Stepped vs Deep V
 

Not to beat a dead horse, but I have a few questions regarding stepped hulls and was hoping the offshore racers might be able to offer a different perspective from my fishing forum.

I have the option of a stepped hull on a 31 foot CC offshore fishing boat or a conventional V. I fish off the coast of South Carolina, and usually encounter 3 foot seas. I run to the gulf, approx 50 miles each way, and want a faster ride.

The advantages of a stepped hull, as I am told, are faster ride and increased fuel efficiency at cruising speed. The V hull tops out at 65 mph with twin 350 Yahama 4 stroke outboards. The stepped hull, I am told, can do the same with twin 250 Yamaha 4 stroke outboards. They are on hull number 3 of the stepped hull, and have yet to power one with twin 350 Yamahas.

So what are the compromises, if any, of a stepped hull? How different is the ride? Are they hard to handle? Do they track well? How about slow speed handling (no wake zones might compare to trolling in the ocean).? Are stepped hulls better in lakes versus ocean? Do they spin end over end if I turn the wheel after hitting a wave?

Thank you,
Jason

What's the beam? Is the length inclusive of an integrated engine bracket?

Specs of Deep V
 

Length 32-7
Beam 9-8
Weight loaded 11,560lbs, dry 5850
Draft 23 inches
Deep V 24.5 degrees

http://www.contenderfishingboats.com/boats.aspx?id=454

I am led to believe the stepped hull has identical dimensions - with a $6K higher price tag.

Thanks,
Jason

I can tell you from experiance that a 30' boat with two big heavy 4 stroke's hanging off the back will be a single purpose boat , it might be fast, but the trade off is not worth it , make the company build it first and run it in all types of water before you committ , because once you own it , it,s yours !!!

RHC

intrepid r stepped
dusky stepped
yellowfin stepped
ect
ect

go with yellowfin!!!!

You should take a look at the Renegades also. These boats are built well and rigged well. Handle the ocean well also. Great people to deal with. You have a choice of stepped or non stepped hulls and they will sea trial you in both. Latest model is a 38 Footer, You will also have quite a bit of coin leftover versus the contender to put in your fuel tank.

But what are the compromises, if any, of a stepped hull? More dangerous? Harder to troll with?

Thanks,
Jason

The stepped is only going to help you in the flat water of the ICW, I live north of Myrtle Beach and run the ICW to L.R inlet out to the ocean all the time, you can spin a stepped boat out at lower speeds in low trim settings in turns. Trolling no difference. The chop of the ocean is going to make up for no steps. We only have a few days out there that the ocean is lake flat, without the s.e. winds.

THIS SOUNDS LIKE A GOOD DEAL, YOU CAN TEST BOTH:coolcowboy::coolcowboy: and compare to the other boats you are looking at. test rides help a lot. thats what I did and bought the boat a year later 24 OL, 8' x 24' and have owned it for 19 years and very happy with the way it handled, compared to other 24 to 27 foot hulls with singles i/o. now looks like I am going up a few feet to a 28 or 30 single:coolcowboy:. ps UP HERE ON THE CAPE THE 8' BEAM handles better than my friends 7' beam 24footer. I have been in both lots of times plus the freeboard helps he stays around the bay close to home were we have gone to the islands nantucket and MV also block island and long island. he takes the ferry:evilb:.but its time to move up a few feet for me after 19 yrs. art

Do Not Even Think About A Renegade

:) Thanks Laud

What makes you say that?

oh sh-t

:food-smiley-007::food-smiley-007:: here we go look what you staed ted :ban:

donz jr

AMEN !!!!

Yes !!!! X 2 on the Yellowfin !!!!

((Do Not Even Think About A Renegade))

I'm curious as to why The 'Dreamer' with no boat and money in the bank would make this statement also??? Please elaborate.

Get the step.

Step

Jason: You are comparing apples to oranges with the two boats you describe. 1) the Yamaha 350`s are much heavier than the 250`s which will change your CG, and step bottom boats are very sensitive to CG and weight change. Also the 350 gear cases are much bigger and props are limited, not to mention cost of 350`s opposed to 250`s. I doubt that you would be able to notice any difference in boats with ride and handling if you didn`t know which boat you were in. 31` twin engine outboard center consoles are totally different animals than the high performance cigarette type boats that are running in the 100 mph range in that those boats are running surface type drive systems, which accentuate the CG and step bottom application. 2) Generally you don`t have as much trim capacity with the step bottom boat as the CG and steps pretty much dictate the ride angle of the hull. Hope the info helps, go for the 31 with the 250`s and steps, but ride both, only make sure it`s apples to apples.

the fact that a lot of the 07-08 production went to natiional liquidators after the coasties picked em up... like 10-15

and like avanti carrera catera and a few others banks r not keen to loan on or have been blacklisted from loans entirely

Thanks for the input. I ended up ordering a 31 Contender with the stepped hull, with twin 250 Yamaha 4 strokes. I had the opportunity to test ride a similar setup and was very impressed with the ride and fuel economy.

Real life data will follow in the spring...

Jason

Hi Dreamer,

You are very right about them getting a lot of the boats. The boats are a low cost investment and run great in the rough and can hold people. See where this goes. In South Florida any big center is a player in the transport business. They have taken many Wellcraft, Hydra-Sports, Avanti, Carrera, Catera Renegades and others because they can handle the seas.

One of the 32 Renegades I have now was a "runner" in a former life. It is in great shape and we really enjoy it.

It is a great boat, especially when you figure what you pay and what you have left over. The downside is they, like a lot of other twin and triple boats are tough to finance down here. You are correct about the blacklist too.

Seems to me they used to use some other Go-Fast boats back in the day to do a little transport, Cigarette and Midnight to name a few. So do you stay away from those?

At the end of the day they are super nice people and deliver a great product for the money. I do not "Transport" but truly appreciate a good well designed boat that actually delivers on what it should, when so many fall so short.