38 Top Gun Speed
 

What is the speed out of a Top Gun late model non-step with 500hp's or efi's? (1998-2000) (full cabin version preferred)

What kind of increase does the TS add with same power?

Good question, also how is the ride and handling on the non-step compared to the twin step? And how does the Twin step 35 compare to the twin step 38?

I have been told that a late model non-step top Gun with 500 EFI's and a cover girl cabin should run 75-77. I have a 35 TS w/500 EFI's and it will run 82-83. The TS Top Guns are actually faster than the 35 TS.
My 35 has a great rough water ride, the 38 is 2 1/2 feet longer with a little deeper cockpit.

A 1998 will be a little slower than a 2000 model. I believe they started vacume-bagging in 2000 which results in a lighter layup ... how much, I don't know.

G

sorry to disappoint but a 1999 TG non step, f2 light lay-up w/ 500 efi's labbed props = 70 mph gps (freshwater), 74 (salt)

I talked to Martin Marine yesterday and they said a 98-00 non step would run 72 with 500's and a TS runs 81.

The only problem is, most TS Top Guns are not full cabins it seems. So, harder to find one that matches EXACTLY with another that has more weight added. Still a pretty big difference.

ONe would think that would drop resale on the non step, and many would be upgrading to TS guns.

My 98 Top Gun, full cabin, w/ 625's on it's best day hit 80 on the GPS in salt water (NO fuel). Normal load in fresh water figure around 75. The ride in even the worst conditions was excellent. My friends TS, same power, w/cover girl cabin is in the 90 - 92 range.

The best I have seen on my 2001 TS Top Gun with 500 EFI's is 78 on gps. This was in salt water, close to full on fuel, and 5 people on board. I have been told that it will run 80 with less of a load, and I have no doubt it will. I have also been told it will run close to 83 with some 5 blade Herrings

1996 Top Gun with Full Cabin & 500EFI's. Salt water, Light load 72MPH. P.S. It is for sale if anyone is interested Matt (516) 398-4600

P.S.S. There is no better ride in ruff stuff than a non-step Top Gun. I ran back from Pt. Pleasant NJ in 35 mph winds a 6' foot quatering sea..... yeah it was tuff but we were safe and dry. Ran like a champ.... (nothing even broke)

2000 F-2 speed ...
 

Some of you may have seen my boat in this month's issue of HOTBOAT. It is the blue colored Cigarette at the Arizona Hotboat Poker Run that says "Cigarette" down the side in chrome vinyl lettering.

The boat weighed in at 7800 pounds with fuel with HP500's and Bravos. It ran about 88 mph on GPS. I have since added two B&M Megablowers with twin 800cfm carbs on each motor at three pounds of boost. Horsepower has increased to about 600. I am now running about 96 on GPS.

The difference between the traditional hulled Cigs and the newer twin steps is night and day. Contrary to popular belief the step hulled boats handle the rough water extremely well.

On a sidenote I am entertaining selling the boat for about $155,000 if anyone is interested. It has a full pleasure cockpit area with no cabin down below.

What are you going to buy if you sell the Cig?

As far as rough water ride is concerned we ran the DSM poker run in about 8' swells and were the second ones to finish. The first boat was a 42 Tiger with 900's. The boat flew nice and level, and re-entry was smooth. You can watch the video from the run on 09/11 at 8:00 pm on the outdoor channel. I have not seen it yet, but the helicopter was over us for about 10 minutes when we were running head on into the swells at 75 mph!!!

Move onwards and upwards to the next logical choice - a Tiger! :)

Hav. Cig....Do you know if you can get a copy of the video from the Poker run?? Or maybe from DSM??

Tank

tank record it off of oln 8 pm sept 11, the outdoor channel, can wait to see it hear it from somewhere a while ago, but don't remember where?

Scooter, I don't have the channel...That's the prob. Hopefully I can buy it from someone somewhere.

Tank

Tank,

I have an order form to order a copy, if you want to order one let me know and I can fax it to you.

Jeffrey, Good luck selling your boat, a Tiger will definitely be cool.:cool:

I know exactly
 

70-71mph with carb 500s with a box added you will see 2.5 gain. 550hp runs 76 mph. I do more cigs than anyone else thats all we do!! www.tresmartinoffshore.com

Re: 2000 F-2 speed ...
 

Jeffery,

I realize this is something of an apples-to-oranges comparison, but how does your boat (light lay-up, relatively mild power) compare to the more "traditional" boats like D-Man or BCC? If I remember correctly, D-Man is running twin 1000's through #6's, and BCC is somewhere close to that as well? Maybe she has 805's or 900's, I can't remember. Anyway, what kind of speeds are they seeing? I think it's interesting to see how the different approaches to pushing a big 38' boat compare - light weight / steps with mild power vs. more weight / traditional V with big power and surface drives.

BCC purchased Ruckus from me. I owned Ruckus for almost three years. The original engine package was twin 740HP normally aspirated Cobra motors. I had the two Paul Pfaff 900's built a year after I bought it.

In answer to your question you cannot really compare the two boats (the traditional hull/full cabin boat versus the F-2 boat). The only thing they share in common is the Cigarette logo on the sides. Granted - both handle rough water very well but even then they tackle the conditions in a different manner.

The obvious difference is weight and the steps. The weight factor in combination with the degrees of the traditional Cigarette deep vee helps Ruckus plow through rough water without so much as a hiccup. The added weight of the big motors and drives further contributes to this condition. On the other hand the F-2 boat rarely does any plowing. It literally floats on air above the rough conditions. It sort of skips along the top of the rough conditions and almost has a glider-feel to it. It also flies extremely level which is indicative of a very well-balanced boat.

Overall though - there is no substitute for a heavy traditional hull Cigarette in rough water. Ruckus can turn and run in the wakes of other boats with no problem. Conversely, the huge steps on my F-2 boat make the boat squirrly in quartering seas or when following in the wakes of other boats. It absolutely hates any kind of side-to-side motion and that motion is exacerbated as the speed increases.

The F-2 boat is FAST but it is fast with limitations. It is definately a boat that needs to be driven. You cannot lose concentration for a second at the higher end (85+). The boat will get away from you if you are not careful. I recently added blowers to the motors and the boat is now running in the mid-90's. In excellent conditions the boat is very light feeling - but still stable. In average conditions you do not want to push the throttles to the wall or you chance going for a swim.

Like I said - the boats really cannot be compared. The F-2 is more fun to drive since it is so light and requires more concentration. It's like an Indy car - light and fast. You can push it to the limit but once that limit is passed - bye bye! If you aren't married, have no kids, and don't need a cabin - the F-2 boat is the only way to go.

:D ;)

Let's see, one wife, one kid, one big dog, 2 or more coolers, 3 changes of clothes, food for 15 - looks like I need the "Sea Ray" edition! ;) :D

BTW, what does Ruckus run with those big motors??? Enquiring minds want to know... :)

Ruckus is a very heavy boat (1994 model) with a full cabin and big drives. The motors are probably pushing 850hp at the drives. Top speed is about 90-92.

I have noticed the same thing on my production TS as far as boat wake is conerned. When you get the wake coming from the side it gets a bit squirley. I try to stay out of it, or cross it at a 90 degrees.

Jeff,

That was one of the best/honest explanations of the differences between the two boat I've ever read (should be in a mag:D ) It's just nice to hear an opinion from someone who ACTUALLY knows the difference.


Havcig,

I'll email you when I get the chance with a fax number to send off for that video. Thanks for the offer.

Tank

No problem, I will send it off as soon as I get the number.:cool:

Re: 38 Top Gun Speed
 

Problems with my top gun
I have a top gun 87 now done 04 with 565 and speed master 3a and hubble trans the problem is that in top end i have the left engine with more power than the right one about 800 RPMs I change the position of the engines and the same problem I change the position of the drives and the same problem in the right side 800 RPMs less
if someone know what could be the problem of this mysterius thing please advise
I forgot
I do both the engines new completly

Re: 38 Top Gun Speed
 

MAybe a tranny slipping, pull the dip stick and smell the fluid. Also look at your props, maybe something is causing cavitation

Re: 38 Top Gun Speed
 

Are the prop pitches the same? Check the Tachs.

Re: 38 Top Gun Speed
 

ok about trans slip this right engine is 800 less than the left one. this can cause that the rev are down?
the tachs are calibrated and the propsare the same pitch too believe me a prove everithing i can may be I missing something