30' o/b Cat owners chime in please!
 

Hey everyone! I absolutely love this site, the knowledge contained within is amazing! That is why I am came here for advice. I have been lurking here for years. I have been into boating for 20+ years, but have never made the transition into "offshore" or go-fast. I have wanted to for years, and for boating season 2008 I would like to scratch that itch.

OK, enough of that. I have lusted for a while over out board cats, and would like to purchase a 30 w/ ob, something along the lines of a Spectre, Motion, AMT, etc. I have even considered the more "inland" style boats like the 26-28 Eliminators or Cougar 27 MTR.

First off, would anyone recommend against purchasing a cat as a first time performance boat? I will be boating primarily on large inland lakes, with 2-3 trips per year to the Hudson or L.I. Sound, etc.

I have sifted through pages and pages of topics on blow-over, barrel roll, trip and stuff, tunnel-tab, cat vs. V, etc, etc, etc.... So I am aware of some of the concerns associated with these types of boats.

What are the thoughts on Poker Running these boats? I know people do it, but are there cons I should be aware of?

How about engine options? I would love to go with the new 300XS, but will more than likely be forced to go with an older, used boat. Fuel injection would be choice, unless someone can convince otherwise. Idling for extended periods will be common place, so I will need motors that won't get cranky!

Lastly, the big one.....insurance. Am I fooling myself here, or what?

I'm sure there is more, but we'll start this and see where it goes, haha.

Please pardon the long-winded post. I know it seems all over the map and very newbish, but this is THE place to go to get the skinny on this topic. HUGE thanks in advance, you guys rule!!!

Skater 28,30,32 / Spectre 30,32 / Motion 30 / AMT-Predator 30 all are good boats.

Insurance is very tough for any of them unless you fib alittle.

A good pleasure motor is an Mercury 300 / 300X / 300 XS

There are many boats in this range from $50,000 - $150,000 shop around you usually get what you pay for.

I own a 30 Spectre and love it. I owned several smaller boats (Hydrostream, Allison, STV) before going bigger. But, I wouldn't say you need to have that experience. Just don't drive the boat wide open until you get some experience with tunnels. Mine rides great at 35-45 MPH. Use common sense.

I haven't hauled mine to any Poker Runs, so I can't comment on that. However, I plan to run Oshkosh next summer and am also thinking very hard about Desert Storm.

Mine has twin 300 Promax's. They have been VERY reliable motors that idle great, cruise great, and run for miles at wide open throttle. The 300 Promax, 300X, and the new 300 XS would all be great motors. I would stay away from the 2.5 EFI's and the 280.

My insurance is cheap, relatively speaking. I pay less than $1000 per year.

Hope this helps.

Mike Sufka
St. Cloud, MN
Spectre 30/Twin 300 Mercs
Allison Grandsport/ProV 200 Yamaha

30' Eliminator, twin 525 EF1's - didn't have to lie to the insurance company, but had to take the Tres Martin performance course since this was my first cat. Insurance through Markel, $4800 per year, 3 month layup.

Only part I would disagree with. I have had a sh!tload of fun with mine.:party-smiley-020: Oh, and I have never lied about my insurance.:cool-smiley-011:

There is a 30 motion on ebay ritght now priced right. Dont worry about the 2.5's you just have to mix the oil and gas.

My first boat is the one I own now, a 28 Skater. I have been around boats with my father all my life from small cats to larger V's many over 100mph. However, that means nothing about driving the boat yourself. Some of the cats are more forgiving than others. Figure out where you will be boating if a center pod is OK or you need a true tunnel. All of them are fast. 28 Skater, 30 Motion, 30 Spectre will all be over 100mph with the mentioned power. Take your time and you will learn how to totally enjoy the boat.

Have you ever ridden in a Cat like your mentioning?

I have a 28 skater for sale 300x motors oil injected 1/4 canopys nice boat clean will take some rough water ready to go insurance you will have to go to trace martins school call me 248 909 0240 jim

I just bought a 30 motion. This is the first Cat that I have bought. So far it has been the most fun boat I have ever been in. The only thing I can compare the rush of driving this Cat is when I use to Race snowcross and motocross. The best part is that you can bring four friends along for the ride!

Once you go cat I don't think you will go back. I think a 30 Spectre/Motion/Amt is about the perfect boat. It is easy to trailer anywhere, Fast, Good rough water boat and a blast to drive!

Hope this helps!
Don

I have not. And that brings me to this; if there are any owners out there in the CT/L.I./Northern Jersey area willing to take a me out, I would pay for lunch and gas!!!


Thanks everyone for the replies.......keep them coming!!!

There are a few of them around here in LI sound, but not a ton. My friend has a 32 Skater with I/O's and I have ridden in a 28 Skater with OB's....completely different animals. You will love the ride in one of these OB powered boats.

insurance is going to run you about 2% of the value of the boat, higher in a cat if you have no experience,

if i was a first time buyer would stay way from anything with a tunnel tab, has caused a lot of hooks and rolls, only picks up a couple mph,

Contact East Coast Marine for a ride............. (631) 422-7997.

Joey Imprescia (multi time Offshore World and National Champion THrottleman) will set you up. He can also service and set up any OB cat and assure you of max performance from your ride. He is without doubt the best guy for this in the area.

T2x

What he said !! I had 3 perf boats before i bought my 1998 30 spectre with 2003 300x's. I owned a couple 18-20 checkmates and baja's, a 22 Avanti, 29 twin small block scarab then purchased my spectre...the spectre was the best bang for the buck 1 could imagine. was a 107mph boat in magnificent condition on a trailer for under $80k. ran the boat for 2 seasons, awseome lake bay boat and loved 1-2 ft chop...i live in Jersey and had it in the ocean on numerous occasions.

I think the 30 ob cat is a perfect reliable boat....I had never owned a cat or a boat that ran these speeds till I got my Spectre and all I can say is that if it wasnt for my new boat I would not have it for sale becuase there is no other boat that you could run wide open (run these speeds), take passengers, run in rough conditions and be in the water every weekend without any grease on your hands and to me thats priceless....here is a link to my add if your interested....

http://www.offshoreonlyclassifieds.c...o18309-en.html

That boat was originally for sale right after I purchased my 28, gorgeous boat. How fast does it run with the promax's?

best Ive seen is 102-103 but the motors could go higher.......

Insurance on my 2007 30 Skater T/300xs is about 4.5% of the value, and I have 20+ years of extreme high performance boating experience and 10 years experience as a professional offshore race driver.

I am in NYC, but my boat is not. If you get something though id be happy to run it around with you.

I highly recomend taking the Tres Martin course BEFORE buying anything. It will give you a much better idea what to look for. I also dont think a 100+ mph cat is a great first performance boat. Get a cheaper straight bottom V with some OB's to tool around in for a year.

insurance on cats seems to run between 3-6% of the insured value...

Check w/ predator on LI. They have the AMT hulls and are building some nice stuff. Pricing could be better than you think, and its nice to have something built locally.

Shameless bump!

There is two days left on the auction of my 2000 30 Motion on e-bay. It is also listed in the classifieds here. Tom

Come to michigan we can go for a ride all day long in my 28 ill pay for gas you drive and throtlle skater is the way to go if you you have the budget call me 248 909 0240 jim

Thanks Man, however I don't see any trips to MI in my near future.......unfortunately!