Are cats really that dangerous?
 

Are cats really all that easy to poleaxe? I know they're harder to capsize side-to-side, but I don't know which is the more frequent type of capsizing incident.

It's rather amusing to see an insurer say "120MPH max no cats", as if the type of hull is going to matter if you hit something or as if somebody will be less of an idiot with a 120MPH V-hull. If anything it costs so much more to drive a v-bottom that fast it's going to cost the insurer more when the owner crashes it.

Unfortunately I think its the speeds they are capable of that is the potential factor in the eyes of the insurance companies. Also typically with the same power, a cat is usually much faster of a hull.

There have been so many unfortunate incidents/accidents where guys were WAY over their heads in boats they had no right driving in the manner that they had. Several lost their lives, killed others or did significant damage. Both in cats and vees.

We had several incidents on our little inland lakes with guys in step bottom V hulls over the past couple years. I know of several guys whos first boat was a thirty plus something with big HP.

More money than brains I guess. Whatever the reason it sucks for the responsible boaters.

No...going fast in a cat is safer than someone trying to push a big V fast, that isnt designed to do so. Yes Cats run some very impressive numbers as far as top speed. Would you rather run 120 in a V or in a Cat. Ive have owned cats and V's no big cats. I have a V that can run over 110 mph. It gets your attention very quick. 110 in a Cat, is like 80 in a V, depending on the size of Cat it may be boring. Insurance underwriting is all about statistics, and their liability. I guess in the insurance co.'s numbers some proven formula, as the speed goes up, so does the chance of a claim. While I think that stereotying is unfair, anyone with the money can go buy a 150 mph boat, regardless of experience, or seat time and go boating. Schools like Tres Martins, are available, and Boat Builders, like Outerlimits, and others offer his course with their boats to try to educate boaters. While I have read some posts on OSO that the cost of the course, isn't worth the 10% reduction in their insurance preimium, it may just may be worth more than and insurance preimium if you ever find yourself in a boat thinking now what do I do? It may save your life.

It's a great question. Lot's of variables. At any rate....know your powerboat, don't drive it like an idiot, be safe and enjoy yourself. If you do the wrong thing either a cat or V will kill you.

More money than brains no matter what the driver is behind is what causes most accidents I would bet ?

Cats cost more to insure IMO because there are a lot less of them and when there is an accident it is very costly. Look at the last few big accidents that involved cats. HUGE claims.... I also feel safer in a cat at speed X then a V bottom and that was a much smaller cat.

When everything is workin right I'd much sooner be PLUS 140 in a cat than a Vee . but when Drives break or engines poof your ass quickly grabs uphostelrey in a cat.
I suspect that effects insurance rates.

Cats scare me a little, as a friend/former employer of mine, flipped one and is no longer around.

Big cat, 40+, good driver, good safety equipment, not a guy that had more $$$ than brains. The kind of guy that didn't pound 10 beers and drive.

Made me a believer in V-hulls.

Ask Roy.

Was that the guy in Tampa area that owned the bar and grills few years ago?

Spectre?

Are cats really that dangerous?
 

Yes cats can be extremely dangerous---especially when they are holding an AK-47!

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/3900/crazycathl5.gif

I was waiting to see something like that. LMAO...:D

No, that was the guy from Bonefish Grille.

I'm referring to Randy Linebach in the "Airborne" boat that flipped at Biloxi.

No intention to bring this up in any sensational way, just knew him well and it kind of spooked me after the accident. Not the kind of guy that would be reckless or not wear safety equipment.

I was looking to buy a cat that same year, even test drove one from Vicious in Michigan.

LOL...my thoughts exactly....I've owned both and running in a cat at speed is much more stable and pleasurable experience at least tin my opinion.

Why does it cost more to insure them is anyones' guess, I suppose speed would be one thing. The high dollar loss thing just doesn't ring true.

If your in a big cruiser and plow into a family on a pontoon or on a pontoon and plow into a cruiser with a rich guy on board who gets injured or killed your exposure is just as high for a large claim.

Historically there are many more fatalities and high dollar insurance losses with your average runabout. There are more of them and they account for the majority of boats on the water.

It's all about insurance companies trying to mitigate their potential exposure for a loss and while it may make the evening news when a boat crashes its much sexier when its a go-fast or cat...

What kills me is you can still get cheap insurance on a jetski which have a horrible rate of injuries and losses.

Either way I'll pay my higher rate and enjoy going fast in my cat....that is once it's done being painted...lol

Bone Fish Grill....don't remember his name...took a while to find him if I remember correctly

Chris Parker, one of the founders of Bonefish Grill. Flipped a 36 Spectre at a high rate of speed, two female passengers had minor injuries, Chris was missing for a week.

Having an engine die is a guaranteed crash in a cat? That's scary. What happens, the front end dives underwater when power abruptly stops?

What happened? Driver error, equipment malfunction, hull failure?

No not guaranteed at all but with 1000 plus hp only working on one side is very unnerving. Has happened to me 3 times at speed. Creates a heavy smell when you eventually stop.

As unfortunate as it was, it was a lack of experience and lack of life jacket at a high rate of speed.

I have owned many boats...I must say that I will never own another deep V...there rough:hitfan: beat you to death, a cat will glide right over the chop, and yes I too feel much safer in a cat doing 120mph than in a deep V doing 80. Yes my insurance went from 900 a year to 5200:( a year...but that is what you get living in south Louisiana.:angry-smiley-038:.

The insurance Co. seem to thing if you live further north, your safer, when all it really is are the hurricanes and boating offshore. I am sure that some little paper azz-hole did a study and came up with these findings:Whatever: Its amazing what our Gov. lets insurnce co. get away with.:party-smiley-004:

I have lost an engine at least three times at 140+ (35 Motion) Lost a transmission at same speeds twice (MTI). Lost a prop at 110 (MTI). Each time it was completely uneventful. First noticed because we are slowing down. I think the type of cat hull makes the difference. I have also blown at least 8 outboard engines on smaller twin cats 25-30' (Warlock & Motion) again no big deal. Blown at least 6 lower units on o/b cats again nothing but slowing down. So can not prove it by me.

I have never been on a fast Cat yet but wonder how fast you slow down . I know when I cut the power on my V hull the boat slows very quickly . Whats it like at 100 plus ? In case of an emergency .

Paul

UHHHHHHHHHH You just need to pull back a bit quicker!!!:hitfan:

I would love to see you doing 120 safely in water like this. Because I know Jerry can do 80 safely in it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6CcRZ37vNs

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!! AGREED

I had a 32' Fountain...don't go offshore much, but when I did in 4 to 6' seas...it beat the **** out of everyone, slow or fast and didn't help much of the rigging out. Still I usually run rivers, the only chop I have are the boats that I overtake...:evilb:

That wasnt my experience. One of the times that a drive broke we were part way through a soft turn and it was eventful. My driver was concerned about overcompensating with a correction so let it drift.

Take a look at the Ft. Lauderdale Race Pics! :D

I've only had mine for a year but did have one of the kill switches get inadvertently hit by a passenger and shutdown one motor while running at around 100 or so.

I didn't feel much of anything except for the boat starting to slow down and checking the gauges to see what happend...

For some reason each engine has it's own kill switch so you have to tie them together to shut both off at the same time.

That will be rectified once we get finished with the painting and put the motors back in..

All three incidents happened with a 37 Talon. Nothing disastrous but it did wander. Nortech has never had anything break.

LOL! It looks like a Cessna.

A friend hit something at over 100 in his Superboat cat and lost the tie-bar on his # 4's but did not realize until trying a turn. At triple digits who knows what could happen? At the first sign of trouble, if not in a race or no one on your tail, you could cut both throttles and cat-glide to a stop...

No -- what the insurance company thinks is that -- if you're living up North, you're only boating SIX months out of the year! :D :D :D

Fountains are not known for their ride, not really a deep v.
You can run any Cigarette or Apache in 4 to 6s and not even know they are there.:party-smiley-004:

brother/sister
 

why does that vid. say Apache Powerboat---is it not a SABRE "relative" ? ps water looks a bit big for a cat too ! ;)

Video
 

this vid. says "SABRE" but it's an "APACHE" ck. it out great vid. turn it up-volume-too !media.putfile.com/SABER---2006-SOTW-Poker-Run-60 :cool-smiley-011: hope u-like it !!!

truth of the matter, keep it safe no matter the hull design, since every bad event affects us all. The speeds at which many seem to seek can kill. Many more vee bottoms get into trouble bacause they are larger in numbers and owners are unaware of handling problems.

I have been in both designs and at speed, although a big cat can "feel very light", I still feel more secure than in a V.

Heck, 140 in Cat Astrophe feels like a drive to church on Sunday morning with Granpa at the wheel :)

Sorry Alec. :)

Paul, I can tell you that with the very limited drag my Black Hawk creates, you need plenty o room to get the boat slowed down. It takes a while to spill out the air and stick the hull back to the water.I always make it a point of telling V drivers new to poker runs to NEVER slow down quickly infront of a cat or they may have some new passengers they weren't counting on.