Handling comparison, 28 Skater vs. 30' single V
 

First off, I love my Superboat Y2K. However I'm on the line of reliability vs. speed. Best top speed was 90, everday top speed 85 +/-. It handles rough water surprizingly well and is alot of fun to drive.

I've got a bug in my a$$ about cats. I would like to break 100 mph and thinking a 28 skater with OBs would be my best bet.

I know nothing about cats and courious how they handle. I'm sure this has been discussed, but would like info on this size range.

Thanks

I have owned a few v's... 22 scarab, 33 fountain, 28 Pantera race boat. None of them even compare to the 28 Skater in rough water. The Skater is a smoother more consistant ride through the rough. I have raced so many V's with "Big power " and beat them badly!! The only problem is now, not many will run with me :) They see me coming and turn the other way or come off plane.
I bought my Skater with 2.5's stock went 110. Modified by Diamond Marine to 122. Now I have the new 300xs and run 110, but burn 30gals per hr cruising @90mph.
In my opinion the only boat better than a 28 is a Larger Skater:drink:

Have you been in a cat? If not well take u for a spin in the Motion on the Hudson run. Once you run a cat you'll be hard pressed to run a vee bottom again. Its all about going fast!!:D:D

That just about sums it right there!! Thanks

I will definately take you up on that!!!

It depends on what you normally like to do. If your into putting a lot of people in the boat and cruising around at 60 mph you may not enjoy the 28 all the time. The 28 is an amazing boat but they are built to run fast. I have to cruise below 50 or above 70 because of the hop. If you are into all out performance, pound for pound a 28 Skater will be really hard to beat.

It is usually me and my buddies in the boat. Faster is better! Somtimes I take my 5 yr old daughter, but only for short rides. However, she always says "Faster Daddy, Faster!!!" My wife has a bad shoulder and can't handle bumps, so she doesn't go on the boat.

How is it getting insurance these days? What is the cost compared to a 30ft Superboat?

Cats and Vees have their good and bad points. The 28 Skater rides really nice and almost never hits hard after a big wave. They float. Even your wife may ride again with you. Insurance and storage space (no cuddy) are problems for sure. Go for a ride and decide. The Motion will be very similar in ride. Take the offer for a ride.

I took a 28 Skater for a test drive before I bought my 28 AT. It did well in the chop and ran 96 MPH with 250XS's. The problem is that the GF at the time(now the wife) wanted a bathroom and cabin. Oh well, I love my AT. I think I remember the owner of the test drive boat telling me the thing was great in 2-3 footers, but if anybody told you they were great in 4 footers they were lying.

lets be realistic here, a 28 skater could never out run a 30' vee in big water unless your REALLY good on the sticks and running against average joe in his vee bottom.

vee's are alot more forgiving than a 28'. and honestly the longer the better for O/B cats. a 30 motion or spectre will out run a 28 unless its flat. the 28's are a handful in snotty water. they are however a blast for flat water agianst almost anything else.

the 28 is a serious boat and runs fast but there is little run for error compared to a vee. just keep in mind that if you miss judge a wave or something along those lines the consequences are probably going to alot worst in a 28 than a 30 vee.

More times than not, the water I boat on is not rough. What I consider rough is large boat wakes, 2-3' chop, and a mix of both. Any boat under 30' is not going to be fun in 4'+, unless your in the mood for it. I know how to handle a V, just like to know any special techniques with a cat.

Kendle, have JC turn the boost up to 1000 hp, and put a #6 on the Y2K...............100 PLUS !!!!!

Kendall, tuck it in and be quick on the sticks and you will LOVE the 28. 3-4s and below and there a blast when set up right.

SKaterDave I was not talking about 30' boats I was talking about a 37 and 42 outerlimits and numerous 35 & 38 fountains I have handed their ass to them.Not in smooth,calm water but in rough snotty water. The 37 had 900`s and the 42 had 1200`s. I had 340hp diamond marine 2.5`s I would out accelerate the **** out of them.I AM NOT SAYING THIS WOULD HAPPEN EVERY TIME WITH ANY DRIVER, BUT I HAVE DONE IT SEVERAL TIMES !!
I have Never been beat by a motion or a spectre.Maybe it is part to MY DRIVING SKILLS :grinser010:
Going 100+ in a V or a cat there is little room for error! A 28 is Not a beginner boat ! I had 15 yrs experience before I bought mine and have been running it for 6 yrs now. Set up and experience is Key to running one of these boats all out.I am sure you know this since you have owned a Skater or two.
SO WHEN YOU SAY A 28 COULD NEVER OUTRUN A 30 V IN THE ROUGH .....YOU ARE WRONG!!
I am sure you will dissagree with post but it is true in my case :) NEVER SAY NEVER MY FRIEND! :)

My 32 Activator will murder a 28 skater in a 2 foot chop or better

Well ya..with the 1800000 HP motor you have in it :drink:

Its only 930HP now:lolhit:

Plus your long and thin......so I've heard:eekdrop:

are you for real??? maybe we need to understand your version of rough is.

Its hung like a tuna can my friend ask my girl:grinser010::drink:

I might as well toss my 2cts worth into this chest thumping event. I think we got off track to the questions. First off I would definitly take a ride in a cat before buying one of any size. Theres good and bad points to every boat. Cats I found are great for speed and going straight. They take some getting used to in the turns especially at high speeds. As with any boat the bigger boat will take bigger chop. Outboards tend to be a little faster. Lighter and less HP lost in getting power to the props. Insurance now is another question. You might want to reasearch costs and availability. Some carriers will not even write you a policy being a first time cat owner and it could be more than you where expecting. Check it out before you buy. I almost had a boat I couldn't use, then I found a policy. Shop around. Others where right though, I don't see me going back to a "V" any time soon. Much smoother ride at cruising speeds. Side by side, with a "V" at the same speed, while the "V" might be getting tossed the "CAT" will be a much smoother ride. For what it's worth.

Skater dave would you like me to give You some driving and throttling lessons:evilb:
As I stated these were My Opinions and past experiences.
The water was not too rough only 3'-4'
coming from all directions. All I was stating is that it a 28 Skater can beat a 30' V in water besides calm.
For real rough water 8'-10' I would want a 41Apache!!

My .02 cents. I had a 26 foot velocity with twin outboards. Ran in the eighties every day, but you had to pay attention to run it fast and smooth. I have a 25 talon center pod cat. Anyone could drive it up to lift off. From 80 to 100+ boat flys literally. With the center pod it will turn on a dime at speed. Boat rides great . Very smooth. I am still learning about the boat and enjoying the experience.They are two diffrent boats. I suggest at least one of each.

My buddy has a 28 with 300X's. He originally had 2.5's and switched over to the 300's. We ran the boat in LI sound in "real" 3-4 footer and the boat is small for real conufused 3-4 footers. As agreed before any 30ft boat running hard in 3-4's your going to take a beating. Therefor I'd still have the cat cause in anything under, youll be hauling the mail! Also in rough water no 28 Skater is going to run with a high powered Outerlimits! We're going to give Kendall a ride in our 35 Motion to see what he thinks. A 28 Skater is a tiny boat compared to a 35 or 36ft cat though. In rough water the boat is just too small. For 3ft and under the boat is a blast. Just my .02

I have no first hand experience driving a cat but from what i have seen a 28-30' cat will outrun a 28-30' V in snotty water where you can get on top and lay into it. But, when the water really kicks up and you start launching the boat and can't really get on top of the waves, the V is going to do it's job and "split" the waves. Then I give the advantage to the V. Obviously being in BIG water in a 28-30 boat isn't a common occurrence for most of us.

Just what I have observed.

You are right a 28 skater is No comparison to a 35 Motion or a 36 Skater.
I never said it was a smooth easy ride in 3-4 , You have your hands FULL and it will beat the **** out of you. I usually go see my chiropacter after a day of hard running.My beating the "big " powered Outerlimits was a case of being in the "right water at the right time" and being able to out accelerate and stay ahead.
My next boat will be a 32B or a 36 with #6.

Excellent post! This guy is 100% correct. In flat water or even a little chop these boats are unbeatable. However, they are very unforgiving. A 28 is quite a bit smaller than a 30 motion of 30 Spectre....they are also quite a bit faster in your average river water conditions. However 2' and above your not going to like the ride. I am talking real 2' waves....a lot of exaggerating around here.

3-4's in our boat??? Real 3-4's? I dont know about that. YOu may have to take me for a ride too. I have a little more than 4 years in my boat and like I said under 2' the boat is incredible. I was out in 3-4's probably a tad bigger this past weekend.....I rode in my Dads 38 fountain with #6's. No way would I have wanted to be in my boat. It would have made it but not fast and especially not as fast as him.

Come on down to South W. Fl this winter and we will go for a Ride :) Make sure your life Ins policy is up to date though :)
I maybe a little crazy, I love running in rough water and practicing Autorotations in Helicopters

They are super cool boats. I have thought about buying one on several occasions and found the insurance very reasonable because of the OB's. Although I had 20+ years without an incident and prrior cat ownership experience.

Im curious, running in 3-4's or just rough water do you ever break anything on the boat or motors? Gearcases, propshaft, or throw blades off the prop? Seems like it would be quite a bite of stress and strain on equipment.

In six years one gear case 3.0 liter No 2.5 cases.Wore out a set of 2.5`s (250hrs). I have my motors strapped down, seems to help in the rough.No problems with the hull, Peter builds them tough! The most punishment is taken in my neck and back, thats what the chiropracter is for. The best ride in the boat is 1'-2', However you can run Fast in larger water if you have the skill.The biggest problem is the Wind Not the Waves.

So, just to be clear, a 28 Skater can run better than this in the rough?

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I dont know that Pantera is doing a hell of a job, I think the 28 would Skater would be right there though.
I had a 28 Pantera 6pack with a 572 700hp troy dennis motor.Great boat!! Pull up the Video of "Secret Agent" a 28 skater

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ehklD...layer_embedded

I think they are simply 2 different animals but the Pantera with a single engine and a big motor will run very well. Better than many might expect, I know alot of people cant believe how mine runs.


My boat is above.

Steve,

Well since you have had both I believe you. :drink:

I just cant see a 28-30' cat running like that in spaced out water. But I could be wrong. Cats run like a sum***** in the close together chop but I have never seen one run like that in the bigger stuff. Yes bigger cats but not 28 footers.

Great videos!!! That kind of water I maybe see twice a season and would only go out in it for a short thrill, or come into it in certain sections of the Hudson River.

This is the type of wind chop that is no problem for my Y2K. Any bigger and it becomes more demanding. This again is more extreme to what I normally boat in.


[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTiJJx5oKDg[/YOUTUBE]

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YTdbcNWim3Y[/YOUTUBE]