Any V hull Sidewinder Owners Out there?

[Ron V]

I'd like to see a picture of the rear of the hull from underneath. Where do the inner-most strakes end? My Rapid Craft is a very similar design from the looks of it. My inner strakes end 17" forward of the transom. Despite the naysayers (myself included), it actually drives very well into the low 70s. Can hang it there all day in comfort once you're used to it. Not being bashful on the up trim buttom and getting the courage to let it get opened up seems to be the secret. Dilly-dallying around in the 60ish range with just slightly positive trim is very frustrating and many people would quit right there because they wouldn't believe that it is more driveable and predictable at higher speed with more trim. Not saying a Sidewinder is the same way but the design looks pretty similar. My hull is longer though...plus I'm still relatively young and there is a fine line between talent and stupidity.

[ZonkaRacing]

Zonk, if you want to run 70 you'd better include a pad on the bottom in your transom repair list. They get to be a handful approaching that speed with the old rounded bottom. My 18 was borderline manageable at upper 60's, but we put a V6 on a 16 and tweaked on it a little and it just about couldn't be driven. Local guy at the marina who had a 15 foot Venture that I couldn't get close to driving aired out, and who fancied himself as a high perf boat driver extrodinair' told me one day he could drive the 16. He came back and said "God couldn't drive that boat wide open and I hear he's a pretty good boat driver". The engine DID HAVE the old sloppy soft mounts in it and single cable steering, so I'm sure with some better setup it would've improved drastically, but still needs some square edges down on the bottom.

Im thinking of a pad. JSpaeth is most likely to do the work on it. although he doesnt recommend a pad as i will lose the sidewinders great turning ability, unless i want it for just speed. Which i do But then i'd expect to approach 80 with a bigger motor. Yes 80
I've had this boat for just over 2 years and its a blast. It first had a 150evinrude bolted on the transom, and it took a while before i learned about the whole balancing concept. I tried out a bunch of props 2 weekends ago and it walks very little with a 14.25x29p srx especially compared to my 14x26 chopper which i find undriveable wot w/ just me. Not an easy boat to drive at speed i'll agree, but its a helluva ride for any passenger and very rewarding to b able to hold it at WOT. Theres also a guy on my lake with another ss16/175merc and he goes 70 all day with just him and a crazy amount of countersteering. but i know 70 is possible in this boat stock, although not ez and takes alot of seat time/setup

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Raceman, try this link it should take you right to the front page. http://www.sidewinder-boats.com/port...s.php?name=Jig
if not try a google search: sidewinder-boats , should b the top link.

Heres a pic of the bottom of a 16 Ron, look like ur rapid craft?

Heres another 16, one of the Milford brothers. Cant remember how its setup although it is a stock hull.

[Raceman]

I just can't understand why I can't find a decent example anywhere close of either a 16 or PREFERABLY an 18 to do over.

As far as the turning manners, I don't think you'll hurt it significantly with the right pad design. I never though my 18 turned all that well anyway. In one direction it was fine, but in the other it would crank completely up on the side and feel like it was going on over. We never did figure out why it was that way. Of course I'm talkin' about medium speed stuff.

One other thing that might be worth considering if you're leaning toward a compromise is just running those 2 center strakes all the way to the back of the boat. I would think that would give that bottom something to hang on when the speed increases and it starts unwetting. That's close to the design of my Pachangas, although they're a little closer together and the boat will climb up on em much like getting on a pad, plus I think it rides a little softer line a non padded bottom.

[Ron V]

Heres a pic of the bottom of a 16 Ron, look like ur rapid craft?

Well now, if I didn't know better I'd say that someone, somewhere between Sidewinder and Rapid Craft splashed a hull to get the basic shape, eliminated one strake on each side, and changed the angle of the inner strakes to be level instead of turned down.





Here's the view from the rear:

[ZonkaRacing]

Thanks for the idea on extending the center strakes as a compromise, i completely overlooked that idea. but it might just work, i'll have to look into it a bit more
Anyone know the reasoning of why they would end them short?

Ron, whats the weight of your RapidCraft? and how much out of the water does it get wen wide open? That bottom is alot like the winder w/ exception to the few details u pointed out.


Raceman, if you're looking for an 18super 'cooperider' at sidewinder-boats.com is in the works of making new sidewinders with a variety of options such as padded v etc.

[Ron V]

Thanks for the idea on extending the center strakes as a compromise, i completely overlooked that idea. but it might just work, i'll have to look into it a bit more
Anyone know the reasoning of why they would end them short?

Ron, whats the weight of your RapidCraft? and how much out of the water does it get wen wide open? That bottom is alot like the winder w/ exception to the few details u pointed out.


Raceman, if you're looking for an 18super 'cooperider' at sidewinder-boats.com is in the works of making new sidewinders with a variety of options such as padded v etc.

I believe some of the older Glastrons had the same basic design as well, and I think Rickracer extended his inner strakes all the way to the back on one. Not sure what difference it really made.

The very first time T-Rex saw my boat on the trailer, he brought up the Sidewinder design. My hull is ~750-800 lbs (never weighed it) and runs with the center of the V in the water up under the rear sunpad, and on the outer strakes at the very rear. I don't have a real good close photo, but here is a good idea below. It has excellent lift.



Tried to embed a video but never done it before, didn't seem to work. Here's a link to the photobucket url. The quality of the video suffered in the upload but you get the idea. The motor is 1/4" higher than my normal setting in this video, which makes it maybe 1 mph faster but bow lift suffers a tad. There is a good chop but if you freeze it in a couple places right when I'm starting to cross in front of the camera it will give you a good idea.

http://s271.photobucket.com/albums/j...t=MVI_0789.flv

[TUFFboat]

Zonka Racing; You mast have missunderstood John about the cornering. I can make your boat turn very well with a pad. The reason the strakes are short is to get the boat to 'squat' a little to get the posture to what they thought was right. We just notch now.
The Raceman called it right with the strake extention, I would add a little something extra to that pan. However, the problem with the Canadian Sidewinder is that there is no core in them. Which means it flexes, and no bonded in strakes or pad will last under those conditions. You must bag in some core at least in the keel area to get the stiffness in (that alone will make it faster) than do the keel pad modification.

[Denny <><]

We have a 1974 15 foot Sidewinder, running a 1978 90 horse merc. never gps speed checked it. A guess would be 50 to 53 with a vented 24 pitch mirage. When at wot it's stable in the water with about two feet of the stern left in the water. It's still a work in progress. Tony sitar wants to freshen the 90, says he can take it up for me, maybe 150 horse. We own a 1981 225 blk max i want to rig, but im told it's to wicked for the boat.
Thats why i want to do it. Only thing is the tower of power looks more era corect for the boat. i'll dig some pics out and post them.

[airpacker]

I had a 16 LP about 20 yrs ago with a 175 black max spinning a 26 chopper. I fabbed a 10 inch set back for it and it certainly helped the driveability but it was still a handful. It would run 72mph but then the fun thing always happened. The transom would literally move a few feet sideways very quickly and start a horrendous walk that you could not drive out of without slowing way down. I could hold it at 70 all day long but nudge it 2mph faster and whammo, out she would go. I would love to find another one to keep as a cottage run about one of these days. I had some of the most fun boating of my life in that little sucker .

[benski]

I am owned by a 1971 16' Sidewinder SS with a 1991 120 OMC. Raceman's observations, as usual, are accurate. I'm getting 59 on the GPS, and for my skill level, that is about at the ragged edge. All sorts of stuff is still available for the boat, (but pricey, what a surprise!). The same caveats that apply to any used boat purchase apply, i.e. transom and floor rot, upholstery condition, etc., but I have a blast, and it is a rather iconic symbol of times gone past. They will be getting a new life soon, as a manufacturer will be bringing a new 'winder to the market place, with a pad as just the tip of the improvement list. Fun, huh?

[Adam]

I was sad to see this one leave my lake.

[lckytrbl]

i grew up around some sidewinders.small ones with omc v-4s,chrysler 135s.on looks alone they challenged the hydrostream design;metalflake,tall gunnels,windshields.i fondly recall the streams and switzers leaving them behind.everybody that has mentioned the lack of a pad being a performance shortcoming,is completely correct in stating so.nonetheless cool looking boats,except the tri-hull design,an open bow at that.

[lckytrbl]

. It would run 72mph but then the fun thing always happened. The transom would literally move a few feet sideways very quickly and start a horrendous walk that you could not drive out of without slowing way down.dude,thats why they called em "sidewinders"theyd "crab".the hull was actually more suited to a jet drive,than the other styles.

[Streamin101]

i grew up around some sidewinders.small ones with omc v-4s,chrysler 135s.on looks alone they challenged the hydrostream design;metalflake,tall gunnels,windshields.i fondly recall the streams and switzers leaving them behind.

Switzers????

[Streamin101]

. It would run 72mph but then the fun thing always happened. The transom would literally move a few feet sideways very quickly and start a horrendous walk that you could not drive out of without slowing way down.dude,thats why they called em "sidewinders"theyd "crab".the hull was actually more suited to a jet drive,than the other styles.

LOL!!! Sidewinder, yeah i know what you mean, my buddy had a late 70s Baja that would act similar.