I like the band story. But I would guess the the other reason is probably more accurate. Either way thanks for the great posts. And keep them coming.

mike

T2X

Thanks for the question ScreaminDemon and thanks for the explanation T2X.

Hey T2x, Is George Linder the Builder and designer of the Chris Cat? I agree with turning props inward will disturb handling characteristics. I tried that last summer and scared the ever living crap out of myself. The boat wants to take off, or fly away. It feels like it wants to launch upward. I was very surprised when the owner of the Zone, a beautiful 36 Skater with 900sc's and six drives told me they reversed the drives to turn in. How can that boat be different? By the way that boat is unbelievable!

OK, since I have everyone gathered in a couple of places , how about addressing the impact, or lack of impact, from abroad. That could mean both from the fairer sex as well as from Europe, Asia, etc.

Do we, in NA, have a corner on the market for this quest for speed over the bumps. Notice the "over the bumps," because there are much faster floating devices out there than offshore boats. Does the world speed record still belong to an Englishman, didn't a couple of people get to 300 mph in some rocket on water?

Ken P- Yes George is/was the designer of the Chris Cat.... Chris Craft was the builder...... Some of them were great...IF...they were laid up by the right shift and were one of the later models built under the stern eyes of the late great "uncle" Billy Don Pruitt.

George designed that boat in less time than any other...... He used only a "Shadow" of his skills... Shadow's (coincidentally designed by the same George Linder) were built right here in New Joisy... by a bunch of religious zealots out in the woods under the stern eyes of a certifiable fanatic, Rich Luhrs..... who to this day maintains that Shadows were faster as outboards and Chris Cats were faster as inboards....As if anyone cares..... However, there is one irrefutable fact and that is that Shadows came first... (Did you know that there was a 36 foot Shadow plug....completely original without slab sides.... that smartass Luhrs had incinerated over a partnership dispute........ What a jerk.... oops don't tell him I said that... he still carries that damn baseball bat.

[ 09-25-2001: Message edited by: T2x ]

Come to think of it... Maybe we can get Luhrs to respond to this website... What the heck, Linder is here..... Luhrs can't be far behind.... I know he's around here somewhere.... Maybe if we all keep real quiet..... we just might hear him .... snoring...... (I hear he falls asleep almost instantly, whenever one of the races he announced comes on TV.... I know I do).

T2x If a cat hops from lack of tunnel compression,is it possible to help it with a tunnel wedge or tunnel extenison? What would be better? Would the boat faster at top speed? I enjoy your post very much.

T2x,
Did Luhrs truly burn that plug up???? I am still laughing to myself!!Kim must think I am cracking up here. , I have to hear that story. I can just see him now, 5 Gals of gas, and a Zippo.

[ 09-25-2001: Message edited by: Philip ]

T2x - We all greatly appreciate of the knowledge and stories that you have brought to our humble board. Since you have been around the world of offshore racing since the first time some one hollowed out a tree, would you care to comment on the current state of offshore racing. It seems that we lost US Offshore for good, and big John has changed the alphabet too many times to remember them all. Now APBA is running a profit at the racers expense and possibly taking the rules too far while SBI does not look hard enough. But everyone has fun at an SBI race and goes home with a trophy. APBA seems like they piss off the racers and treat them like kids (Worst than kids, rich guys with big egos)that need to be taught a lesson.

I have come to enjoy both organizations and enjoy being closely involved with racing in NJ. I guess all I really would want is a joint world championship in Key West. This back to back racing is as close to sticking it in Johns face as possible. On the other hand if John would not even discuss the possiblity of a joint race then he is the problem. That's my ramble. What are your thoughts?

T2x - is there really much design difference between the Shadow and Chris Cat?