Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2556865)

On another note, what is a 75 mph cat? ....

T2x

Originally Posted by johnlomant (Post 2553257)

That is where you are wrong with the proper training a cat will turn harder than a v will ever think about. This is a misconception that a lot of people had including myself until I took the tres martin performance boat school

Originally Posted by dirtlawyer (Post 2553744)

I could not agree with you more. There will always be this debate, however, because (i) many "v-guys" will never get an opportunity to ride in a cat that is being driven by someone who knows what they are doing; and (ii) even if they do, they will be too proud to admit that a cat hull is better. I switched from v to cat 3 years ago and have not looked back. For performance and ride, at high speeds, the cat is without equal.

As for a v turning harder than a cat, I too used to believe that (even after I had bought my cat) until I had the pleasure of running a 28 Skater stock class outboard with Kirk Dunteman - he taught me how to make that boat do things I didn't believe it would do... and safely at that.

Originally Posted by AIR TIME (Post 2557086)

Cats rule I have been blessed to be in a few cats all race boats and some race Vs for test runs, The best cat so far was a 46 skater and the first ol 37footer for best riding v. the new vs from OL and Reggie will kill a apache from 20yrs ago art

Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2556800)

So we have concluded that cats are not inherently more dangerous than vees. In addition they are faster and handle better length for length. So what, then, is the problem?

Simply put, because cats can run faster than vees, comfortably, in most conditions, people who own them tend to spend more time at higher speeds. ( My 28 Skater probably averages 90-100 mph while cruising. No comparable length vee hull can make that claim).

In addition the owners of the most exotic cats don't necessarily have the seat time or experience to handle these speeds on the water and, in truth cats feel like they are going slower than a vee due to the added surface/wave contact and occilations inherent in a mono hull.

More time at higher speeds in a craft which feels slower to an inexperienced driver is not a good recipe for safety and this, IMHO, is the reason that cats have received a bum rap.

The truth is that insurance companies need to concentrate on average speeds of a specific craft...... as well as driver experience at speed........and set rates accordingly. I see no reason why a mega powered, 150 mph, Outer Limits or Fountain Vee should have any lower rate than a 150 mph Skater Cat of similar length. In fact the rates should probably be higher for the vee. On the other hand a 28 foot Pantera with similar power to my 28 Skater should have a lower rate......it simply can't go as fast nor would you want to.

T2x

Originally Posted by Comanche3Six (Post 2557101)

I'll have what he is drinking

Originally Posted by Brad Zastrow (Post 2557302)

Center pod cats will have a softer ride at sub 100 mph speeds. I have owned three. The true cats will have a slight bow steer and have a rough ride (like a v:D) untill you pack air and then it is great. Center pod cats just will not run with a true cat in rough water.

Originally Posted by BLee (Post 2556354)

Man that's the best picture of any boat I've ever had. The guy who shot it is a friend of Zastro's, and offered to print a fullsize for me but stopped returning messages for some reason. :( That's the only copy I have and it is too small to enlarge. I was gonna pay too! :grinser010:

I would rather Mark Smith or someone who ran the run give you the wave size. Seems everyone has their own version of how big water is, so I'd like you to have an unbiased opinion! :D

Originally Posted by AIR TIME (Post 2557341)

I guess you missed P 1 last year overseas, they ran in some big water at speed.

Originally Posted by tbanzer (Post 2556879)

Would that be Tonawanda Ny for the Hydroplane races this June?

Originally Posted by TexomaPowerboater (Post 2556882)

Another question for T2X: In regards to trimarans (pretty funny analogy by the way). Is a trimaran (center pod) cat more or less safe than a true cat? Can a trimaran flip more easily than a true cat? Can I assume the true cat is faster than the same size trimaran cat??? Which one is more likely to blow over? Which one will handle the rough better? Which one typically has a better ride, or is there any difference in ride quality? Sorry for all the questions.

Originally Posted by T2x (Post 2558008)

I feel like I am going to regret this....but.......

Most of "center pod" cats I can think of were designed and or built in the land of fruits and nuts...... and you know my thoughts on that issue.......derivative, ungainly, nose heavy...etc, etc... There is, of course, one exception to that. The old Powercats were originally built in Bellflower, Ca....but that was back in the late 50's and early 60's, so maybe that doesn't count.

Without a doubt the best center pod "cat" I can think of is the Talon, but, of course, that one came out of Florida, I believe....:p

T2x

Originally Posted by rlj676 (Post 2558017)

But isn't that talon at least the basis for nearly all the west coat cats in the 25-28 range?

Originally Posted by rlj676 (Post 2558017)

But isn't that talon at least the basis for nearly all the west coat cats in the 25-28 range?