I definitely will. Going to run the boat this weekend. Have a set of 35" Dewalds to try.

It looks really nice Darren at what I'm guessing is a high cruise speed. How does the weight of five people aboard effect top speed with those big 400Rs?

Thanks Dale! I did not ring it out with a full load of people and a 110 gallons of fuel but one quick blast with a load saw 116 pretty easy. The boat has such a great ride and attitude with a load. Those 400's make great torque which helps a lot when the boat is weighted down.

That's impressive Darren, with half that amount of fuel (approx. 55 gal) and one less person (4 instead of 5), my 28 would run a best of 113/114 legged out for all I could get out of it with the XSs. Sounds to me like you're going to end up with a 125mph rig when light, and 120mph with a boat full of people and enough gas to get somewhere! You've got to be happy with that......

Yes, I am super happy with the performance of the boat. It carries the weight well.

...

Nice strong pull right to 122. You can see the limiters holding the boat back. Have not tried the Dewlds 35" yet. Also have Merc 34" props coming to try. Right after this video, took another run and hit 123!

nice video!!! getting some cool dry air up there yet???

Awesome. Great conditions it looked like too.
123/45=2.73333 :smile:

It has been cool in the morning but hot during the day. Really has not made a difference in the numbers I have seen. Boat ran 122 in 90 degrees with 85-90% humidity. Just need to run the bigger props and will see more speed for sure.

Nice run buddy. What a commotion behind the boat from those props.
I would love to try a set around 31 or 32 pitch with my motors up around 3" above the bottom.
Hope to do some more testing in the coming months.
Boat looks awesome

Based on your speeds vs pitch in hot weather and on the limiters I would suspect you will see no difference in top end as you are on the limiters. If you can get some big props and based on what the other guys claim the DW's run you could possibly run in the upper 120's on a cold day with some very big props.
KAP ran 115mph. The 308's have seen an increase of anywhere from 10-15mph.
Believe me cooler temps, no humidty and some very cold water for the super charger will make her RIP!

Got the carpet in. Came out really nice!!

Everything looks first class Daren! Of course you know I'm partial to those colors. ;) I really liked the video of your Garmin screen while running, it's cool to watch what's going on as you're running the boat. Not many guys out there are willing to do that like we are - they all have something to hide I think! Lol You're boat is running excellent #s, and I'm certain, as you are, that there is more mph there still with bigger props. To be able to run those #s in a cat that size with a pair of outboards is pretty cool. And I'm certain over time that mother Mercury will have updates for these motors to add horsepower. How cool would it be to see 130 with your setup someday! I think it is a not-too-far-off reality for your rig......

This rig is the example for what a boat in this segment should be. :faint2:

what's the water temp on the body of water you are running in??

Low 70's right now.

Thanks Dale and AZ!!

we fight every kinda negative down here...high heat, high humidity and high water temp, but borrowing Crazy Charlies line..it beats owning a Winnebago LOL.

love that DW! incredible looking and preforming cat!

except it has a tiny cockpit

Love the sound of these 400Rs..

https://www.facebook.com/greg.connelly/videos/10153829442795965/

The cockpit was designed around what I wanted. Doug will build a six seater if that's what you want. I personally think a five seat cockpit in this style and size of boat is perfect. You still have a ton of storage, can walk around to the deck with lots of area to stand on the side of the sponsons, very easy access into the boat from the water while keeping the aerodynamics spot on. No intercom needed to talk while underway and wind protection for everyone.

^^^^ HELLUVA boat design - not easy to wrap up performance, function and style in a package without having to sacrifice something.

Beautiful ride!

I'm with you 100% Daren. I'm going to keep mine a 5 seater with the narrower windshield when we convert mine to the wrap windshield. Since Pete is cutting the entire deck off from the front of the canopies to the transom, I could make it anything I want - but I'm staying with a narrower cockpit. Funny you mention no need for intercoms, as I took mine out and will not be putting them back in. I figured that with the full wrap windshield and quiet outboards, there would be no need for them. Glad you have confirmed my prediction! Again, I really appreciate all the information you're posting up about your rig. :ernaehrung004: My 30 cockpit will end up being much more similar to your 32 than the 318s Pete has built so far. But then again, I think I sorta' started the minimalist-cockpit trend 12 years ago....... ;)

Couple things:

1. Running 115 plus the boat will get pushed around with side wind gusts. When it happens be prepared :).

2. I think a bigger cockpit is always a plus when pleasure boating for the full day with family. Put five people in... and boat around for days and you will agree. I just came back from Havasu and we had a full boat everyday. The new 34 Doug Wright will have a bigger cockpit.

3. Intercom's are awesome when you need to talk to everyone. If your a single guy with one person in the boat. Then yeah you don't need them. I had a full boat with my three kids in the back and intercoms are the way to go. From Dad can we stop and float... to watch out for that jet skier coming from the port side.

We have them in boats, sandcars and side by sides. When your running over 80 MPH...and you need to talk to people in the back and make sure everyone is Ok. I would not have a boat without an intercom. We had them in our Howard Sportdeck and used them all the time. I am personally waiting for better wireless intercoms than currently available. However, for now I have 5 intercoms in the boat and they are priceless. Once you use them regularly they are second nature. Plus you can pipe in music when your not talking and when you talk it cuts the music out and everyone can talk simultaneously.

4. Power added features that void warranties are foolish when you purchase an extended 3 year warranty from Mercury. I mean really how often will you wring it out...maybe a couple Shootouts to see what number you can lay down in a mile and that is it. Now cooler weather has yielded my fastest speeds but I don't do much boating in the winter.

KAP

I agree Dale, your boat is clearly very fast and done right with the wrap windshield will be a rocket!!

I have experienced quite a few runs with a heavy crosswinds and gusts and it's incredible the first time you feel it. Running the FJ raceboat with GB in LOTO this year we had a thunderstorm start to come in halfway through the race and the crosswinds on the back straight were crazy! They were picking the whole boat up and moving it laterally like nothing. Quite the experience to say the least. We also had a lot of crosswinds while testing with Mercury Racing down at Grant's. I was very lucky to be running the boat with two of the best guys when experiencing it for the first few times.

I am looking forward to the new 34 design. I have been talking with Doug Sr. a lot about it and it should be quite the setup.

Intercoms are definetely a nice feature, I just think with my setup it is not needed.

Some fuel burn numbers...

What cruise speed do you feel is the best and does she have the "Tunnel Hop" at a certain speed range?

Even I can afford the gas .................... ;-)

Very excited to hear more info on this new cat

milling pics would be better :)



.

Thanks Daren, it was definitely fast as an inboard - but we'll have to see how it does with outboards. The best #s I know of so far for 30 Skater outboard boats are 111 for Ron's 30 w/ 300Xs and 114 for Steve's 318 w/ 400Rs - so I know that Pete and I have our work cut out for us to get to my goal of 120+ with my rig. I sure like the fuel mileage #s I'm seeing out of your setup! I didn't think those 400Rs would do near that well. I think your mileage and speed are both going to increase once you get some bigger wheels on that rig! :signs069: :) :boat:

Another great pull with the Merc CNC 33" and 50 Gallons of fuel.

That's awesome Daren! Looks like Mercury is still under-rating the pitch on their big cleavers. Those numbers equate to less than 1% slip - which we all know is impossible. Merc cleavers are typically rated approximately 1" less pitch than they actually are - at least that's what I've found with my experience with them. The Merc 16.5" x 35" 5 blades I ran on my 30 went 156mph @ 6,200 w/ a 1.34 gear - which only computes out to 153mph. Yet the 16.5" x 37" 5 blade Herings I had went 158 @ 6,600rpm - which computes out to 8% slip. I just came to the conclusion that Merc cleavers were under-rated about 1" and Herings were over-rated about 1". And this wasn't based on just one set of Mercs and one set of Herings - I had two sets of each on my 30 at some point over the course of owning it, and they all seemed to be the same as far as pitch rating went. Hurry up and get those Dewald 35s on there will ya, I'd love to hear how they run! It seems like those Merc 33s could possibly get you that elusive 125 mark if you ran it empty on fuel on a cool day. :cheer:

That is great to see Darren. Are those props 15 1/4" or 15" in diameter?
Would love to try a set of 31's on my boat.

The prop shop Frank and Jimmies down here has a machine that can check the pitch of each blade. Since you are racing with Gary Ballough FJ Propellors you should have them check them out. It would be interesting to see if what Dale says is true with them. If so sure would make them look very good.

Hey Daren, were you ever able to get in a good run with the 34" Mercs, or Dewalds? I'm guessing your season will be shutting down soon, I was hoping to hear you bust the 125 mark before you put your rig away for the Winter.

Dale, conditions up here have not been favorable. Where I boat has been windy and rough. Last time I ran the boat there were 4' waves and 20-30 mph winds so was not able to get a good run. I am very confident the boat will run 125 with the 34" Mercs. I just brought my boat back to florida and stopped to see Doug Sr. to talk about the new 35RT that is coming out. My boat will be at Grant's for the winter. Down there I am sure we will have the time and water to run the boat and get some good numbers. I was told the closed canopy/400R DW boat ran 126.

How is your boat coming?

Definitely going to have to get some better conditions than that to run 120+! I talked to Doug Jr about the new 35 right after I decided I wanted to go back to outboards - it sounds like it will be an awesome rig! I don't doubt they've got the enclosed 32 running that #, and I'm certain yours will get the same - or better. It's just a matter of time before the perfect combination is stumbled upon with these 400Rs - and somebody eclipses the 130 mark.

I fly back to Skater this coming Sunday - I'll be waiting for Pete to get there at daybreak Monday! Lol I'll get plenty of pics, and hopefully have a rendering of what it will look like after I get with Steve (Schulte, their painter) for a few hours.

I look forward to seeing how it's coming! I will be in Key West all next week racing but will be sure to check it out as soon as I get back. Very excited to see what you guys are up to!!

Good luck down there Daren! And be sure to take some "in-cockpit cam" video to show us all what it's like racing The Worlds. Some of the best video I've watched was from the cockpit vantage point of the Stock class boats taken last year!