Single vs. Twin Engine Cat
I plan on purchasing my first catamaran spring of 2010. I am considering both a single and twin engine application. I primarily boat on a 10,000 acre lake close to home. A few trips to LOTO and maybe one to Lake Cumberland will be in store for next year. I would like to approach the 100mph mark and am looking for a boat with this criteria:
great overall handling (planing, turning, no porpose, etc) decent cockpit and cabin room good value A few of the manufacturers that come to mind are Eliminator, American Offshore, Force and Carrera I would prefer not to spend more than 75K, any suggestions? |
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I think you already answered the single vs twin question with 'decent cabin room'. That means twins...
Make sure you consider insurance in the equation. Speed costs money in more ways than one. Lucky I owned my cat before things got crazy! |
Not mine but seems to fit your needs at a good price. It will be hard to get away from the porpose in the american offshore 31.
http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/boa/1470488929.html |
There have been quite a few American Offshore 3100s for sale in the classifieds for $60-90k. There aren't any in there now but maybe after New Year's there will be. If not, go to the AO owners' forum and PM OSO member quest. He might know of one for sale.
AO3100s are old school, but they are very stable, great riding cats. One with 700s gives great acceleration and 110-115mph speed. I wouldn't own one with less than 525s. |
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I'd give a Spectre/Motion a look. Seats five. Runs 100 MPH with twin 300 Mercs. Great bang for the buck. They can be had for ~ $75,000.
Mike |
call Paul @ tri state. He has a brand new 2005 Force that has never been in the water. It has a Teague 900 efi single and canopies. It will run well over a 100 and I think it could be had in your price range. The 1 yr warentee is still in effect on the motor because it has not been in the water. I sat in the boat many times in the showroom and it is mint. His number is 631 724 8707.
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Thanks for the replies. A single engine boat is attractive because of the less moving parts (less money in maintenance, fuel), weighs less (towing), and smaller (boat primarily on 10K acre lake). I have been told however single engine cats don't handle well. That if you want a cat you need twins. Also how reliable are single engine, big horsepower cats in front of bravo style drives?
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Originally Posted by Plum Crazy
(Post 2994379)
Thanks for the replies. A single engine boat is attractive because of the less moving parts (less money in maintenance, fuel), weighs less (towing), and smaller (boat primarily on 10K acre lake). I have been told however single engine cats don't handle well. That if you want a cat you need twins. Also how reliable are single engine, big horsepower cats in front of bravo style drives?
As for reliability of the bravo, I don't think there is much difference between a cat of V. It's all in the max engine torque, boat weight and driver. You probably run a higher X dimension on a cat which I believe can be harder on the outdrive. |
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Revolution Performance Marine...all the way, it has a cabin that is very roomy and I have slept overnight in. You will be spending a bit more, but you could come in under the 90,000 dollar price with a 496ho, and you will be in a brand new boat. You won't go wrong with the RPM and Steve Tripp's customer service, I am not bashing other Mfg. BUT if you ride in the others, and look at the fit and the finish, you will make up your own mind.
Here is the link to RPM and a few pictures of mine, if you want true custom, stay away from all of the cookie cutter guys, this boat will be built exactly how YOU want it:drink: http://www.rpmpowerboats.com/ |
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These are the only ones I have of the cabin..The pics of the guy in the cabin working, thats Wayne of RPM and he is 6'3" tall, a big guy:lolhit:
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Are you the same Plum Crazy from the Viper world?
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Buy mine, build up the motors a little for you trip dig requirement and pocket a large chunk of the cash in savings!!!!
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+3 on RPM
I honestly feel that the RPM cat is the nicest single engine cat I have ever had the opportunity to drive. There is no way to go wrong with this package, and Steve... the owner, is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He would bend over backwards making sure a customer is happy. He helps me out, gives me advise, and I havent even bought a boat from him.......yet. Chris |
Take a look at HTM, The SR24 meets or exceeds all of your requirements. Not a boat out there in its size that has near the room inside the cabin and cockpit.
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Originally Posted by tbanzer
(Post 2995208)
Take a look at HTM, The SR24 meets or exceeds all of your requirements. Not a boat out there in its size that has near the room inside the cabin and cockpit.
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Forget the HTM in rough water. At LOTO that boat will beat you up. It is a nice lake boat. I prefer twins in a cat. To go 100 mph in a single you are going to need a blower engine and that means you will have drive issues. Getting towed in is not fun. With twins you can get to 100 with mild power and if you break a drive you can limp on one. Going fast in a cat with mild power will take some skill in rough water to not break bravos. In and out of the water is hard on drives. A used 28 Skater with twin outboard 300's or 300x's is about as nice as it gets for going 100 mph for under $75k. I like the Eliminator hull for no porpoise and the creature comforts. A 28 with twins or a 33 would be nice. There are better rough water hulls like Skater, Nortech and MTI but the cost will be far more. You get what you pay for. Sorry but the AO 31 (all the Chris Cat knock offs) are old school and a little scary to drive. There are much larger differences in cat hull designs than say V-bottom comparisons. For what you want the 28 Skater is the best boat for the buck by a long shot. Nothing else will even be close in ride quality or speed. No cabin, but most other cats have lousy cabins anyway.
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A U.I.M. Class 3C racecat (23-24ft/ 1800lbs/200Xs) is a 100+mph boat...but it will set you back more than 75K...
If it was me IŽd forget the idea of a cabin in a cat and look only for speed... |
I'm sure there are some very nice smaller cats out their but personally I wouldn't look at anything under 30' or so if you plan on spending any time at LOTO. I'd also definitely have twins for all the good reasons that Brad mentioned... Heck I even bought a small 280 Dancer for my wife with twins for that very same reasons...
There are quite a few Eliminators down at the lake that seem to work pretty well. As for a cabin mine has one and we only use it for storage of life jackets and floaties... It's pretty large but without vents you can get pretty claustrophobic, it would work in a pinch to get out of a downpour but I'm not to sure I'd spend time down there for an overnighter. Right now is a perfect time to check out your options there are a ton of boats available at the best prices we've ever seen. I'd take my time and do some research and if you can go on as many test rides first. Good luck Jim |
I prefer twins too personally and if it has to carry those close to you ..go a tad bigger than I stated.. a 28 Skater with twins would be good.
You can run one in heavy seas, it just takes skill to do it. |
Originally Posted by mangle
(Post 2994445)
Are you the same Plum Crazy from the Viper world?
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I appreciate all of the reponses. I have all winter to think and search for a good boat. Life is good.
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