18' Valero YT project

[speedman79]

I just picked up a project 1986 18' Valero YT. After the fact I talked to a buddy of mine who is a Viper guy all the way. He absolutely hates this boat, does anyone have anything good to say about it?
I've read the hydrostream.org info and it's one of the shorter write-ups. I didn't spend a lot so I don't care its not a great HS but I'd prefer not to spend time building it if its not worth it..

My concerns: the cons

- Can be a wet ride - Buddy advised and I've read
- Not as fast as the V bottoms due to weight and more running surface (drag) - take more power
- Are the sponsons cored or just filled with foam? ( I will be recoring the boat if I keep it )
- Are they more or less prone to a blow over at the same speed as an 18' Vking?

The pro's

- bigger cockpit than a Viper/Vector
- More stable ? (maybe not - I thought it would be when I bought it)
- I figured it would be a better balanced boat @ 18' with a V6 than a Viper/Vector (unfortunately slower goes hand in hand with bigger/heavier)

If anyone really wants to trade this 1986 18' Valero YT hull (black/sand metalflake) for a Vector or Vking project for this let me know for this reason alone : $$ I think if I was going to put a 2.5 on it I'd be fine but being that I'm really on a tight budget I wont be able to do much better than an old 2.4 200 at best and that's apparently only good for around 80 setup perfectly.

[JOHNNYGUN]

I for one, after owning both V's and a YT, absolutely love the YT! I don't have anything real technical to add to that :P But the YT is very forgiving and stable at 80+

[speedman79]

Cool, thanks for the reply. What do you have? Setup? Keep the reviews coming!
BTW I'm actually really surprised how thick the fiberglass is on this thing... Not sure how it could be 675 pounds as hydrostream org says...

[JOHNNYGUN]

Currently the Vassarette YT is posted up for sale. To say I hate to see it go, is a total understatement. But times and people change, is what it is. Love the performance and it handles waves fairly well all things considered. The part where someone said you can get a wet ride? Depends on the conditons and especially the driver, but it does have a windshield on it LOL! It's been a really great rig, and airs out level. I asked around alot when I first got it. The "X" was re-done and that really made a difference to have it right on. 6" CMC power plate, and not a whole lot of trim. The 200xri is stock, and still gets close to 85 MPH in the right water. Tried a TON of props, but the 26p Trphy Plus does best of any of them. Get a tickle more top end with a 26 chopper, but you better have strong arms. I've never had any issue with flex in the hull at anytime I've owned it since '02. I check it pretty close every year, better safe than up-side-down

[Erik C]

figured id jump in here with my 2 cents, I have had my v-king YT for about 8 years now. have many friends with V bottom V-kings and have driven both.... Love them all. they are two very different boats. no mater what you read about which hull is faster don't believe it until you hit the water. I have a 1990 merc 2.4 on mine and with proper set up I have had my boat running, into the low 90 MPH range (92.4) on gps with a passenger. don't be fooled by the sponsons, the boat will still chine walk above 75 to 80mph but ill tell you.... once you have the boat set up right with enough set back and you start running in the 80's there's nothing better than feeling that tunnel pack air and break free. never mind the "on rails " handling feeling you get at low speeds. all in all I love the YT, but to each there own. good luck with the build if you decide to do it. look up the specs, the YT is not much heavier than the v bottom at all... its all hull design.

[W2F a V-King]

PM sent

[phil blomquist]

I have a 1988 Valero yt bowrider with a evinrude 225. I have been in some pretty rough water in it. This hull handles it just fine. And it's fun as hell passing the so called speed boats in a bowrider. I love me the expensive bass boats too they taste like chicken

[Erik C]

SPECIFICATIONS:

Boat Type - YT: Modified-Vee V-Bottom: Pad-Vee Length: 17'9" Beam: 89" Transom Height - YT: 24" V-Bottom: 22-1/2" Recommended HP - YT: 150 - 175 V-Bottom: 85 - 175 Seating: 2 Buckets & Rear Bench (1978 and older models had back to back front seats and no rear bench) Approximate Weight - YT: 675 lbs V-Bottom: 625 lbs Fuel Capacity - YT: 24 Gallons V-Bottom: 16 Gallons

[Erik C]

we are talking a weight difference of a good size beer gut

[rjdubiel]

we are talking a weight difference of a good size beer gut

Love it. I could spend lots of money removing 50 pounds! OR drop MY weight from 230 to 180 like I was 15 years ago!

[Hydro-Peep]

We had a 1986 Valero YT with a Merc 2.5 260 on it, the chine walk is going to happen either way, if you have the horsepower you can drive through it, a little unnerving but you can get the hang of it. It would do around 80 with a stock black max 200 when it was new. Our personal best with the 260 was 101 mph at the rumble on the river some years back. Stock "horn" motor with CLE gearcase, 20" bass mid.

I have a soft spot for the Valero YT, it was my first performance boat, although they do go soft after awhile they are still great looking boats.

Good luck with whatever you do with it.

[W2F a V-King]

Love it. I could spend lots of money removing 50 pounds! OR drop MY weight from 230 to 180 like I was 15 years ago!

Or you loose weight like an older guy does....the gut stays put, but the @zz disappears...

[Fullthrottleguy]

http://youtu.be/UvinfQ5ZODs
I can drive mine with two fingers on the wheel at over 100MPH. I've taken a lot of people for rides that own full tunnel Boats and they get off at the dock in disbelief of what "an old YT hydrostream" can do; both top speed and the corners. With boats is all in the setup; weight distribution, engine height, prop, straightness of the hull and setback. Just because someone else's isn't running at their full potential doesn't mean yours can't. The hull has a lot of potential.