Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Hi All,

I am in the process of deciding which tunnel hull to get and which power option. I thought I would ask my question here based on the depth of knowledge of the Offshore Only members.

The last boat we had was a 19' tunnel with an outboard (Merc. 2.4). The best we saw out of it was 92mph. I loved the boat, but it's time to go bigger...

I am deciding which 24-27 tunnel/cat will give me the best mix of what I am looking for. I would prefer to get an inboard, but I have not ruled out an outboard. Speed is very important, but handling rough water is important too. The boat will never see the ocean, but will see choppy lake water (Lake Washington, Seattle). To be honest, I would love to see 100mph out of this boat (but may not happen). The boats I have been considering...Eliminator Daytona (inboard), Nordic Thor (inboard), Skater (outboard), HTM (inboard), etc. Engines I am thinking about are Merc. 700SCi, 600SCi, 525EFI, 496HO, etc.

As much information is greatly appreciated!

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

I've run a 27 and a 28 Eliminator Daytona and both are great boats that can handle some pretty decent water. I believe that the 27 is only available as a single engine boat - personally I prefer to have two motors. The 28 with 496's and boxes will run 100+. A friend's shop has rigged a few 35 Daytona's with 300X outboards - from what I understand, the boats screamed.

I've also run a 24 and a 28 Skater. Totally different boat from the Eliminator. Both Skaters were outboards. Handled great, both saw 100+.

I would definitely consider outboards if you are in the cat market. Also, check insurance before you buy - eventhough you have prior tunnel hull experience, it will be expensive.

Good luck.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

You will find alot more advice on the west coast cats, eliminator, htm, nordic on hotboat.com.

If it's not okay to "plug" other sites here I will edit this post.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Thanks for the input so far.

dirtlawyer (or any others) - have you been in or have you any experience with the latest version of Eliminator's 25 Daytona? The reason I ask is because I like the idea of a single engine ($$$) and a lighter hull. How is the 25 in rough lake chop? What type of speeds with a 496ho or 525efi?

I guess, if I go with an inboard I would like a single engine (I know I probably won't see 100mph), but the cost is a bit too much for twins at this time.

Keep the comments coming please.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

just looked at my post again - small error - my friend's shop has rigged a few 25's with 300x's not 35's.

No experience with the 25, but have heard good things about it. Call Mike Flanigan at Lightning Bay Performance Marine in St. Petersburg, Florida. He's an Eliminator dealer and has a lot of seat time in their boats. He could answer a lot of your questions.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

I have owned four cats. One was an Eliminator rigged by DCB, one was a 26 DCB O/B (2.5's), one was a 26 DCB I/O (800 hp blower motor), and the one I currently own (and am trying to sell) is a 28 Skater with 300X's.

Hands down the best boat of the four is the Skater. It will handle much bigger water than the west coast built cats. It planes very easy even at nuetral trim. You can almost set it and forget it. It will smoke the west coast cats with the same power (or more power). The boat is an honest 120 mph boat. My 26 with O/B's would barely make it over 100, and would beat you up in anything over 2' chop.

Here is a little spam, but there is a video there of the Skater running as well.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/esvon/page-11004.html

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

I have a 25 daytona and think it is a great LAKE boat. 3 foot sloppy water is a breeze. 4 foot and over, if theres any real roller to it can get scary. I boat large inland lakes all the time and its perfect for those. I have a warmed up 500efi with a Black Hawk drive and see just around the 90mph mark. With a 525, shorty drive and a 28 bravo, a 25 should see around 85 to 87/

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Wow. I went for a ride in my buddies 28' Skater (twin 2.5 offshores) and I must say that I was very impressed. We were doing over 100mph in very rough lake water and the Skater handled it better than I could have imagined. The hull never slapped or beat us up at all. This is definately a set up to consider...

How is a boat like an Eliminator 25, 26, or 27 going to compare with a single inboard in it to the Skater with twin outboards? I know the Skater will be faster, but is handling quite different? I wish I had access to an Eliminator or similar to ride in.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

I have been in and owned a dozen cats. The Eliminator with an I/O is nice boat and can run 100mph with about 800hp. The Skater will not have the interior like an Eliminator. The Eliminator with the center sponson will ride nicer at slower speeds and will be fine in moderate chop even at higher speeds. Rough water the Skater will win every time. At slower speeds (40mph) the Skater will ride a little rough and dart around. I would take the HTM off your list. They have a terrible ride in rough water. The sponsons are very shallow.
I personally like the Skater 24 and 28 with twin 300x. The interiors are old school design on most I have looked at. Most are older as they really do not make them anymore unless you really must have one and pay stupid money so they can build one. The new 26 Eliminator is one the best looking boats on the market. Tough call....

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Buy a used Skater 28' today and keep it up and in 1 or 5 years it will be worth the same as you paid for it. Free Boating!

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Buy a 28' Skater.........

I did.....

pound for pound champeen...hands down.

T2x

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Yep... That was my plan until I realized I did not have time to use the boat.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Yep again. Best boat I have owned... :cool:

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Buy my 27 daytona with a 525, add a whipple and go 100 with a nice boat. Eliminator unlike the others finishes the front area and makes it usefull instead of wasted. Ive had the 27 at the rough end of lake of the ozarks 3 or 4 times and it has no problems.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

You haven't said if you are looking for new or used, or what your price range looks like. If you are looking used, you can't go wrong with Havasu Cig's Skater. I've seen pwrcat's daytona in person (in front of the car wash, I live in LS also pwrcat) and it is very clean. Also, there are some used DCB F26's for sale that have teague 800's or twin 300x's that will run over 100. As mentioned, be sure to have insurance checked out thorougly as it can get rediculous.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

I have a 27 cougar mtr, run it in lake wa alot, it is a very stable boat in chop, to get 100mph you need over 700hp. It is on the heavy side with center pod down 1" from sponsons. Center of gravity is foward, but it has alot of cockpit room. rides flat, exits and enters flat, will turn nice at high speed with inside lean. Mine is a 2002 that I had advertise for sale on oso awhile back. I have been helping a friend with a 26 daytona repower this year, same lenght , daytona is a little wider and shallower at transom. Daytona is alot lighter and the center pod is above the sponsons. under 700 hp gets over 100 mph in this daytona. It was a good direct comparison of boats. Daytona is 7-10 mph faster, has canopies and styling, Cougar will run circles around daytona in ruff h2o, More cockpit area, turns at speed. If you want a ride let me know, good luck, gg

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Buy shanes 24 skater. She is very pretty and will run 100.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

This one might be for sale if a certain someones quad rotor beats it. :drink: :evilb: :drink:
Id go Skater for top end but this AMT eats up the rough stuff :p

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Thaks for the words on my 27,(rlj676) it was killing me having it uncovered at the wash. Now back under full cover and clean. Headed for omaha to the missouri river poker run this weekend. MIght as well use it while i own it.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

I assumed you had taken it back to the lake when it was gone to get some use as it was still listed on here. I was shocked when I drove past it on 50 and saw it sitting there, not a common sight here in MO. I have been looking at 26 daytonas for next spring so I went over and checked it out, very cool boat. Good luck on the sale.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

My 26 daytona with the 525 efi might be for sale if I can close on bigger cat.

Re: Advice: Getting Another Tunnel/Cat
 

Hey, btw i never told you that. :drink: