Yes I do think (I know) A.T. has changed things around. There is different stepp inserts for the molds for different drive and power combos.

I conversed with Tres about his thoughts on the Single Step and the AT, Cigarette, Fountain and a few other things. I think ANY ride/hull is open to interpretation, driving style, and comfort level, and then an opinion is therefore formed.

While the pivot point of a single step (in this case example, the AT), is further forward than a twin step anything, you can take this to the bank: The single step will ALWAYS pivot on that one step, guaranteed; at 30, 50, 90, 110, -whatever mph. OCCASIONALLY, a multiple step boat, with confusion between the driver input, seas, load, fuel, weight transfer, speed, trim settings, etc, will pick a different pivot point (step) than the driver expects. This will not happen with a single step bottom design. Can you swap ends on a single step bottom? You bet. Can you do it on a multiple step bottom? Yes. Can you do it on a straight bottom? Yep, can be done. (With the proper training and experience, i.e. gained from Tres' class, you can make any boat do just about any turn, but you have to know how to turn, how to equal the pressure on both sides of the hull, etc. etc.)

(Great media: The Donzi videos that were shot for Miami Vice promos REALLY show how a multiple step boat turns. You can clearly see the transom taking a different track than each of the steps, and you see the water stream/cut off of each step. Those videos were done in FLAT water. If you are in ROUGH water, each of those steps is not going to be in contact with the water at all times. In that case, a step that is in the air, not water, will NOT be acting as pivot point.)

Also, just for example, an AT is going to have a pivot point further forward, based on weight distribution/COG as compared to ANY TS/TG, as the AT has a full finished cabin, comparatively having considerable more nose weight than a 1/2 cabin derivative boat.
Again, this is not a better than/worse than situation; just something to account for.

You were in the boat when Tres (purposely) whipped the 180* turn in Rich's AT. What did you think? Was it skittish? Would you have liked that same turn in your boat? Just curious.

Mark, you are right on the money. Harry Schoell is 5 doors down from AT, and is integral to the entire process. He has direct input on the hull/step/bottom & a LOT of things; on a regular and consistent basis.



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Great thread Gerrard!

Well it sucks if your an AT owner that say has 496's and are sick of going 75 mph and want to put in some big power and 6 drives, not only do you have to rework the transom the whole bottom has to be re worked if it can be.

Great thread, Monstaaa has shared an example with the 24 and 28 skater. It is a good example highlighting that speed is effected as much or more by hull design than length and even weight.

There is so much more to a great boat ride than how fast or smooth it rides. There must be a thousand different things that play a part. Personal preference varies as much as the boats themselves.

So aside for speed it is all subjective, handling, how smooth the ride is, how good in the rough. Even quality becomes subjective at times.

The 38 PP rides even slightly smoother.

Lapseofreason, It is probably more cost effective to buy the boat you want and not try to make the boat in to something different.

Is the speedo the only fun meter?

This has been a great thread...

This applies to all boats, and the chances of someone going to larger power, upgrading to 6's, adding a tranny, more batteries and so on..it obviously would be WAY more cost effective to sell the boat, and start fresh.

My experience with 2000 single step Top Gun that I owned vs the Single step 2003 37 A.T. is not even close, as to ride quality, steering at certain speeds (twin step TG is excellent-just so you Cig guys didnt get your panties all in a bunch:grinser010:)...Too much hear say on this thread, unless you've owned one or driven one. Where's the 38PP when you need them.:cool:

I know that but a lot of people repower and go bigger, And no the speedo is not the only fun meter, that is why I am selling my 100mph boat for a 65-75 mph Center Console. I am done with big power and am going to outboards.

It's funny how you say that, 4 years ago when I wanted to sell my 42 Sonic to get something faster almost everybody on here was telling me to add superchargers or big power to my 42.drop 100k for 10 mph on a flat bottom boat:cool: where were you then.:drink:

I would be interested to know what other builders change the bottom for what power is ordered, from what Terry Sobo told me my 98 50 Nortech has the same bottom a 2008 has, just the cockpit liner has changed. I would think that if alot of builders do it when you are buying a used boat you better make sure it has close to the same stuff it was ordered with.

I think Tres' experience makes this statement very strong.