One more plus for the twin OBs. Almost triple the range for the same fuel. And you can still go 100.

I read in powerboat magazine once: "it's not how fast you go; it's how well you go fast"

Another vote for the twin o/b's. I've owned the same boat both ways (26 Daytona-- one 2001 single, one 2005 with o/b's). 2001 with warmed up Merc 575---89.9. 2005 twin 300x's---112.6. Solid reliability and performance.

The o/b boat will run 36-37 with one engine offline
Sterndrive boat........ and you're paddling

I figured "Hell, I can't afford to run either, so why not go for twins"

I'm sure outboards are great but that's not want I want, love the sound of bbc,s and the ilmors.

then why not look at a boat that is designed for bbc's then?!

Why is a 32' cat not designed for twin big blocks

It is you are alright. Those old Shadow and Chris-Cats, not too mention all those 32' Skaters did well with big blocks, and small blocks too. Build what you want, dial it in, enjoy it.

i checked the site and it's a narrow 30' 6" cat w/140 gal capacity. outboard cats are larger these days. there's not even close enough lift to make it perform with all that weight!

not really...that's why they don't make them anymore!

What? Come on man.

That is the exact same logic when people said twin BBC were way too much stern weight for a 27' Magnum Sport. But that just isn't true. I wouldn't mind that 30' cat with a set of 525's that would be A-OK with me.

That's why they don't make them anymore? Now they are called American Offshore, and they have big blocks, and when they were Chris Cats, there a few big block ChrisCats here in New Jersey that ran really well back in the day such as Tango and Cash, plus Ballistic.

Come on man!

The boat ran 110mph with 390hp sb's in powerboat tests, the ilmor weighs less than the scorpions, the doug wright ran into the. 130's with mercury 600's. I see a lot of specter 32's and eliminators, and dcb in that size that run very well

it is true! competitive V single engine boats are over 30' these days. twin v's are about 40'....OLD SV with 750's have no chance against a modern day SV with 525's! old super cats same story...now SCL 525's r racing at 120's! triple OB cats of that era would get beat down by a new twin x-cat!

I do not disagree with this post at all, but your prior post was some straight-up bullsh*t.

Happy Holidays, I am outta here.

so a smaller boat with nearly 800hp runs slower than a larger better handling DW or skater boat does with less than 600. i'm missing something i think

I don't understand your negativity, the predator is a great boat that I'm looking forward to. It will be a great boa t with the ilmors, if I wanted a skater or dw I would buy them, I just like the looks of the. 306 and how ir performs. By the way what cat and cat experience do you have?

Ruh- Row !!!! LOL :lolhit:

:food-smiley-007::hitfan:

i have raced and won in just about every apba premier class over the past 15 years from a 250 hp single to a 4500hp turbine monsters. set records. inducted into the apba hall of fame and currently hold the fastest race recored speed in a offshore cat at 197 which was 193 which i also set. the boats i have set up and rig...win....was the technology editor of a boat magazine...spent way too much time at donzi, lake-x, skater and places all over the world trying to make something better....20+ years in powertrain engineering development and testing for ford motor, lotus, and a few others. i currently consult on boat and yachts around the world. currently under contract now. i am one of the few people that can engineer a part, build it, and then race it at a world class level...prior to racing boats i was a top 10 professional GP racer....seemingly i've managed to make a living racing for the past 25 years.

Whats your name?
Weve built plenty of 32 Skaters, some with eggbeaters some with big blocks and number 6 drives.....ones running over 170mph...i dont see any outboards going that fast :D
Congrats on all the accomplishments, hell of a record!

I'm a new member here like Ronza and don't know the history of many members.
Congrats on your achievements.
I'd feel certain that had he seen this as your signature he'd of never addressed your knowledge. With all his questions it's obvious he loves the toy he's having constructed and wants the best.
I wish him the best as he'll be tossing out a lot more coin than I did getting into the sport.

See ya,
Kelly

How do your 32' big block boats perform, are they too much weight on the boat with the 6's. Would you recommend the bbc in this size cat. Wanting to use ilmors and arnesons on mine, do you think this setup will work ok

from powerboat pro mag/site:
"April 25th 2010
JBS Racing headed West for the first time to see what the 50′ turbine powered Mystic could do. Jeff Stevenson and Joe Skrocki blew the competition out of the water with the highest speeds Lake Havasu has ever seen. Shoot out speed was 178 MPH for the Top Gun award and an unofficial speed of 206,8 MPH! JBS Racing then set another speed record during a race of 197,3 MPH. We would like to thank Turbine Marine, Mystic Powerboats and Super Trucks for making it possible for JBS Racing to be crowned “King of the Desert”"

been on plenty of small over powered cats! i dig the acceleration but they make for crap handling boats in open water. i like offshore water! there's a big difference from peter's (skater) old 30' design to his current let alone the current 32' he makes. each of his boats are Engineered for the application. he's not going to ship a 30' o/b hull for bbc to be installed in it!

We put the motors as far forward as you can get them, and they fly level and handle great. Yes. Big blocks are the way to go in a 32 Skater. Im sure the Illmore/Arneson will run great too!

Ha. I saw this and didn't know WTF you meant. All the sudden it makes sense.:drink:

broke a rocker stud, cost 600 to get a 20 minute tow back to my marina. was having trouble shifting into forward from time to time. made for some very tricky maneuvers around the dock. 27' fever 1 motor.

in a 30' cat take the twins. in a v- hull less than 30' i prefer a single. if i had $$$ staggered is the way to go. try working on 2 side by side motors in under a 30' v, not fun.

I have a 28 Pantera single and it is not easy to dock.

It is nice for working on the boat, cleaning, they can be fast if you put enough power in them. Anyone who hasnt been towed back to the dock is ling. It happens. What can you do..lol.

that being said I would buy twin engines if I bought a 30ft cat. That is a nice package.

I would suggest in that size range going to a 28 Skater. I love those boats and they are friggin fast man.

I think we cans top posting now...this whole post is crap....

This is actually a very realistic question. I'd bet that the two packages (single 525/XR vs Twin 6.2's) are nearly the same up front cost.

Long term though I'm not sure. the 525 will need a top end at 200-250 hours and a full rebuild at 400-500 hours. The XR drive will be fully taxed with the 525.

6.2's... what's the life expectancy on these things, 800-1000 hours? double that of the 525. The parts are also WAY cheaper when it comes to rebuild. The Bravos drives are perfectly suited to the power and should last just as long as the engines. Headers are problematic too.

So, the only extra expense of the 6.2's comes with general maintenance. It doesn't really cost that much to maintain these things... we're talking an extra $200 or so per season for an extra impeller, fuel filter, and fluids? exhaust manifolds go, but two sets of these for every set of CMI's... I'll call that a wash.

Overall, I'm with twins. It's far less of a PITA to deal with than a single 525 that IMO is not reliable. I used to put 200 hours a year on my boat. I would have blown my lid if I had to pull the engine every year.

i have enjoyed reading this one....

All very good points! This is the reason I went with the twin 6.2 292 Fastech vs single 525 271 Fastech (back when they made the 271.

One downside to the 6.2 black engines is there is very little you can do with respect to horsepower upgrades, unlike the 525. Pretty much have to start from scratch, which is okay with me, someday...:drink:

Oh, and I believe the 525 271 package was the same or a bit more than the twin 6.2 292 package back in 2005.

Twins any day.

I will never own a single again

But I do enjoy watching other people go fast in them!