What builder is this
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01-07-2008, 06:58 PM
#52
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Actually an Allison design applied to something 35 - 38 foot long would be rather cool. But you would also need the top deck styling along with the hull.
01-07-2008, 08:28 PM
#53
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Just cause "it ain't broke" dosen't mean anyone wants it. Both are very old technology in terms of design. And don't think I'm trying to start something here. We are live in a high tech world and most want the latest and greatest of what is offered. In order to remain in this boat building game a company needs to constantly be on top of the latest technology, if not just ahead of it, if they want to gain their share of the market. Both of the above are designs that are decades old in their basis, both still work ( ain't broke ) but are not keeping up with the standards being set in the industry, and are seeing shrinking markets for their designs.
Set aside the fact that I own a Fountain and apply this to your own brand of choice. This fall I sold my 35' boat with HP 500 carb motors, bought a much newer and more technologically advanced design 35' model by the same manufacturer, with HP 525's. With only a small increase in horsepower I have gained a solid 10 mph increase in top speed. Which will also translate into a higher cruise speed, or the ability to cruise at the same speed as before but a a lower and more efficient engine speed. I see this as a win - win deal, faster on esentially the same power while using less fuel, and no tempermental high maintence hot rod engines to deal with, or the other broken chit that often follows the adding of more hp to any given set up.
If your manufacturer of choice could offer this to you would you not be inclined to return to them for your next purchase? Or would you be content to stay with them if their pitch to you was "It ain't broke, so we ain't gonna spend our money to fix it, just for your benefit"
Set aside the fact that I own a Fountain and apply this to your own brand of choice. This fall I sold my 35' boat with HP 500 carb motors, bought a much newer and more technologically advanced design 35' model by the same manufacturer, with HP 525's. With only a small increase in horsepower I have gained a solid 10 mph increase in top speed. Which will also translate into a higher cruise speed, or the ability to cruise at the same speed as before but a a lower and more efficient engine speed. I see this as a win - win deal, faster on esentially the same power while using less fuel, and no tempermental high maintence hot rod engines to deal with, or the other broken chit that often follows the adding of more hp to any given set up.
If your manufacturer of choice could offer this to you would you not be inclined to return to them for your next purchase? Or would you be content to stay with them if their pitch to you was "It ain't broke, so we ain't gonna spend our money to fix it, just for your benefit"
If I am not mistaken, the HP 500 motors had 460 to 470 hp. The 525 motors have 525 hp and some up above 550 hp. I am also sure the torque curve on the 525's is more favorable as well allowing you to turn bigger wheels! I feel you are giving some of Mercruisers credit to Reggie!!! I am sure more modern and lighter materials make up the rest of the gain.
Also, Velocity is faster in the 38-39 foot boats with the twin 700NXT setups than alot of other brands. That list becomes more impressive when you compare ammenities that are on the boats tested. That tells me the hull design is not "BROKE"!
01-07-2008, 09:14 PM
#54
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If I am not mistaken, the HP 500 motors had 460 to 470 hp. The 525 motors have 525 hp and some up above 550 hp. I am also sure the torque curve on the 525's is more favorable as well allowing you to turn bigger wheels! I feel you are giving some of Mercruisers credit to Reggie!!! I am sure more modern and lighter materials make up the rest of the gain.
Also, Velocity is faster in the 38-39 foot boats with the twin 700NXT setups than alot of other brands. That list becomes more impressive when you compare ammenities that are on the boats tested. That tells me the hull design is not "BROKE"!
Also, Velocity is faster in the 38-39 foot boats with the twin 700NXT setups than alot of other brands. That list becomes more impressive when you compare ammenities that are on the boats tested. That tells me the hull design is not "BROKE"!
BTW, pad bottoms and notched transoms are not new designs, neither is an aerated bottom (steps). Both concepts were developed decades ago, well before anyone here was a glimmer in their parents eyes.
What happened back in the 70's was that both Steve and Reggie were venturing into the offshore, v-bottom world looking for an edge. Both borrowed technology from their outboard days which were primarily pad bottomed, notched transom boats. As luck would have it Steve ended up being the first person to go 100 MPH in a V-Bottom offshore boat by virtue of Reggie's boat breaking that year at the Kilo's. Both had fast designs based on their small boat success and both traded records for a few years back then.
Steve's association with Allison as well as his more hands on approach to building boats is what allowed him to fine tune the designs and maintain a fairly significant lead in the speed race for a number of years.
BTW Steve and his wife own the property the current factory is sitting on. Rumor has it that they were offered a large sum of money (millions) by a local car dealer to sell and they declined.
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01-08-2008, 07:52 AM
#56
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If I am not mistaken, the HP 500 motors had 460 to 470 hp. The 525 motors have 525 hp and some up above 550 hp. I am also sure the torque curve on the 525's is more favorable as well allowing you to turn bigger wheels! I feel you are giving some of Mercruisers credit to Reggie!!! I am sure more modern and lighter materials make up the rest of the gain.
Also, Velocity is faster in the 38-39 foot boats with the twin 700NXT setups than alot of other brands. That list becomes more impressive when you compare ammenities that are on the boats tested. That tells me the hull design is not "BROKE"!
Also, Velocity is faster in the 38-39 foot boats with the twin 700NXT setups than alot of other brands. That list becomes more impressive when you compare ammenities that are on the boats tested. That tells me the hull design is not "BROKE"!
The HP 500's were rated by Merc to be 500 hp @ the crankshaft and 470 hp @ the prop shaft. Merc rates the 525 @ 525 hp, there are claims they "dyno" at somewhat more than that, 535 - 540 hp, a dyno rating would only be crankshaft hp, and the loss thru the same Bravo drive would apply to the 525 in the same maner as it applies to the 500. Talk apples to apples, there is not a 70 - 90 hp difference between the two. The 525 is a stronger and more responsive engine than the 500, I've owned both and speak from personal experience.
My '99 35 weighed 8500 lbs dry, the '06 35 that I now own weighs in at 9500 lbs dry. My math tells me that the '06 is 1000 lbs heavier than the '99. The '06 runs 10 mph faster than the '99 with somewhere between 25 - 40 hp more per side, while pushing 1000 lbs more in a taller design. The added horsepower may account for a couple mph, but the added weight would likely cancel that out. So, like I said above, the main reason this new boat is faster than my old boat is is because of the change in hull design.
In terms of "ammenities", take a hard look at the cabins and cockpits of any of the major builders, Fountain-Formula-Cigarette-Outerlimits, as compared to Velocity.
And I did not say it was "broke", just out of step with the rest of the industry.
Last edited by RaggedEdge; 01-08-2008 at 08:08 AM.
01-08-2008, 08:03 AM
#57
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01-13-2008, 10:13 AM
#58
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well lets see not only because i have owned 2 velocities and have ridden in several 100mph velocities, but why would Steve invest time and tons of money in something he does not believe in (stepped Bottoms). when he has a 39 with the 700 nxt package (stock set up i believe) that runs 115 mph . While reggies adds states that you can use this lower with this upper and so on and so on and run 114 in a 38. just does not make sense to spend more money for what . and as far as amenities you can call steve and order what you want .and i'm sure it will cost less that cig, outer and fountain so if you have it buy it. but they work for me and alot of people out thier. He is not Cig, Fountain, or Outerlimits. He is Steve Stepp owner and founder of VELOCITY !!!!! $5 million thats about what 4 or 5 OUTERLIMITS Thats all LOL Curt
01-15-2008, 12:01 AM
#60
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