skater 24 - blow over risk???

[maverick1]

I'm new to the forum and new to an old skater 24. Power is twin 2.5 EFIs and runs well.

I usually run on very flat water, and recently found that once I was at high speed I could add some positive trim and get about 6 more mph out of it. The boat still felt good, but am I at risk for a "blow over" at 100 mph in this hull???

Do tunnels give you any warning that you are over trimmed????


MAV ( an old V-hull guy, who's trying out his first tunnel)

[jerry]

post this in general discussions, you will get some answers

[WILDMAN]

They won't blow over, but they like to dance around a bit.

[Techno]

Originally posted by WILDMAN
They won't blow over

You sure bout that?

Somekindaforgot what type blew over in florida about 2 months ago. It was a large boat but forgot if cat or not.

[WILDMAN]

It was a 36ft Spectre cat. It launched off a large wave and hit real hard. I don't think launching off a 6ft wave constitutes a blowover.

[at100plus]

I think that was a 30 Spectre that wrecked in Florida (the one with the american flag striping on it right?)

I think if you need to ask, get some more seat time before you get to wild with the trim. You should be able to feel it starting to get out of shape before anything drastic happens.

PM a boardmember named Thunderduck, he can give you some good info on a 24.

I had a 21, and never felt that blowover was a possibility. Barrel roll on the other hand is a different story.

[jerry]

jerry knows a guy that almost went over backwards in a 28 , to much trim , a little wind , and no experience !!!

[at100plus]

Good point, I think anything is possible when the no experience factor is there, but I felt like there were many things that could go wrong in the 21 Skater before blowover.

[jerry]

now you have a kid , and no sleep , stay out of a skater hahahahah

[at100plus]

YAWN

[maverick1]

Thanks for all the good information!!!

I'm 50 and new to the boat, I'll be patient with the learning curve. My 24 Baja, which I've run for years in fast ---- but fast in that is nearly 70 gps and NOT 100!!!

So, I know I've got lots to learn!!


Again, THANKS!!!! for the tips and thoughts!!

MAV

[quickonstep]

heed these words

*ANY* boat will blow over, IF pushed to its limits..

there has been cabin cruisers blow over..

there has been row boats blow over...

all boats are prone to it, but the likelyhood is slim with most..

Be safe, Be wise, and its better to go a little slower, than go a little faster and risk your life and/or passengers and other people in the water.

Jesse

[shadowman]

every hull and setup has its own personality, If you progress slowly you should learn your boats habits and you'll know when your on the edge. I dont feel anyone can jump into a new boat and run it to its limits the first go round. It takes some seat time to learn the rig. You'll do fine. just take your time.:)

[at100plus]

So perhaps the Skipper didn't take the professor's advise on setup before going on the SS Minnow's maiden vogage and they had a blow over?

[beko21]

The skipper wanted some seat time with Ginger and Maryann!

[jerry]

quickonstep
jerry would have to disagree, unless your explaination of a blow over is flipping over in very rough water . cabin crusiers and row boats dont BLOW over , most v bottoms dont BLOW over in calm water , cats blow over in calm water !!! v bottoms can spin out , barrel roll and a very few could blow over but at very high rate of speed , i dont think you will see a 24 ft superboat blow over going fast unless it hits a big big wave. a skater or other tunnel will blow over just going fast in calm water and triming it too much .....

[quickonstep]

jesse says that jerry contridicts himself in his statement....


all boats can blow over, thats a fact.. i am OBVOIUSLY not going to take my 18 ft hydrostream out in a storm and run wide open.. WHY? cuz it would prolly blow over.. im not gonna take my cabin cruiser and launch off a wave.. WHY? cuz it would prolly blow over (when i say wave i mean 10+ footers, full bore, with the outdrive trimmed up)

pack enough air and enough speed under any hull, and itll blow over


Jesse

[at100plus]

Jerry and Hoser were out holding hands in their dingy the other day and it got outta shape, she almost went right over backwards! Very Scary

[jerry]

a a a dont you have a diaper to change !!! hahaha
quickonstep

where do you get your facts from , you r gonna tell jerry that a 24 ft superboat will blow over in calm water ?

[stvhelm]

If I recall... a 24 skater w/2.5's flipped over right in front of tanner park about 2 summers ago.

[quickonstep]

Originally posted by jerry
a a a dont you have a diaper to change !!! hahaha
quickonstep

where do you get your facts from , you r gonna tell jerry that a 24 ft superboat will blow over in calm water ?

i sure will, if its going fast enough, and theres enough air under the hull, IT WILL BLOW OVER


Jesse

[at100plus]

Easy on the trim Skipper

I think you'd have to be pretty inexperienced to trim a Skater too high, it really shouldn't need any positive trim.

[maverick1]

It's Maverick ( not skipper)

.. and positive trim on flat water brought 96 mph GPS up to 101 GPS. So, "shouldn't need" and "won't respond positively to" .... positive trim, are OBVIOUSLY two different statements.

MAV

[at100plus]

I wasn't really calling you Skipper, Maverick, I was just being funny, but all seriousness, yes, engine height and trim are what makes a cat fast, but it's actually kinda silly to go for top speed numbers when you're new to the boat.

Basically after 90 the boat probably doesn't accelerate very fast, so if you ask me, going for the big numbers is where you put yourself in the most danger because you have to run a looong time at top speed to get the slow gains, and how much different does 95 or 100 feel?

Get to know the boat reall well at the easy 90s speeds then start playing with trim and height. By then, you'll know how far is too far.

Good luck, and be safe.

[maverick1]

I couldn't agree more with your conclusion... be safe. Likewise, I am genuinely appreciative of the valuable resource of this site!!!!!

Frankly, as an attorney (who has friends who have had serious boating accidents) I am specifically in search of "good advice" which puts speed and safetly into the same equation.

Again, "thanks" to everyone, who has offered up their thoughts, and advice.

MAV

[supercat]

I have raced a cat for 10 years. The short answer yes! I watched the 40 ft skater Cat Can Do blow over during a Kilo run. Although he was trimmed to the extreme, it can happen. More importantly you need to watch for boat wake or a wave that you didn't expect. If you jump or "kite" and trip on the following wave you will stuff. I have seen people die this way. Have fun, respect the lightness and speed of the small cats!

[jerry]

what boat did you race ?

[supercat]

I started with a 30' Aero cat called Bounty Hunter.
Next was a 30' Motion with 2.5's called Lil Miss Dangerous
Then I moved to Modified/Super with a 35 Motion Tropical Dream
Now I just have the 30 with 2.5's I play with

[Liberated 18]

Originally posted by beko21
The skipper wanted some seat time with Ginger and Maryann! I dont' care what Wildman says about ya..your still sharp and still have some brain cells left:D

[maverick1]

Well, Super Cat, tell me this. ( off topic - but I've got you talking)

My 2.5 EFIs idle around 1,000 rpms and pretty much die everytime I shift them from idle into gear. Starting in gear - they will usually continue to run. I'm running CLE's.

A couple of guys have already told me -- quit trying to tear up the gearcases by shifting them -- just start them in gear all the time.


Is shifting in gear, and shutting off just to get out of gear just "the way it is" with big props????

MAV

[alan griffiths]

I think V bottoms are still prone to blow overs as well.
I had a 10'' wing boat blow over at 60mph on me in1993after
getting hit by a gust of wind .
and the boat i am rebuilding now a 15'' kevlar tunnel deck
v hull Bullet ( australian built) Blow over at 101 mph.
So I think if you push the limits of any Boat it can blow over
But then isn't that what seperates the men from the boys
in an extreme sport, the RUSH when on the edge.

I have just seen the boat that holds the world speed record
It has held the record since 1978 at 317mph .the last 2 people
to try and beat this have died . however the boat has been
rebuilt with some small changes and the driver Ken Walby
now 60 is going to try beat his own record next year .
I am sure he will be thinking about Blow over or even
lift off.

[supercat]

Hey Mavrick,
I start my engines in gear to save on the gears, although I can shift them without stalling.

First I should mention these are the new style 280 hp offshore race motors. These have much better idle relief and porting. If you have the old 2.5's, then you are stuck with starting in gear with large pitch props.

I assume you have checked compression, as this is a first sign of being in need of a re-ring.

The Mercury manual says if you stall going into gear, check the TPI (throttle position sensor) for adjustment. It should be .80 to .82 volts ( if memory serves me) at idle.

Hope this helps.
FYI:
I am running 1:86 gears, 32 pitch lab finished clevers.