BEST V-bottom under 20-feet with a single OB! GO!!!

**CUDA** · 08-12-2025, 12:00 AM

We regularly beat Allison's drag racing in Lake Racer SS 260 , 1/4 mile 102 to 103 MPH spinning a 22 at 10,000 RPM

**mikesufka** · 08-12-2025, 07:29 AM

I'd buy an Allison XB02 or XS03 - both are legends. Having said that, I've never seen, let alone been in, a Tuff, so I can't comment there.

MDS

**LakeFever** · 08-12-2025, 08:21 AM

I’ve run with some tuffs. It’s impossible not to be impressed with the build quality. They are huge boats so much better suited for today’s world and motors than my old hydrostream is. The no rubrail look is very attractive too. None of the guys I’ve run with have driven like I do so I can’t really comment on performance. The lightweight factor blows my mind. A 21’ tuff 530lbs hull only. My 17’10” coosa Vking is 704lbs. So, if performance is your angle I think one of those could really fly. I spoke with one owner I believe they are five years wait list to buy one because the builders won’t change production or builders to maintain top quality. That’s rare in the business world where quality and reputation is placed above profits. Makes sense I guess. The build quality is very high, the performance is proven, style is great, and the light weight is also there.

**hellbents-10** · 08-12-2025, 08:44 AM

We have a 24 Tuff and a SS2000 in the barn. They are both a riot in the flat but the SS doesn't have a chance of keeping up with some boat traffic and wake! My 24' hull weight is only 250lbs more then the SS and it is a huge boat in comparison. A 260 on the SS vs a 300XS on the Tuff and the top speed numbers are the same, the SS accelerates quicker to 60 though. The Tuff is a more forgiving boat on the pad at speed as well, the bottom is a bit more advanced.

**pcrussell50** · 08-12-2025, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by hellbents-10

We have a 24 Tuff and a SS2000 in the barn. They are both a riot in the flat but the SS doesn't have a chance of keeping up with some boat traffic and wake! My 24' hull weight is only 250lbs more then the SS and it is a huge boat in comparison. A 260 on the SS vs a 300XS on the Tuff and the top speed numbers are the same, the SS accelerates quicker to 60 though. The Tuff is a more forgiving boat on the pad at speed as well, the bottom is a bit more advanced.

Tell me about your Tuff 16 with 90hp? What do you use it for and how fast with the Yammie 90? Is it a heavy workhorse four stroke or a light carb two stroke?

My 15 foot Hydrostream Viper has a 115 on it (well 140, in the crank rating days so guessing about 115 in today’s power). It goes about 60 with just me in it.

I have a heavy Yammie four stroke 90 (F100), on my 17 Whaler. But it’s heavy, and not fast. That’s OK. I like Whalers and I accept that they are not fast.

I succumb easily to FOMO and now I’m fascinated by Tuff boats. Does anyone think they might be open to building a 20’ bow rider? I know that costs you in rigidity. (Funny I hate convertibles in cars, but I like bow riders for certain boats.)

Apologies if we should start a separate Tuff thread.

-Peter

**David** · 08-12-2025, 11:52 AM

The SS2000 is a great rough water boat compared to a VKing, but not nearly as capable of waves/wakes as a Tuff.

My memory is that the Tuff proprietor did not like bow riders. I would be shocked if Allison had access to computational fluid dynamics. I always thought they were big into testing/redo/testing.

Cuda, you are drag racing?

**pcrussell50** · 08-12-2025, 02:19 PM

Originally Posted by David

My memory is that the Tuff proprietor did not like bow riders.

Can't say I blame him, you have to add all kinds of reinforcement if you want to maintain rigidity... Or else put up with flexiness. Yuck. As a track day driver, I hate convertibles for the same reasons... They are either flexible (bad) or heavy to achieve rigidity, (also bad). BUT... I'm also a hopeless dad of an early teen and a pre teen girls with a wife, and bow riders just make so much more sense for us, because we can have the room we want, in a boat that's not too big. Not all our boats are bow riders. But the bow rider and the Whalers get the most use, because they have the most room. Now that you guys have sold me on Tuff, a 20 foot Tuff bow riders sounds just about irresistible.

I would be shocked if Allison had access to computational fluid dynamics.

I wouldn't have thought so either, but his hulls are so good, one has to wonder. Some blokes just have the eye for it. Kelly Johnson of the Lockheed Skunkworks, father of the SR71 (among others). They say he could "see" air. It's not outside the realm that some boat designers might have the same knack.

-Peter

**Ing** · 08-12-2025, 04:03 PM

There’s definitely faster and certainly larger but hard to beat the quality, cool 😎 factor and pricing of a 16’ Sutphen.

**Chaz** · 08-12-2025, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by Ing

There’s definitely faster and certainly larger but hard to beat the quality, cool  factor and pricing of a 16’ Sutphen.

Congratulations ....

Not many 19' 11" and under boats mentioned in this "under 20 foot" thread ...

**sharpeye Mike** · 08-13-2025, 08:25 AM

I don't think the Sutphen has a pad and they still go for top dollars here

**LakeFever** · 08-13-2025, 09:18 AM

If you want to go fast in a sub 20v I don’t think you can top a venom. Comp hull is around 25k. Add 250ish hp and you’ll blow past 100 with ease. A guy I run with who’s old and calm I might add he is not at all balls out runs 98 with a 200x in his. It’s way faster than my Vking and I have more power, a better lower unit and a hotter prop. Those venoms perform

**pcrussell50** · 08-13-2025, 09:52 AM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

If you want to go fast in a sub 20v I don’t think you can top a venom. Comp hull is around 25k. Add 250ish hp and you’ll blow past 100 with ease. A guy I run with who’s old and calm I might add he is not at all balls out runs 98 with a 200x in his. It’s way faster than my Vking and I have more power, a better lower unit and a hotter prop. Those venoms perform

Apologies to all if I sound completely stupid but ... Can you buy a new Hydrostream hull today? Looking at hydrstream.com, it looks like they will refurbish old ones. Is there another source for new Hydrostreams?

-Peter

**LakeFever** · 08-13-2025, 10:15 AM

Venom is its own company now and not a hydrostream product at all. Hydrostream dot com was purchased by one of hydrostream biggest fans and he has begun manufacturing parts and restoring hulls. I believe some models he has the old molds for and can build you a new one but I don’t know of anyone who has had one of these done yet. Regardless the venom hull is wayyyy different than a traditional hydrostream is. To me it looks like they started with a vector and widened the pad substantially and changed the lift strake positions and made other go fast tricks to the front of the pad to help air it out faster. Whatever they did, these things fly

**CUDA** · 08-13-2025, 05:54 PM

The Venom was /is a great design, with It's easy to drive no surprises Pad design.

Unlike the death defying Allison

**aj06bolt12r** · 08-13-2025, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

If you want to go fast in a sub 20v I don’t think you can top a venom. Comp hull is around 25k. Add 250ish hp and you’ll blow past 100 with ease. A guy I run with who’s old and calm I might add he is not at all balls out runs 98 with a 200x in his. It’s way faster than my Vking and I have more power, a better lower unit and a hotter prop. Those venoms perform

Yep I forgot about the Venom. If I didn’t care about having a fishing deck on the bow the Venom would be at or near the top of my list of boats that I might actually be able to afford.