22" Velocity outboards

[slowaction420]

My 1985 hads a headliner and had cushions but the dash is not cut like that for the opening

[mach1magnum]

Can you be more specific?

always thought the cabin boats came out after step sold the company what late 1987 1988

[FUJIMO]

Memory check. I'm thinking it was more like late '86 or so that we officially sold to Regal. I flew back & forth to Orlando to help the Kuck's set up production on the 30, 23 & 22. They were'nt interested in producing the 38 at first. In the last few months of production in Pompano, we got the idea to start cutting out the bottom center of the dash up a few inches, for head clearance, as you crawled forward. After a few of those(we were building/shipping 2 1/2 22's every week those days), we began glassing in two vertical cabin "walls", and a cutout floor area between them to step down into, to enter the cabin. We built a few of those also, at that time. Yes, it was a request/experiment for Regal's purposes. The Igloo PlayMate cooler hole cut-out in the floor center, right under the dash, was in every outboard sportdeck model. Didn't work in the I/O floor, due to the fuel tank(same size as the O/B model) being pushed forward. We began tooling the 23 Regal from a 22 hull bottom at that time as well. We were very busy with alot of projects then.

[mach1magnum]

great story always interesting to here some history on a classic how about a boat like this being a 1984 do you ever remember doing cabin boats back then

[FUJIMO]

Don't recall doing any of them in '84(or '85) the first year of production. But, by studying your photo's a bit, I can tell you that your boat has all very original rigging/parts. The cabin entry work even looks as though we did it. If I had to guess, I would say a Velocity 22 fanatic owned your boat, and brought it back to the factory a couple years later & had the work done. We had a few of those type Velocity followers that didn't care what it costed...just do it types. Burt Reynolds comes to mind also, with this mindset.

[85nova]

Burt Reynolds had a velocity? Was it black and gold? Any one know the hp rating the 85's had? Mine doesn't have a place card on it

[FUJIMO]

It was the first all red gelcoat 22 we built( and red is a pain to get perfect).He also asked that we raise the windshield a little higher, to keep his toupe from blowing off. We didn't want to raise the windsheild any higher, as it would ruin the lines of the boat, so we added a slight forward spoiler curl to the areas right in front of the driver & passenger only. They were about 18" wide each & approx. 2 1/2-3" high. We called that option the "toupe saver" option from then on, lol. We made the mistake of bringing the all red gelcoat boat, with the "toupe saver" windsheild to the Miami Beach Convention Center Boat Show. Everyone had to have one after they saw how nice the boat looked. Believe it had black & silver "V" striping. Sharp looking boat in its day.

[FUJIMO]

Any boat over 20' doesn't require a Coast Guard or BIA horsepower rating, or level flotation, etc. Only a manufacturer's "recommended" horsepower range. This is the reason so many boat manufacturers begin their boat line at 20'. A lot less hassle.

[85nova]

That's awesome that he had A velocity

[mach1magnum]

its great to hear the history of these boats wonder where burts boat is now?

[northernoffshore]

how would a promax 225 with 11" of set back run? top speed aprox?

[mach1magnum]

i would say well into the 70s maybe touch 80 but unbalanced in the rough stuff with that much setback

[northernoffshore]

i have this box and a 4" sm jackplate ,,, Too much with the box?

[85nova]

My 85 with a 2.5 260 on it ran 77mph with 6" setback

[V pads]

There is a newer style 22 velocity for sale in fl with the same stainless marine bracket as yours... 7" set back I believe, as I am looking to go that route also. I'm replacing my transom now and would like to have a full transom and sun pad as that boat does. I know know with that much setback the boat loses it's rough capabilities, but gains the top end. I guess it depends what you are after.... Mikeylarge had his lite early style 22 going 84 gps with lots of setback with a 3.0L 225. Read the early posts on this thread. Ben now has that hull with a 300x and is very fast. Powerboatlistings has the boat I spoke of for sale.