Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

I think all of the cats I have seen with twin OBs have an adjustable jackplate bw the motor and the transom. But I have noticed that they all seem to be about 4 or 5 inches thick. This is my first cat, and my first OB boat, but I would think that some setback would would help the boat from both speed and handling standpoints. It also seems like it would be much easier and cheaper to do with OBs than I/Os and they do it all the time. Why doesn't anyone run more setback on 28 - 32 foot cats???

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

If it isn't broke don't fix it!!! :evilb: :evilb:

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Not about to, but I am puzzled by this. I know in smaller tunnel hulls, they do it to help make the porpoise go away.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Does your set-up have the jack plates (set back).
Things to consider.
Does your transom have a notch?
Where is the clean water?
Whats worked on similar boat set-ups?

28 Skaters run no set back and mount direct to the transom where most of the 30 Spetre's I see run them.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Yes, I have the jack plates, but they are only 4 to 5 inches thick. I have heard of smaller boats running 12 inch setbacks like bravo extention boxes give you.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

I suspect the smaller boats dont have a notched transom. The purpose is to get the prop into clean water and for speed you want it mounted as high as possible.
With the notch the water displaced by the hull is that much further forward requiring a smaller setback that a strieght transom.
The set back on my AMT is about 5 or 6 inches as well.
Balance would also come into effect is you were to push it out an additional 6 inches I think.

Fine print.
Im not an expert on this but find it an interesting topic. Hopefully we will get some more experienced opinions and keep this topic going. :drink:

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

YOu will hear a lot of mixed reviews about this. I run a 28 skater. I bought the boat with no setback. After tossing it around all winter I decided to add 6" of setback and am spinning 15x34's instead of 14.5x32s. I have gained about 7 mph from this and believe I can gain another 2 with light fuel. The boat does tend to fly nose high more than last year. The props break loose more just because they are higher in the water. The more setback the more strain on the transom. I can tell you the 28 has a few more Knee bulkhead braces on the transom than the 30 spectre does (unless the newer boats are different). If you are running 2.5's with offshore mids you already have 2" of setback. If you run in rough water going to a 10" bracket in my opinion would be to much strain on the transom. Are your speeds comparable with other 30 spectres with your setup??? Setback moves the center of gravity back farther which will cause your handeling to be worse. What is your current setup and what speeds are you seeing.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Typically, most OB cats, including 28 Skaters use CNC Stern Jacks. Most are 4 inches but some provide 6 inches of set back. The reasons for this are many. In no particular order some are as follows:

Jack plates allow you to accomplish several things at once. First, you can intricately "dial in" or adjust the engine height to more exacting specifications. This also allows you to add what I call "ficticious" length to the boat. As was stated earlier, when set back is increased, the center of mass, or balance point is moved farther to the stern as well. Some people have moved the rear seat forward (like I did) while others move batteries and the like, to compensate for the shift in an effort to maintain correct angle of attack (attitude). Typically the boat will "loosen up" in this scenario and often times significant increases in speed are the result. If the balance point is adjusted to compensate for the setback, you will more times than not experience significant increases in speed, with little reduction in handling characteristcs.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

I am not interested in changing my boat, so much as I am with Tantrum and find it an interesting topic.

Or at least that WAS true until you said you picked up 7mph. :D

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

All things being equal more setback will usually result in more speed. [ I said usually} The problem becomes, you have a fast boat that will not run in rough water. I guess one needs to balance the speed and rough water ability for the conditions you run in. With todays boats I don't think transom strength is a big issue. Look at what wins in the super stock classes. The 28' skater would be the fastest hull but you do not see many of them run anymore. Fast in calm water and fast around a race course or across the bay are two different things. But I could be wrong!

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

The 7mph had a lot to do with being able to fine tune my engine height as Shane said. Its a lot easier this way than drilling new holes in you transom. However, my speeds are now in the normal range for what my boat should run. mmwalters is also correct in that fast is relative. I am fast on a river, however in the bay I am fully aware that the setback would hinder my speed. Good topic also, always good to hear about other people with O/B Cats. Bang for the buck its hard to beat these setups!

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Another good question? What kind of slip numbers are you guys running? I dont have that much experience with these boats either and am still learning. Maybe this is normal.....but in my boat I can hit the rev limiters with 4 people, fuel, cooler etc.. just as fast as I can with just me in the boat. The difference is the speed but rpm stays consistent. I trim the boat the same every time...Level with the bottom to get the rpms up and then slowly touch it down to negative trim.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

:confused:
Why would more setback hurt in rough water? As long as you don't have the motors trimmed too much it should fly thesame as long as it is still balanced (shifted some other weight forward).

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Static weight balance in very important in these boats. Race boats use water ballast tanks that can be filled and dumped while running. The goal is to have the hull fly level when leaving the water. Back in the day in APBA the prostock triple outboards and modified boats with smallblocks where mostly 32' skaters. Sometimes the 2 classes started together. The outboard boards where offten equal in speed but in any kind of rough water the inboard boats would pull away.
That said I believe a 6'' setback would present little problem on a 30' hull, maybe as much as 10'' would work depending on your hull. And adding some weight forward is an acceptable way to help balance the boat, lead shot works well. Ideally one would want the boat as light as possibile that would carry the nose with as little trim as possible and fly level in the rough. Every setup is different and only testing will reveal which setup is best for your rig. For me that is part of the fun! Also prop rotation can be a factor, but that is another discussion

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Dreamboater With a good setup slip factors in single digits are possible and 10% would not be out of line. I had the same situation as you regarding the rev limiters on the promax. I had Rapair bump them to 6700rpm. Picked up a couple of mph so far, maybe more is left with the prop work from throttle up I have not tested yet. I will let you know

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

You need to ask yourself where are you going to be running the boat. If you are doing alot of lake boating run the jackplates. If it is ocean boating bolt those engines to the Transom. Less top speed but better Rough water handling. I run a 24 Skater and I am running BOB's marine 3in spacers. If you are going to due jackplates I recomend CMC. Plus they are made in Oklahoma :D

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

And to think I heard that only steers and queers came from Oklahoma. :rolleyes:

:D :D :D

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

I guess I am still a little passive aggressive about the NCAA Championship this past year. :mad:

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

A boating buddy of mine has 10 inches of set back on his 26 eliminator daytona with 300X's. His comment was that the boat runs 6 mph faster than just with jack plates ( 113 vs 107) and actually, once he moved some stuff around to rebalance it runs better in the rough now.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

CMC makes a plate that all the offshore racers use. It has 2 1/2'' of adjustment 5 1/2'' setback and heavyduty components. That is the one to use.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

You wouldnt happen to know a Rapair Dealer would you? So far my slip has been 11% on my best run with gas. I am pretty sure it will end up right around 10%.

Re: Motor setback on OB Cats...
 

Ted at links outboards sent mine to Rapair. Call him at 302-368-2860

Your prop numbers will go up as your fuel load drops, you may get to 9% :D Don't be a fraid to trim it out!