an update
 

What an interesting month. That is all I can say. As we wrap up the final days of Dan's boat build alot has been kept under wraps. As any new installation goes there is such a great learning curve that the obstacles almost make time stand still and you wonder if you will ever get through the project. And so do your customers.

Dan wandered back and forth from engine builder to engine builder as you all know. In the end he chose Keith Eickert's 675s basically from their reputation and our input. (not that Jassman had anything to do with this or forced his opinions on Dan in any way) K/E seemed the most user friendly with the most reliable power for the money and the best product.

What most of you don't know is that we actually ran Dan's boat last Saturday and failed pretty much miserably.

From engine hatches and exhaust/ muffler modifications to engine mounts and stringer layouts we have been thrown every curve ball imaginable in this installation. It almost seemed as if it was almost be behind us until Saturday when the computers decided it was time for a long weekend, too. We never made it out of the cut.

Tuesday morning we called the K/E factory and told them our problem. The engine brains were overnighted back to K/E. Wednesday we received a phone call from K/E and were told they would be in our factory Thursday morning with a team to evaluate and fix the problem. And they were. And they did. They spent the day with diagnostics and recalulating the brains. In the end it turned out that the hull efficiency was so much higher than they expected that they actually had to lean out the engines to get them to burn fuel correctly. And when programmed running in the boat the engines burned fuel clean and crisp. Nice, nice product.

Final speeds are not in. I misjudged the power and started with a 30 pitch prop on a 1.35 drive. But I like to work my way up the ladder and not down. I will say this though, those engine blew those props out at 91 mph and threw the engines into full rev-limit at 5500 rpms. The ride stopped there. We came back to the dock with smiles and so did the K/E staff.

Steve has a couple of pictures he will post tomorrow and we will run some different props over the weekend. Dan, you made the right choice. The engines are great and so is their factory support. I can't thank them enough.

We will be working all weekend on the prop testing. Our first thoughts were to run some 32 Bravos on it down to Shooters and stop and hold a meeting on their performance dockside. We have some 34 Bravos that will get us down to the Tiki Bar........ Dan, don't worry about a thing. We will work especially hard on it this weekend.

Pat,

That sounds good about the weekend, my flight gets in around 3:30 pm Friday. You got my room ready???

Seriously, it has been a great process working with you, Steve and the rest of the AT crew. It was a true classy move by KE and only solidifies my decesion. I am so happy with the performance of the boat and I know that you did not want to post anything but I will post one quote,"at 91 mph the boat rode like it was on rails, no hard steering needed, and there is plenty more hp left." I can not wait till the prop testing is done and the speeds are posted. But, what I really can not wait for is to have the boat here in Jersey.

Oh yeahy and for everyone else, I did make on last change....I am having an intercom system overnighted to AT for a Monday install. Had to finish up the build process with one last change. And as usual Pat said, no problem, send it down and I will take care of it.

Keith Eickert and Active Thunder, what customer service and an outstanding product is all about.:D :D :D

Pat & Dan,

sounds to me like you really need an obsver on these prop test for Dan's boat. I can be on a flight tomorrow morning. No really, it would be no problem at all. Oh yes I know, it would be a sacrifice but I'd be willing to do it considering all you have done for me over the years. I would love to help out.

Todd, if by chance you can't make it down Monday, your more than welcome to help test out my boat with Pat, about a month from now, this way Sandy and I can also meet you and Tracy.. I think 34 pitch props, 12% slip @ 104 plus is what we will see on Monday. Pat I bet you a bottle of Crown Special Reserve:D

todd,

you bet, I will see you tomorrow.

Jassman,

you been doing some homework, haven't you.;)

Fred,

We will have to rain check the dinner until October when I am hauling her back to Florida for the Thunderrun. Pat is having the boat hauled to Jersey for me. This time of year for me at work is still crazy. (commercial pool business) But we will definetly hook up in October.

Pat, Dan, Todd, Jeff-

You know I'd be down in an instant too...... but I would ruin the weather!:rolleyes:

Thanks for keeping us all posted- it sure is a terrific boat!

Jim

Jim,

If the weather got rough we would have to just find some inland waters, isn't Florida great fishing-how bout we run against some of them bassboats on some lakes???:p :p :D :D

Dan- LOL.... haven't you ever noticed that funny one-fingered wave that fishermen seem to reserve for our type of boat?:D

AWESOME!
 

WOW! That sounds AWESOME! Great job Pat and K/E! It sure is noce to see some positive stuff after all that happened earlier this month. Best of luck with your new ride.

Shane:cool:

KEITH EICKERT
 

WE ARE PLEASED TO HEAR THAT EVERYTHING WORKED OUT. BEST OF LUCK WITH YOUR PROP TEST. WE AT KEITH EICKERT STRIVE TO MAKE A QUALITY PRODUCT THAT DELIVERS H.P. WITH RELIABILITY. IT DOES OUR HEARTS GOOD TO HEAR POSITIVE COMMENTS. THE DOORS ARE ALWAYS OPEN HERE IN PALM COAST IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, TOURS ARE FREE ! THANK YOU. BE SAFE , GOOD LUCK.

Dan, I saw some pictures of the Thunderstrom running. Man that looks great. I think Pat is going to owe Jassman a bottle of Crown.:D :D

DREAMCATCHER, its Crown Royal Special Reserve;) on the rocks with a twist of lemon, ahhhhhhh:D Have a good weekend everyone:)

Jassman, Shaken not stired.. I think if Dan's boat is faster than the 104 you predicted Pat should buy you two bottles.

BTW I talked with your friend Stephen at total Marine. GREAT GUY!!!!!!! I am going to get the IMCO SC drives. He is very knowledgeable. I would recommend him to anyone and everyone. I understand you are also getting the IMCO SC drives. Now that the Thunderstrom is kicking ass when can we expect a full blown Radio Active storm?

As long as there are no more changes from Dan:p (I know its only been a few:rolleyes: ) then my boat should possibly be done begining of July, like very, very, beginining July (hint, hint, PAT). Thats what I'm hopeing for.:D I will post pics once I start recieving them, thanks and I hope to see ya at the THUNDER RUN.
Both Steve and Eddie are great guys, they will be doing all the service on my Thunder.:D :) :D

For Sale!!!! Everything and anything I own. Have to get the money up for my 37. I could probably make enough if I would work as long as I'm on this board. LMAO! Someday!!

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH! I was jokin' around and changed my avatar..........I didn't now it changed them all.

I thought I will give you all an update. My update is we are still dialing the Thunderstorm in.

Dan,
My wife and I were at the factory last Friday. All I can say is the pictures of your boat look awesome, but you can not compare the pictures to seeing the boat first hand in person. Your boat is absolutely incredible!!!

Congratulations!!

So how did it go today. Are we at our goal yet or more dialing in time needed, curious minds want to know:confused: :D

Not a chance on hitting our goal today. The Gods are raining on our parade but we are ready for the morning with more props. We topped out yesterday just under 95 but at only 5000. Not shabby but more to gain. How much? Let you know tomorrow....

Tomorrow will be the day, 400 rpms to gain, speed to gain. Those motors are just getting warmed up at 500o rpms.:p :D

Thanks for the compliement Chris, wiat till you see it all decked out with the hatch painted and airbrushed....now we stylin...

How was the weather Friday, did it rain again. How much over 100mph did THUNDERSTORM go.:D

I just got a woody reading all these updates. A/T, you guys are truly awesome. All of you new 37 owners; I am green with envy. I will be there one day.

Still trying to get the weather to break, rained out our last two test schedules, Sat and Sun. So hopefully today.

Uhhhh
 

Your boat is named Thunderstorm and it got rained out the last two tests??? Maybe you ought to rename the boat ?:D :D :D

J/K Hope you find that elusive triple digit.

I will post here as it is safer. I got my stones busted a bit, a couple of d-bags were telling me I am full of **** on my speeds.
I say f u jobo, as they are checking out my thunderstorm on my transom.

I tell you, if I change one more thing...straight to the moon alice.:D

We ran some hering 5 bladers today with a lot of sucess. We were at 97 mph and tomorrow we are using some spacers to try and get into some cleaner water. I will keep you posted..:D

Dan, have you changed the gears to 1:50, or are you using the 1;36. How much more speed did the Herings give you over the labbed other props comparing apples to apples. Thanks:)

Man!!!!! If you got 97 on youre first pass with those props...You are there!!!!The big 100!!!!!!Keep posting.I have been folowing youre boat from day 1. {feel like Im a part of it}


No matter what you run,always gonna be some-one wants to bring you down......Screw them!!!


Is that youre boat in the ad in powerboat?

Birdog,

Thanks for the kind words and yes that is my boat's interior in the ad. It is amazing what they have transformed the cabin into. I would love to see some before and after pics.

It amazes me what some people do, and you are right screw them.

We are happy with the results of the 5 blade props. The next thing we are going to do is try some drive spacers. We are still at about a 14 percent slip so we think we need to get the drives into some cleaner water.

The rpms were right about 5400 with the 5 bladers so we have the right props, and man do they hook up the boat.

I will continue to post, and screw those who are not interested. If you do not want to know or hear anymore, then don't read it.

Congrats Thunderdan!!

I've been keeping track of the progress. I can't wait for the final outcome, of course were always tinkering so......I've got Thunder Roy over here in Clearlake I've ridden with before and those boats are amazing. Now if I could just talk Thunder Roy into selling his for a reasonable price!!!

:D :D

Dan

What would a half dozen pics of your cabin "in progress" be worth? Cathy when nutzo with the camara on our factory tour when the ThunderStorm was being built. This is prior to the counter top being put in. They are pretty clear. E-mail me your address and I will mail some copies down to you.

Trevor

What would it be worth.......hmmmmmm.....How about a few drinks at the Thunderrun when you buy your thunder.

let me think about that one. my email address is [email protected].

Thanks

Fred,

yep 5 bladers. The boat loved them.

I appreciate the comments, I usually do not let comments like that get to me, so I won't.:D

The boat truely is exactly like nothing else.....:cool: :D

Dan, I'm very confident your going to crack that century mark! As far as the dirt bags sending you PM's. Screw em! It's amazing what jealousy will do to people!

A waterborne Rocket!!! I can't wait too see this boat in person. Did you go to the NYC Run? What it sounds like is that you're still in Fla.? Or is Pat tuning it in? Looking forward to seeing ya on the Chesapeake this summer!!:cool:

roughstuff,

I think it will be real close to that century mark, and handle like nothing else.

raddiction,

pat is doing all of the dialing in. I am stuck in New Jersey at work.I will definetly hook up with you becasue we are planing on making a few runs down to the chesapeake with the njppc.

Hey Dan, what's the latest on Thunderstorm! Did you crack the century mark! Inquiring minds want to know!

I NEED MY UPDATE FIX:p SOUNDS LIKE YOU HAVE BUILT A BOAT THAT MANY ONLY DREAM OF, BEST OF LUCK WITH IT!;) ;)