Great Moments In V Bottom History
SubscribePhilip, I'll take you, T2x, Doug Lewis or anyone else up on a ride in cat the first time one is offered to me. Let me know when and where. As for the bandanna, well I gotta check to see if I'm running in or out first... 
Great Posts!!! On the SAFETY aspects for those of you that are running high speeds, the handling guide lines seem to be pretty much covered. The one thing I think was missing was EYE PROTECTION. As for the driver it's a must. As for the passengers it would be a courtesy. I too run a Kill Switch Lanyard, 100mph USCG Approved Life Jacket w/Handheld VHF & Sound Signalling Device attached to it, as well as a Full Face Helmet. The Helmet may be a bit extreme, but do to the size of my boat, the excessive speed it runs, and the nasty water conditions I enjoy running in, I feel it is a must....EYE PROTECTION: 2 EYES IS ALL YOU WILL EVER OWN...PROTECT THEM 
Troutly,
A 353 Formula, That is a beautiful boat. I am sure the ride is outstanding. I know your question was addressed to any one of 3, but I will try to add my .02. You are very lucky to boat in somewhat constant water conditions, and it would take a lot to upset the balance of that big deep “v”. And as High-Tide has pointed out, these suggestions vary from boat to boat, water conditions, speed etc. You are right also, in the conditions you run in, given the size, weight of your boat, it might not be that effected that much by fuel load, passenger load, and wave and wind direction. Your drive settings might not change that much from moment to moment. For example, where we boat, the water is relatively shallow,= waves build steep and close together, the body of water is easily effected by the wind, speed and direction, and there is normally a huge amount of side wake action from the large heavy boats running in the channels. In our case, fuel load, number of people onboard, mean a lot. When the trim button is activated on our engines, (outboards, 300X) they respond very quickly. On coming on plane negative trim is used, as soon as the boat comes up, neutral. Positive trim is always used to keep the tunnel up in the slower speeds. Here is the small trim adjustment parts, as the boat goes thru the 75 to 80 MPH range, and the air pack is increased the trim might actually be decreased a little, In making these adjustments small touches are used to find the right attitude for the speed and conditions, again, a 1 second touch on the button = a 1” or so engine movement, this will prevent over shooting the right trim setting for these conditions, and speed. I find I make very minor adjustments, sometimes on the button for only a second at a time. I always wait 20 or 30 seconds to see what the last change does to the speed and running attitude before going to the button again. Trying to keep the rpm constant is my goal when running fast. If I feel the boat getting too light, I will trim down a touch, and then a touch more if needed before lowering the rpm. This boat will settle down nicely without much speed loss, when the conditions improve, back up, touch at a time. Again some boats do not need as much attention to the trim settings. I hope this helps, This is how I do it, but there are many good techniques.
A 353 Formula, That is a beautiful boat. I am sure the ride is outstanding. I know your question was addressed to any one of 3, but I will try to add my .02. You are very lucky to boat in somewhat constant water conditions, and it would take a lot to upset the balance of that big deep “v”. And as High-Tide has pointed out, these suggestions vary from boat to boat, water conditions, speed etc. You are right also, in the conditions you run in, given the size, weight of your boat, it might not be that effected that much by fuel load, passenger load, and wave and wind direction. Your drive settings might not change that much from moment to moment. For example, where we boat, the water is relatively shallow,= waves build steep and close together, the body of water is easily effected by the wind, speed and direction, and there is normally a huge amount of side wake action from the large heavy boats running in the channels. In our case, fuel load, number of people onboard, mean a lot. When the trim button is activated on our engines, (outboards, 300X) they respond very quickly. On coming on plane negative trim is used, as soon as the boat comes up, neutral. Positive trim is always used to keep the tunnel up in the slower speeds. Here is the small trim adjustment parts, as the boat goes thru the 75 to 80 MPH range, and the air pack is increased the trim might actually be decreased a little, In making these adjustments small touches are used to find the right attitude for the speed and conditions, again, a 1 second touch on the button = a 1” or so engine movement, this will prevent over shooting the right trim setting for these conditions, and speed. I find I make very minor adjustments, sometimes on the button for only a second at a time. I always wait 20 or 30 seconds to see what the last change does to the speed and running attitude before going to the button again. Trying to keep the rpm constant is my goal when running fast. If I feel the boat getting too light, I will trim down a touch, and then a touch more if needed before lowering the rpm. This boat will settle down nicely without much speed loss, when the conditions improve, back up, touch at a time. Again some boats do not need as much attention to the trim settings. I hope this helps, This is how I do it, but there are many good techniques.
High-Tide,
I am still laughing at the Wilie Coyote/Acme rocket comparison, I have this visual picture of that. A Mirage with a 300hp 15” drag motor, absolutely accurate, Your Mirage would actually beat that Acme rocket. I am impressed; you are no stranger to the 120mph wars. The 36’ “Jay boat” 600 sc, 120-125? Forgive me if I am estimating wrong with that speed. You are no stranger to “low level flight maneuvers”. I can understand your attraction to your big “v” bottom, triple 42’ Baja (am I right?) in the big open ocean swells. As you know, the cats tend to launch off the ski slope shaped swells, and gravity does not bring them back down that quick. I would imagine your Baja loves the swells. I can see your “v” being more stable and forgiving in those conditions. What did you think of the tunnel tab on the Spectre?
I am still laughing at the Wilie Coyote/Acme rocket comparison, I have this visual picture of that. A Mirage with a 300hp 15” drag motor, absolutely accurate, Your Mirage would actually beat that Acme rocket. I am impressed; you are no stranger to the 120mph wars. The 36’ “Jay boat” 600 sc, 120-125? Forgive me if I am estimating wrong with that speed. You are no stranger to “low level flight maneuvers”. I can understand your attraction to your big “v” bottom, triple 42’ Baja (am I right?) in the big open ocean swells. As you know, the cats tend to launch off the ski slope shaped swells, and gravity does not bring them back down that quick. I would imagine your Baja loves the swells. I can see your “v” being more stable and forgiving in those conditions. What did you think of the tunnel tab on the Spectre?
Troutly, you and I posted at the same time and I never saw your question as a result. I apoligize for that. Philip answered the question in much the same way I would have. Hope that helps.
Ed: The thing that made Joel Halpern's 36' Cobra "Beep Beep" so strong in rough water was it's Deeper Vee, 26 Degrees and fine forward entry...designed by Jean Claude Simon. I submit that those lines (or the nearly identical Coyote), if not the direct plug are the gene pool from which the Sonic emerged. As to the 32 Powerplay being a direct descendant of the original Cary....same molds...could be. I've watched the boats in a number of races and never connected them with anything else...never thought about it I guess, I'll dig out some pics and try and spot the lineage.
Thanks,
T2x
Thanks,
T2x
