Skater

**berdes** · 08-18-2015, 07:16 AM

Just spoke to a fellow with another 21. Told me the skater was a "point and shoot boat, don't expect to be able to turn it at speed".
So what say you owners? Seems the lean may have worried him excessively, but maybe not. It's a tad uncomfortable, but powering thru
seems to have worked. How do you get around it ?

**rock** · 08-18-2015, 07:26 AM

Just happen to know of one individual that can make one turn on a dime at speed but I have also seen him turn it over trying. I guess that would mean it is possible but not a given.

Rock

**Davidlake** · 08-18-2015, 08:32 AM

They will turn well, but you have to be aware of loosing the tail and spinning. It is a feel thing. You have to see-saw the wheel a bit to keep grip with the skeg especially with the gearcase running high - like a race car in a drift. Slow speed turns can be dangerous - Skaters tend to roll outward a slow speeds and can roll! I mean at below 40mph speeds.

**capteliminator** · 08-18-2015, 09:17 AM

I bought one this year and have limited seat time so far. I have a 2.5 280 on mine and have gps'd it at 90 mph. I must say once you get through the "hop" the steering is definitely not as responsive!! You can turn it, but I wouldn't try to turn it on a dime! Just my 2 cents.

**home made tunnel** · 08-18-2015, 10:26 AM

What makes them so bad at steering? Is this a thing all Cat's do with a single center outboard?

**fastcat** · 08-18-2015, 10:59 AM

Warning label on my 21 trick

**Brad Zastrow** · 08-18-2015, 11:10 AM

The hull is too narrow and the sponsons are too tall. Honestly one of the worst boats I have ever been in. If you do not turn or do not mind a severe porpoise it is a real fast point and shoot boat.

**mrcrsr** · 08-18-2015, 11:36 AM

A lot of it is a matter of learning how to drive the boat, and setting the hyd jackplate and trim for what you are doing. I think these boats have gotten a bad rap from people not knowing how to drive them or getting in over their heads without having enough seat time. At low speeds it can turn sharp but u must be on the throttle when doing it, and develop a feel for the boat. You'll know it when you try to make the boat do something that it doesn't want to do. As far as hi speed it will turn but not sharp. I like my boat and you'd be hard pressed to find a 21 foot boat that takes a chop and beating that a skater will, without beating you to death.

**tux974** · 08-18-2015, 11:56 AM

Above is well put! Not a boat for everyone.
Had 2, both with 2.5's and personally found them to be great boats for the size.
Good luck and most importantly take your time in order to be safe.......

**capteliminator** · 08-18-2015, 01:26 PM

The hardest part of driving mine with a 280 is getting through the hop. Any pointers? I am repowering with a 300x over the winter and hope the extra power will let me get through the hop easier.

**rock** · 08-18-2015, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by mrcrsr

A lot of it is a matter of learning how to drive the boat, and setting the hyd jackplate and trim for what you are doing. I think these boats have gotten a bad rap from people not knowing how to drive them or getting in over their heads without having enough seat time. At low speeds it can turn sharp but u must be on the throttle when doing it, and develop a feel for the boat. You'll know it when you try to make the boat do something that it doesn't want to do. As far as hi speed it will turn but not sharp. I like my boat and you'd be hard pressed to find a 21 foot boat that takes a chop and beating that a skater will, without beating you to death.

Spot on. This applies to many brands. I had STVs and drove a friend's Cougar and swapped ends the first time I tried to make an STV type turn. They are all different and take time to learn what the boat does and does not like. We used to have a river run and there would be anywhere from 2 to 4 21 Skaters show up. I am thinking they were all twins and they had several things in common. All were very fast, beautiful, well built boats that anyone would be proud to own. If ya wanna make 90 degree turns at speed, buy an STV.

Rock

**tux974** · 08-18-2015, 02:00 PM

Originally Posted by capteliminator

The hardest part of driving mine with a 280 is getting through the hop. Any pointers? I am repowering with a 300x over the winter and hope the extra power will let me get through the hop easier.

Going with a 3.0L I strongly recommend a 15" setup!
Driving through the hop will come with seat time and getting use to the boat characteristics or behavior! Some that have owned one for while may tell you "what hop"......

**capteliminator** · 08-18-2015, 02:45 PM

Tony, my motor is a 20" and im gonna start with that. Previous owner had a 15" 300x on it. My boat now with a 20" 280 wont plane off if it isn't full neg trim and jackplate all the way down. I wonder how tough it would be to plane off with a 15" 300x? I don't think it would be as low as a 20" in the full down position?

**mrcrsr** · 08-18-2015, 03:38 PM

It is the same with the 3 litre, trim in and jackplate down, otherwise it just boils water longer. I put a 15" mid on mine, the only place I really noticed a difference is in a side chop, which was big, but everywhere else not so much, and it would be hard to justify the cost. Try to keep the boat lite, don't fill it (aprox 80 gallons) if u r going out for an hour. Also, try bringing the jackplate up when going through the hop, not too high that u lose control though, and you'll have to watch your water pressure as well. If the plate is too high while running it'll let you know, you'll feel the rear trying to come around! Plate up helps though on mine getting through the hop quicker. And with the 15" mid motor isn't as low as the 20, I actually lowered the jackplate mount position on the transom

**JPEROG** · 08-18-2015, 04:39 PM

Originally Posted by mrcrsr

It is the same with the 3 litre, trim in and jackplate down, otherwise it just boils water longer. I put a 15" mid on mine, the only place I really noticed a difference is in a side chop, which was big, but everywhere else not so much, and it would be hard to justify the cost. Try to keep the boat lite, don't fill it (aprox 80 gallons) if u r going out for an hour. Also, try bringing the jackplate up when going through the hop, not too high that u lose control though, and you'll have to watch your water pressure as well. If the plate is too high while running it'll let you know, you'll feel the rear trying to come around! Plate up helps though on mine getting through the hop quicker. And with the 15" mid motor isn't as low as the 20, I actually lowered the jackplate mount position on the transom

You're going to be hard pressed to find anyone that logs more miles in a 21 then Charlie. He runs his boat a lot and its one of the fastest 21 singles out there.

Joe