Looking for info on a Mercury test boat

[Poky]

I was driving past Mercury test site today on the river in Oshkosh. There was a all yellow Velocity with twin outboards on it. I'm assuming its a older boat. Does any know what it is? How long it is? I don't work at briggs anymore, so i don't have anyone that have friends that work for merc.

[mjw930]

That’s probably the old 26, what turned into the 28 and VR1. One of the best, if not the best Hull Steve ever built. He built a number of boats for Mercury over the years, most all in yellow gelcoat. That one was probably built in the early 2000’s.

[FUJIMO]

...the 26 was nothing more than a stretched bottom of an original 22...then adding the platform to the length overall(loa)...

[Poky]

a 28 twin outboard rig would be sweet. I'd like to build something with twin 300x Nice light offshore rig to run Lake Michigan.

[mjw930]

...the 26 was nothing more than a stretched bottom of an original 22...then adding the platform to the length overall(loa)...

In a purely simplistic sense you are correct. The 26 was created by extending the 22 (or shortening the 30, depending who you ask) but dimensions were changed with the pad width and strake size based on what Steve had learned with the 30’ boat. The original 26 had a true LOA of 26’, the platform was not added to the LOA. Around 1998-99 (don’t remember the exact year) Velocity rebadged it as the 280 which was the 26’ hull with a 2” fiberglass swim platform that was included in the LOA. Steve did that for one reason, he could get $10,000 more for a 28’ boat than a 26’ boat and he was tired of Reggie including his 2” beak and swim platform in the LOA and getting 26’ money for a boat with a 22’ running surface. At the same time he created the 260 which I believe was originally popped from the same 26’ mold with the transom blocked at 24’ + a 2’ swim platform that competed directly with the Fountain 26. I was never a fan of the 260, it's didn't carry itself as well as the 280 IMHO.

Steve built a lot of boats over the years, I'm pretty sure they were all born from the original 22’ and 30’ hull designs from the late ‘70’s, early 80’s - pad bottom, 4 lifting strakes, reverse chine and a “Stepped” transom (notched). The good ones had everything in balance but he built some turds over the years (every build does with as long a run as Steve had). I personally would not buy a 24/260, 2nd Gen 30/32 or a 35 (he built very few of these). Most of the others were very well dialed in. IMHO the best of the best are the 26/280/VR1, Original 30, 322 (3rd Gen 30) and the 41 (38’8”). A 322 with a pair of 450’s would be a killer package.

[capteliminator]

Im pretty sure FUJIMO knows Steve Stepp really well!!!

[mjw930]

I’ve only known Steve since ‘98 so I’m sure there are plenty of people who know him and the early days much better than me. We lost touch in the mid 2000’s and I haven’t seen him much since.