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

**Scream And Fly** · 08-14-2025, 11:14 PM

Hey Mr. T I guess my vote for under 20-feet has to be my all-time favorite classic hull, which is the HydroStream V-King.

**LakeFever** · 08-15-2025, 08:01 AM

Vking is my favourite too but a 500lb motor hanging off the back? Eeeeeh I don’t know about that. Then again there is that action out there with a 450r on it. Maybe one of these new 200’s would work on a king with a small fuel tank?

**XstreamVking** · 08-15-2025, 09:52 AM

I have run my 505# 250 (280 HP) opti pro XS on mine and it didn't care about the x-tra weight. Pops on plane and gets 8 mpg at 4k cruise speed. Top end? Let's just say that my 28p lightning won't hold it under the 6200 limiter with a 1.62 TM gear case.

**Dain** · 08-15-2025, 09:57 AM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

Vking is my favourite too but a 500lb motor hanging off the back? Eeeeeh I don’t know about that. Then again there is that action out there with a 450r on it. Maybe one of these new 200’s would work on a king with a small fuel tank?

That Action is a bad mofo, but if I remember correctly the rub rail is under water in the rear lol.

**LakeFever** · 08-15-2025, 11:15 AM

The difference from half a tank to full tank is very noticeable on mine. It performs decently enough when full but the handling is mud compared to half when it becomes quite nimble. Prop choice makes a big difference with weight vs no weight. I have a nice tempest and a big ear chop that carries full tank, four passengers well. Launch I either cavitate the heck out of it or do the double lunge trick. Once on plane I can cruise about 30mph comfortably all day. But with weight I keep the speeds low, 60 max. I haven’t really parlayed much with any Allison guys on weight handling but I’d be curious to see how similar or not they are to this

**Dain** · 08-15-2025, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by LakeFever

The difference from half a tank to full tank is very noticeable on mine. It performs decently enough when full but the handling is mud compared to half when it becomes quite nimble. Prop choice makes a big difference with weight vs no weight. I have a nice tempest and a big ear chop that carries full tank, four passengers well. Launch I either cavitate the heck out of it or do the double lunge trick. Once on plane I can cruise about 30mph comfortably all day. But with weight I keep the speeds low, 60 max. I haven’t really parlayed much with any Allison guys on weight handling but I’d be curious to see how similar or not they are to this

We need the aliens to come down already and give us some technology. A variable pitch prop at the push of a button shouldn't be too much to ask lol.

**pcrussell50** · 08-15-2025, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Dain

We need the aliens to come down already and give us some technology. A variable pitch prop at the push of a button shouldn't be too much to ask lol.

The latest airliners, including the ones I fly, have carbon fiber fan blades (the fan section is the part you see first when you look down a turbofan engine), with engineered flex. Meaning they change shape as the rpm increases. Don't know how feasible something like that would be for boats. It would certainly take a lot of computing horsepower (CFD; Computational Fluid Dynamics) and expensive testing. And of course the finished product would be super expensive to buy.

-Peter

**XstreamVking** · 08-15-2025, 12:44 PM

They had torque shift props back in the 80's. Company called Land and Sea. Worked well, but may have been ahead of their time.

**Onetime** · 08-15-2025, 05:57 PM

They loved to sling blades with higher horsepower. Were banned in some racing.

**Ing** · 08-15-2025, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by sharpeye Mike

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

The Sutphen 16 and 21 both run on a modified thin pad. The 16 is basically a shortened 21 with the same running surface. This info directly from Richie Jr. The older 26 and larger are all straight vee. Quality boats always retain a decent value.

**XstreamVking** · 08-16-2025, 04:55 AM

Ritchie Sr. was the master of making several models from one mold. Looks like he passed it on to JR.

**JWTjr.** · 08-23-2025, 01:11 PM

Surprised noone has mentioned the all-time best sub-20' v-pad boat ever designed and built, Roark's 19' 380 Ray. You will not find a better accelerating, turning, rough water, easy to drive boat than the Laser 380.

**David** · 08-23-2025, 01:32 PM

How different was the 380 Ray from the SRV?

I love my SS2000, and it's 18'9" down the centerline, but Mr Tiger has driven a lot more boats than I have.