38 tg step or not
 

how much difference is there in ride between step and non step hull ?

In chop not much, stepped side by side much flatter in calm water less hop or porpoise, and about 10 mph faster. I know a few guys with both locally if you want to check either out bill.

I think closer to 15mph faster. Steps do fly level, trimming does not bring the bow up like a straight bottom. Seems like t/s slap waves more and you can feel they are much lighter. Another thing I noticed with mine is when you pull back the throttles it doesn't slow down it keeps going. My old boat felt like you hit the brakes when letting off. I wouldn't say one is better than the other, they're both top guns.

Is there a noticeable difference in fuel usage?

Yes because a t/s needs 500 efi's to do 80 and well you know how much a straight bottom takes lol

yea, I been on a 525 stepped 38 gun runs 84 all day long, to do that in a straight hull takes all of 800++ hp....

non step is better in the rough but slower than a ts

I've never noticed any real significant difference in 'ride', although you probably would feel it in handling racing it through a tight slalom course (which nobody would ever do). In the rough some might say the flat bottom might have an advantage, but since the TS runs flatter, the bow being down a little more seems to break the waves better and smooth out the ride IMO. The flat bottoms tend to ride with the nose higher and use less of the hull.

The stepped bottom is obviously more fuel efficient, desirable, and about 15% faster all things being equal. Since the TS's are newer, they are generally in better shape and come with nicer/more modern paint. Obviously they are also more money too, so it's probably not a fair direct comparison. With that said, I would absolutely choose the TS over the older flat bottom if given the choice.

Easy, T/S if you can afford it
Flat Bottom for everyone else!

T/S sounds like the way to go cat might be going miss the cabin of a v

Two main reasons I have an old flat bottom, PRICE being the T/S prohibiting factor, but a full CABIN was really important to me too.... No full cabin in the T/S, unless it;s a custom....

Cabin in a straight bottom is nice, if that is important to you I'd at least take the time to look at a few. PBC has some nice clean straight bottom TG's listed for sale.

Don't forget, Bravo straight bottoms porpoise without tab. Twin steps are the way to go if they are in your budget.

If a Useable Cabin is what you are looking for- Good luck- My T/S has all the chit on the floor all the time.






I cant understand why

How many straight bottoms have spun and barrel rolled?

Probably not many

With a t/s you need to know what your doing.

If you don't, watch out !

It's not the boat, it's the driver

Remember TS are also running higher speeds. Both are great, I had a 93 Café that was awesome in the rough and I never found myself saying I need a bigger boat because of ride quality. With that being said TS handle the rough just as well, just in a different way. No high speed turns in a TS.

I think the trs boats actually do it a bit more. Just my opinion

I like to drive @WOT and then just for $hits and giggles turn the wheel as much and as fast as possible to the right. Drives as high as they will go.
I think a stepped bottom boat is the right choice for me.

Love my straight bottom. Wanted a full cabin and a wave crusher. Its a 2000 so the cockpit looks like a TS. Mine runs 74mph with 5000efi's and that is good enough for me. Most importantly I never have to worry about spinning/rolling since my 7 yr old is with us most of the time. Not worth it to me at all.

Well there were a ton of logs in the river last weekend. Evasive manuvers!

both have good points does not make it any easier to decide

Why don't you buy a 37 Active Thunder? Runs with a twin step cig and has the nice cabin like an old straight bottom.... Best of both worlds.

Pretty sure he was asking about top guns and didn't mention anything about cabins.

Whoe!! a 5000EFI`s !? you must have meant 740mph.

Off topic but how come straight bottom top guns are much faster than the older Flat decks with same power??

running a 35 motion cat right want a place to sleep and i like the lines of a top gun thanks sport

Something about the notch I once read. Not sure what the other differences are. Weight? Lots of them have bravos which are more efficient maybe?

Does a flat deck with boxes run the same as a gun?

Not much of a difference in ride quality, both crush waves! There is a huge difference in speed.

Top gun owners exaggerate better.

500's sorry. Lol

Speed gains of a step but te handle and safe ride as a straight get a step apache, ask Jamie about it

The chiefs appear to have less aggressive steps that were obviously added to the old straight mold. I don't think they're as fast as other step boats, but if they handle well it could be a good compromise. Note: I'm an arm chair QB.

Stripped Kevlar f2 boat runs over 90 with 560 hp. But back on topic, a t/s gun with a cabin to sleep in will be hard to find.

I thought the TRS hulls had a better center of gravity and didn't porpoise and the Bravo hulls were more aft CG and did porpoise ?
ed

The TRS drives/trans are definitely heavier than a bravo drive system. Even though the engines are moved forward slightly, I would think they are still heavier in the stern and more likely to porpoise. I've been in multiple TG's, with both drive systems... they both hop like a bucking bronco in smooth water (without tab), although the TRS boat's are probably slightly worse in this regard.

Top guns (non TS) CG was designed for transmissions and motors forward. When everything went to bravo they didn't change the CG of the boat to accommodate. Bravo guns porpoise a bit more because of this. Although, like stated above, they all porpoise if not run properly. It is what it is. And an interesting fact the cabins in the TS guns were lightened up (changed from the awesome cabins of the 90's) to accommodate CG. they were too heavy in the bow with a full cabin thus, the cover girl was born.

Back on topic, in my experience (having driven and ridden in plenty of TS guns in big water and calm water alike and having owned a straight gun) there is no significant ride difference in big water between the straight bottom and TS guns. The TS is a better hull, period.

and how is this trait considered acceptable when arguing for cigarettes as the best boats?, seems to me that porpoising and cheating on interior to mask it never gets mentioned in the fountain versus cig conversation by cig owners

Rode in Blee's 3 weeks ago and man what a great boat! Been in primal instinct (straight bottom, 6s and 950s) and in rough water there is no cig that will run stronger other then staggered #6 cigs. Just my opinion.

They're not made for flat water