looking for some history on active thunder boats
 

I was looking for some history on 37ft active thunders, are the hulls the same if not what years are the same. How many boats are built a year and how many in the past years. Thats does the avh stand for and what are the different between the avh and the newer 37s. Thanks for any help

Ohhhh Pat....you're up

Oh what the hell I'll try.
The AVH came about when they put the step (ventilated hull) in the old wave crusher 37 and that was late model '99s.
I'm guessing numbers peaked with maybe 10 37s a year.
The first 3-4 37 AVH boats had a 5 inch step which was cut down to 4 inch until the second 700 boat was built around five years ago. After that most of them came with a three inch step. This can be changed as the step is an insert in the mold.
The deck height was bumped up a couple inches in 2002 for more headroom while seated in the cabin.
The dash has had some changes along the way but I would be afraid to guess years on those.
I'm sure I missed some things but that's my guess.
One more thing...It's one great ride.

Any big changes with the size of the step changing ? Which step was faster and what was the reason for the change

Here's my 37 as pace boat for the Buffalo Poker a couple years back when Lake Erie was very angry. 60 some boats behind me at the start...not so much after a minute or so.....wooooohoooo!

I'll try also, the step got a tad smaller and the boat went a bit faster. I have an 09, but unsure the dimension of the step...525 XR boat.

Maybe Pat or Brian will chime in soon.

You would have a 4 inch step. I believe the last move came about with the NXT drive and then it worked well with the 600 boats so it found it's way into the last few 525 or 565 boats. I have driven all of them and I can't say you can feel a difference. I should probably quit as I don't want to misinform you.

I would have been pretty bruised and beatin up running that hard in that mess.. by that I mean, my boat has handled some big snot, but my wife would been beating that crap out of me!!!!

Here is some reading,,,,,

http://www.schoellmarine.com/conic.htm

Are you looking at a particular boat?

You can always e-mail me at patrick at active thunder boats.

One of my favorite videos. That is what offshore boating is all about! And Jenn is a real boat girl.

hahahahha....where did everyone go!? What power are you running?

Stock 525 EFIs

It looks like I am going to get "lets rock". What was the reason for the change in the steps

The faster the boats go, the more the transom wants to detach (lift away) from the water. Since it's imperative to have the transom touching the water; shortening the step a tiny bit keeps the tail planted and the boat continuing it's heritage of handling like it's on rails. Given the single step, there is only one fulcrum/hinge point when the boat turns; does not matter if the boat is going 20mph or 90mph, it's going to pivot on that single step (right under your feet)--guaranteed.

Your mileage may vary in a mutli-stepped hull.

The step has ranged from 5" in the early days down to about 3&3/8" with the last few boats.

Pat bought the company in 1996, and brought it to FL in 1998; and he's had his hands on every one of the 300+ boats since; plus dozens more boats that the company repairs/upgrades/repaints/updates on the side.

Is there any hull difference between the avh boats and the excess boats

Nope, just a few cosmetic changes in the cockpit. All hulls identical. It's not broke, so we haven't changed it.