Others along with myself, recommend the course because it's taught by professionals that cover every aspect of high performance boat operation. They also break down the causes and remedies behind nearly all situations you might find yourself in, so that you'll understand what to look for before it happens.

It's not a bunch of opinions or speculation to weed through from people that may or may not have a clue of what they're talking about.

Off the top of my head, I'd estimate there are no less than 20 other threads covering the topic on OSO, so please don't act like we're holding out on your free info search just because we're suggesting a way to learn it other than half-assed.

I was not asking for FREE information from the course. Alot of people (myself included) have ask questions about how to handle boats in different conditions. Just trying to learn and appreciate what others know. I know that I can not afford to pay for a class. I know I can't afford to buy a step bottom boat, but i still want to learn. Sorry if you took it the wrong way.

42 was light and airy feeling.
46 rock solid and hooked up.

Never thought the drive/props would make such a difference, but the sixs just stay hooked up and keep the boat level.

Any of my friends could drive the 42 and within 10 minutes figure out the sweet spot. It took me nearly 25 hours for me to learn my 46's characteristics. Meaning the drive and tabs are very important on my 46 and when put where they should be deliver an excellent ride, if not the boat keeps trying to find itself. The 42 was less of a machine and more of a toy where the 46 has to be driven.

only time I ever had to turn at speed was when a blowboat tacked in front of me. and that was about 40. we were coming at each other and he just cut it.

Had one of those as well...

After following Rich thru the S-turns at Smith Mountain Lake about 45mph (cleared the turn-accelerating to 55mph or so); I had a PWC cut between us. I banked into Rich's wake/trough and LITERALLY put my Port side aft rub rail in the water. I don't ever want to do that again, but it was great to know the boat could pull that off.

Uhhhh......if your telling me you can't slow down in a turn on a stepped bottom cig, then I would consider that a design problem. After all, should you have to turn suddenly to avoid something......and slow down, your SOL. How many lakes/river have blind corners.......and cigarette really expects you to just keep the throttle down. What a great idea that was. BUT we picked up 10mph..........wahoo!!!!!! Unphuckingbelievable.

They were designed to run offshore, not in a river or lake with blind corners, not that I have a problem with running them anywhere people want to but the first rule of operating any piece of machinery is proper training.

No ones telling you that, and it would be impossible to assume NONE of the the overwhelming majority of the owners that haven't wrecked their haven't taken harder turns at much faster speeds. I know I turned mine plenty of times at speed and much harder than that with no issue.

It's people that dig the drives and create "bow steer", which greatly reduces the drives' ability to to hold the rear in a turn. It's a universal trait for stepped designs in general, because the steps themselves create more air which is what makes them faster. Keeping some trim and throttle going into a turn keeps the ass planted so that the air created by the steps can be vented out of the sides as it was designed to. That's why you can actually see the steps from the side when it's sitting still. They help channel the air out, not to just look cool.

I would agree!! I'm not sure these guys know what they are talking about with "you have to learn about this turning and these stepped hulls"......seems more like you have to learn more about the design deficiency and how to work around it, or at least with it. This TS Cigarette design has been tossing folks out since Hull #1.

Ummmmmm......Stinson and Simon drove one of the first made by Cigarette. Stepped hulls have been around for 50+ years before that. Cigarette just got it wrong on this one.......and Cheng (not Chang) figured he'd get a good deal by buying the salvage. :)