Cat Hulls
 

Besides allowing more air to pass under; what are the benefits or downsides of a cat hull with a center pod (like an eliminator or DCB) opposed to the side pods only (such as a Skater or Spectre hull)?

Not sure of any real advantage to a center pod. The twin sponson hulls allow more air to compress, increasing the speed and are better in rough water since they give more wave clearance. Usually you only see the pod in smaller lake boats.

The center pod helps eliminate porpoising below 85 or 90mph on a larger Cat as well as a great overall stable ride.

Over 90mph packing air the center pod on my 37' rig isn't even touching the water until a hard turn or rough water.
Rough water is where the traditional tunnel hulls will ride much much better,over 3' surf my boat will pound you hard as hell .
In the 3' + water a 36' Skater feels like a magic carpet. Twice the hull efficiency with a true tunnel vr a center pod.
We make up for the lack of efficiency by running ultra high HP and a correct set up, drive ratio ,props etc...

some center pod cats are single engine boats and it is there to accommodate the engine and drive as well.

I have a 25 foot center pod cat. I really like it in smooth to to 2 1/2 - 3 ft waves, accelerates hard, good low speed handling, little or no porpoise, great top end.

Can't really run over 30 mph in over 3 ft waves. Just when you think everything is fine, you can hit a rogue wave, sky the front, trip and stuff. If only one sponson gets stuffed, it can spin out. Just have to be real carefull in the rough.

I had a small Skater before (21), loved the rough water ability, hated the porpoise and low speed handling. It wallowed like it was full of water at under 45 mph and porpoised right at the speed I like to cruise, 55-70 mph, drove me nuts.

What hull is better depends on the water you like to run in.

I understand the center sponson has something to do with slow speed turning too, but I could never figure out the physics myself.

This quote is 100% on the money. I have owned both and l prefer true cats at high speed and rough water. On smoother water the modified tunnels (pod) are really nice.

the center pod also helps keeps the center engine in a triple engine outboard application from shearing off gear cases

That's strange. We used to run the smaller tunnels (or modified V, or Mod-VP) with a center pod (STV) and the pod was actually lower than the outer sponsons - hence the name, modified V. Be interesting to hear the different thinking behind the different designs.

Mod VP's like the STV's run with just the pod in the water and with the sponsons in the wind. totally different from big cat dynamics, some of those little things really hang it out there :D

True dat!! Had mine hung out SEVERAL times!!! Mucho glass repair done on one of 'em!!:D Roark Summerford built a hell of a little boat though.

An STV is still considered a v-hull & still rides on a pad at the back of the V. The hull style they are talking about is more like a talon which is a cat w/ a center "pod".

I think the biggest decision maker would be on where you plan on running the boat.

Understood, that's why they call them modified V. I raced them for years. But, it is still a form of air entrapment hull, although not a "true" tunnel. My point was I'd like to hear the thinking and hydro/aerodynamics behind each design and the + and - of each. Sounds like a winter research project!!:D

We had river rocket go 132 w/ a drag 300 & a hit of gas. :D

They are awesome machines. Maybe I can get into all the differences later tonite after a couple beers.:cool-smiley-011::ernaehrung004:

Always better to talk technical stuff after a couple beers!!!:D

Thanks to all of you for your information on this center pod question of mine. Sounds like you guys know a just a bit more about these cats than I do. If anyone has more to add, please do, I'm listening...

CENTER POD IS TO HELP BOAT GET ON PLANE AND PREVENT HOOKING WHEN TURNING THE BOAT LEFT OR RIGHT, CENTER POD IS SAFER MORE STABLE AND EASIER TO DRIVE. MARTY:drink:

Damn Marty, I wish you would have told me this back in the early '90s. Would have saved me plenty of money and aggravation!! Mine tended to spend a lot of time back in Hendersonville !!:D:D

Actually, the center pod on the STV Mod-VP race hull was different than the production river rocket and ski boats. Wouldn't quite mph as good as the others but holy s**t would it turn!!!

One of these rainy days I'm going to spend some time at the computer scanning in some old photos. Racing sure was a lot cheaper in those days!!:cool-smiley-011:

Liberator recently came out with thier new 30ft cat and put a small centerpod on it. It's 10" higher than the outside sponsons, but completely eliminated the hop in flat water. Still has a very deep tunnel for rougher water.

http://aycu30.webshots.com/image/438...7870766_rs.jpg

http://aycu06.webshots.com/image/414...9630839_rs.jpg

Wildman, where was that pic taken? That is some crystal clear water!

That's Silver Glen Springs off the St Johns River in Florida. The water stays 72 degrees all year. On weekends, there's hundreds of boats in that one small section.

Wildman, thats one bad a$$ ride! Miss my 18 talon.

Any small cat hulls like a stv for sale please email [email protected] thnk tyler

I sold a 2010 18 Liberator to a customer a year and a half ago. He has still never put a motor on it. He paid $22K for it without a motor. It's custom rigged and custom painted. He says he will take 15K for it. He will put a 2002 300x on it for anothe 10K. It has been in the garage since new. His name is Brad. His phone is 561-541-5393. He can email you the pics. It will run 118-120 with the 300x.

:drink:


http://sharkeyimages.zenfolio.com/im...68895849-4.jpg

Does someone have a picture to show me what a center pod is? Or a side pod for that matter.

Thanks

Pic of center pod
 

Here's is a 26' American Offshore with a center pod.

For sale?

26' Ao
 

For sale, no!

Stv
 

Seltzer - If you are seriously ready to buy an STV, give me a call. Wally Lamkin (Triad/STV) is a very good friend of mine. If anyone knows of one for sale it would be Wally. He would also know the history/abuse level.

Steve Tripp
Revolution Performance Marine
(205) 672-8763

Thanks. anyone ever heard of a 18ft spectre cat? one guy says he has one for sale 5,500?

You might want to check www.screamandfly.com. They always have STV's for sale over there. You probably already knew that.

Here's my old STV. It's also for sale. Great boat.

http://www.screamandfly.com/showthre...-245-carb-merc.

Mike

Nice boat. For sale?

stripp

i like your boats....they have a 26 that runs on the river were i live....do you have any 26fters for sale?

The only boat that I have right now is the one that we ran at LOTO in the NA class. It has a Ron Sporl 565 ci carb motor in it. It runs 110-115 MPH depending on weather conditions. Give me a call (205) 672-8763.

Steve Tripp

any cat boat for sale send pics