Re: Cats...How has the design changed?
 

IMHO, the older cats can be just as "safe" as the newer cats. Newer cats may tend to be faster, but I (for one) don't care about going 150+ MPH!

Altho: there are some of the older cats that have the potential to be as fast as the new ones: examples include the Agitator, Keith Nunez' Shadow Cat Hot Pursuit (150+) and the Estes' Motion: "old" (but new again) Cat Can Do (probably way over 150).

Due

Re: Cats...How has the design changed?
 

Weigh a 31' 1984 Chris Cat and compare to a 2005 31 Spectre or similar size Skater.
Cant be the hulls, there'a none of it in the water.
Aerodynamics and wider tunnels probably gave a slight increase in top end.
So it's just easier to get a light hull out of the water and go fast compared to a heavy one.
My $0.02
Gary

Re: Cats...How has the design changed?
 

Gary-
I agree.
Due

Re: Cats...How has the design changed?
 

I agree with Gary A chris cat seems bigger then a current 30' cat and the weight may be an easy 1000 lbs less most likely much more. Of course that weight does affect the ride. The trend also seems to be to wider hull and wider tunnels

Re: Cats...How has the design changed?
 

Yea but you can only go so wide and stay trailer legal.

Re: Cats...How has the design changed?
 

My 39 OE weighs near 12,000 lbs. With 1,100's it is 130+. Hull and deck design are a large factor in aerodynamics but overall weight and HP ratio is key. A 46 Skater is almost 1.5 tons less than my cat.