24 Skater setup

[Jim Slack, Jr.]

Opinions needed.
I have a 24 Skater, currently has 20" midsections. I want to go to 15" midsections. It seems to me that the lowered motor would be very close to the waterline and may possibly get wet in "big wave" situation, and/or when in reverse.

Has anyone ever run 15" mids on a 24 Skater? Any problems or reasons why it will not work?

Thanks in advance for input.

[Loef]

no problem just get some cmc race jackplates and turn them around backwards and go

[godspeed]

no problem just get some cmc race jackplates and turn them around backwards and go

what?????????????

[Loef]

buy the racing 5 1/2 inch cmc jackplates and turn them the opposite way you would normally install them so the lower portion is towards motor,so you can mount motor lower

[at100plus]

Jim,

Where did you find your boat? Congrats.

I don't think it's a great idea, nor is it necessary to go 15". The center of gravity is not bad, and even with 20" I have to be careful to keep the trim up at slow speeds in heavy chop (particularly when backing). Water can get in the relief holes or into the cowl pan.

If you are really hell bent on trying it and you need the parts. I think Fred (username: Kavalk) is selling a complete 15" setup for twins. He also has a 24, bought some 15" motors and converted to 20".

Good luck.

[RFCB]

What are all of you guys running for set-up? Engine's, engine height, propeller size and rotation? What speeds are you seeing? I use to race a 86 with 2.4's back in the late 80's early 90's. The engines were mounted on the transom running 14.5 X32's. Best it ran was 106.6 at a APBA sanctioned kilo. Just picked a 1988 with 260's on 5'' set backs running 14.5 X 30's. Have not had a chance to run it on GPS yet. I am thinking somewhere around 108 - 110?


Thanks,

[at100plus]

That should be about right. I've seen a few with 5 to 6" setback but I don't think it's necessary. On the transom up on the 3rd hole and 49" centers is the standard setup. 108 - 110 should be possible with 260s. Mine aren't running on the money and I've seen 105 so far with 260s at about 7200.

Let's see a pic of yours.

[RFCB]

I don't have any good pics of it yet, I will post some when I get a few. What propellers are you running?I have seen 7700 RPM, but no GPS reading. I will think that it was over 105 at that RPM.

[Thunderduck]

why??

[apache21]

Jim, Don't waste your money on the 15in mids. Setback, you don't need it. 20in is the way to go on these boat. I have ran with a few Skaters with setback that run 100 plus but for some reason they never run the speed in the rough. Also call peter or Tx2 they have a wealth of knowledge. How are you liking your new project.

Jerrod

[apache21]

BTW, Props mercury lab 14.5 X 30, Turn props out, Mount thrid hole on the transom.

[wideglide55]

at100plus
Mike look at your old 300 with a set of Wildmans stickers.Cheapest 30hp I ever bought with $60.

[Jim Slack, Jr.]

Jerrod - Thanks for the input.
I bought the boat before July 4 and have only been able to go out ONCE!
I'm taking it out tomorow on Lake Travis, in central Texas, should be good water, So I'm looking forward to it.
I just bought a set of 280's, should be here end of next week, I'm really looking forward to that upgrade. Right now I'm running 2.5's w/ carbs (200 hp??) as a set of "training wheels". I hope to have the new motors on before long. If you guys have any apoker Runs before the summer is over, I may try to come up.

[apache21]

Jim, 280's will make that Skater run like a Bat out of hell. I would love to find some 280's for my skater. BTW I went and looked at the 31 Bullet I was looking at and I decided to keep the skater. Some things like the Skater are hard to beat. Are you going to the Lake of the Ozarks shootout

[at100plus]

Terry, looks great, let's see it on the boat.

[Thunderduck]

You need to find a set of 32s for the 280s. Your 30s are too small.

[Brad Zastrow]

I agree 30's are too small. May want to try 15 x 32 Merc Lab cleavers. Don't bother wth the 15" midsections. Waste of time and money.

[at100plus]

I may be interested in the 30s if the price is right. Are they small shaft?

[Outlaw Too]

Do you turn the props in or out? Has anyone have experience either way better or worse?

[at100plus]

OUT. Most everyone turns them out, some have tested with them turning in, and I heard, I can't cite from where, but they are supposedly a mile or two faster but more dangerous and upredictable. These boats were raced heavily in the 80s and 90s and I'm sure every possibility has been tested. They are all set up basically the same as a result.

[maverick1]

I'm running an 88 24 with 96 260s. 28" spinnellis ( cheapies from Cougar)
best I've seen is 101 around 7500.

Is it the props or what am I doing wrong?

Maverick

[at100plus]

The props. I bought one of those from Dan Weedan for my 21 Skater and it was terrible, he let me exchange it for another pitch it it was worse. Merc Lab Cleavers are the only way to go on this boat.

[wideglide55]

I bet a set of these props will ''git r done''My buddy tried every prop on earth and couln't find any that worked worth a $hit,he put these on and his cruise speed went up 12mph at the same rpm setting,top speed went up something like 21 mph.

[at100plus]

What are they?

[Thunderduck]

Nope!! We've tried them all and the three blade cleavers can't be beat (on a 24).

Mike, the Spinellis are great props for the 24 but you've got to run high rake (34" +). I run both, Lab props and Spinellis.

[at100plus]

Spinnelli Cleavers or semi cleavers? I had a Spinelli DR 4 semi-cleaver for the 21 that was great, but the Weedan Spinelli cleavers are blanks that he bought when the company went out of business, I believe he has a local prop shop prepare them before sending them out. The two I had were terrible.

[RFCB]

I tried a set of Spinelli's a few weeks ago, I went for a short run and put the 14 1/2 X 30 Mazco's back on.

[seabold racer]

My dad has a 24ft Liberator which is just a copy. We are running twin 2.5 offshores. Motors are mostly stock all we did was add the 1" intake spacer, opened up the air horn and cut heads to 28cc all so put chip in the ecu everything else is stock. For props we run 14.5/ 30 4 blade mercury lab and trun them 8000rpm no problem. Gps at that rpm says 110mph. I have had the motors turning 8500 but no gps. A Few trips ago I switch the props with mine which are 14/28 3blade spinellis. Turned 8000 and gps said 103. We have to get the motors checked for some reason now the motors stop at 8000rpms and wont go higher no matter where you are trimed, also we lost bow lift.
The props that were on that big red twin are also mercury 4blades same as what we run. Very good props and pull extreamly hard.

[mjwalters]

Even though the merc 3blade cleavers were designed a 100 years ago there is no faster prop for a light, fast cat hull

[Thunderduck]

Absolutely Correct!!

[at100plus]

I need to try some 30 Lab Cleavers! Anyone around here have a set I could spin up? I bet I'd see 110 then.

[Thunderduck]

What are you running now??? You'll have to turn 30s about 8500 rpms to run 110.

:eek: :eek:

[at100plus]

Pulls hard to 101 then slows a little to get to 103. 105 is my best so far with 1/2 tanks and two aboard. Problem is, my RPMs are not the same after 6800 and the EGTs get high. It runs well otherwise and I haven't had time to figure out the problem. I don't want to blow them so I don't hold out for higher numbers. It planes and accelerates great, so I'm thinking with 30s it might bust past 105 quicker. They'd probably be nice with a boat full of passengers too. With 4 aboard it still passes 100 easily and doesn't feel much slower getting there, that's what I love.

[Thunderduck]

What props are you running now??? 30s will not run faster than 32s - period!

[at100plus]

32s now.

[Cp]

.....With 4 aboard it still passes 100 easily and doesn't feel much slower getting there, that's what I love.

datz gotta be da sheetz dere, doncha know..... :p