have on the boat, and if it is severely detrimental, is it worthwhile to make the pad narrower? And to what point, just remove the inch that was added, or go further? Are there other modifications that would help? Or do I just complete my rebuild and put it up for sale?

**XstreamVking** · 09-18-2017, 05:36 PM

I would run it as is. The changes won't hurt it that bad. Lot of people have widened the pad on V-Kings. And Vipers run V-6's with no problem...

**idvette** · 09-18-2017, 06:04 PM

That was basically my end goal, to get it running like a Viper. But when the guy who designed and built your boat tells you it won't, I at least have to listen lol.. Too bad I didn't have more time to speak with them, I wanted to ask them this question. Hard to hear with the drags going on, but from what I heard and his hand gestures he expects the boat will be a hooker. I never had that problem (yet) but still don't feel my setup is dialed in yet either.

What is the pad width on a Viper? Are they all concave?

**XstreamVking** · 09-18-2017, 06:37 PM

Never heard of a Stream that was a hooker....Just keep some lower unit in the water to start...

**idvette** · 09-18-2017, 06:47 PM

Originally Posted by XstreamVking

Never heard of a Stream that was a hooker....Just keep some lower unit in the water to start...

Neither have I, but I do have to put some faith in the builder's opinion. I ran this boat for a few years before the rebuild started. Have always had setup issues, this new info makes me wonder if it will ever be solved. Looking for as much info as possible before I bolt the motor back on

**David** · 09-18-2017, 08:04 PM

Anthony SS ran a boat like yours plenty fast with an XR2 and a big cleaver. Try asking on HPBC

**idvette** · 09-18-2017, 08:37 PM

I have talked to Anthony about it a few times over the years, and his boat actually came up in my short talk with the Tuckers. He never got it completely dialed in either with his 2.0 litre, at least never to a point where he was running it at 80 plus comfortably

**adadk** · 09-19-2017, 06:57 PM

Originally Posted by idvette

What is the pad width on a Viper? Are they all concave?

Pad width is approx 8". They are concave from the factory mold, like the Vector.

**W2F a V-King** · 09-22-2017, 06:48 AM

Good write up on the Vector and the hull configuration.

http://hydrostream.org/Specific%20Models/Vector.htm

**idvette** · 09-22-2017, 07:04 AM

I agree it's a good read, one I have been over a few times, but don't draw a relationship between my boat with the wider flat pad and the concaved hooked pad. What I would like to know in general is how pad width affects boat handling. Maybe not necessarily on a Hydrostream (although that is what I have) but the actual hydrodynamics of pad width vs boat length/weight/power. Thanks for the responses so far

**Jimboat** · 09-22-2017, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by idvette

...what effect does the wide pad have on the boat, and if it is severely detrimental, is it worthwhile to make the pad narrower? And to what point, just remove the inch that was added, or go further? Are there other modifications that would help?

Here's an article on 'Vee-Pad Design' that may help. (I didn't talk too much specifically about handling vs pad design, however....should add discussion on this to the article.)

Also (added), here is a link to Vee Pad Design, and an article with detail about Vee-Pad Sizing and related Performance.

**rock** · 09-22-2017, 07:16 AM

I posted this before but I'll do it again. I changed the bottom on my Vector to match the bottom of my V King and it worked out well. That was 1/2" to each side of the pad, removed concave, and removed about half of the hook (wedge). Many said it would not run as well but it ran much better than it did stock. Did not get a lot of time to dial it in but was running well over 90 from the git go with no nasty habits. Boat is still running strong 15 years later with a 225 Merc. The wider pad helped in my opinion.

Rock

**rjdubiel** · 09-22-2017, 07:40 AM

I wonder if the builders are saying they are hooking on people that let off the thottle too fast at speed? Bow of the hull drops into the water when you cut the thottle at speed and the stern stays high and therefor a hooking situation? Seems logical to me. I have never hooked or even been close. My Viper with a stock bottom runs 87.5 so far with a 175 crossflow and I think there is more with my current setup (1973 viper, and some say it is not stock but I do not remember Riverman doing any mods to it when he recored the boat so I think it is stock). I would think that the wider pad would help you get the boat up out of the water faster and more stable at speed? Rougher ride too!

**rock** · 09-22-2017, 10:14 AM

Could be the hook they were speaking of is the hook in the pad, not like the "hooker" Allison terminology.

Rock

**XstreamVking** · 09-22-2017, 11:24 AM

Originally Posted by idvette

Neither have I, but I do have to put some faith in the builder's opinion. I ran this boat for a few years before the rebuild started. Have always had setup issues, this new info makes me wonder if it will ever be solved. Looking for as much info as possible before I bolt the motor back on

What were the issues you are experiencing?