30' deep v will run like it's dragging two anchors and 30' cat will run like it's dragging one . :party-smiley-004:

True... :lolhit:

This is a personal opinion... I think v-hulls are better looking. I think their lines are better. Don't get me wrong there are plenty of beautiful cats out there. Skater makes some of the sexiest cats, however I think the V hull skater is even sexier than its cat sisters.....

Driven both. had rides in both. YOu have to ask yourself what is important to you? where are you boating (typ. sea conditions) etc. IN general. Same size cat. (say 30-32) to a "V" (30-32) with same power. cats will be faster, Untill you get into some serious chops. Like at a Poker Run. YOu have to be a pro to drive a cat to it's limits and just skip the chops. Now.. getting to be larger huls. 45' + cats can keep up with the V's in haevyseas just due to size. Size DOES matter. Countless times I been in runs where the same size cats. (32-35) passed me by in relatively small chops, the when the seas got nasty they had to throttle back and I was just keep going. If it is some serious seas. 8-10+ I rather be in a V. (been there, white knuckles for sure, but the V will take the punsishment better) Up to 45 -50' after that not much differrence. Both wil bring you home. But, location, location location.. Just think about what you want, what you need. There is NO perfect boat. (i'm working on it lol )

Maybe you can ask the 98% of the people here who went with V-hulls.:evilb::lolhit:

Michael

Just wondering.... ? how many cats are there and how many "v" 's. I have nothing against cats, V's, tri's pantoons, flats. or a plywood. .. I like anyting that floats.
My first "boat" was an oak door in a small creek. :)

cyrus, is this going to be your first power boat? If it is or even if your a beginner forget a cat. You'll never get insurance and if you can for some reason it will be sky high. Get a few years seat time in all types of water conditions and get some ride time in a cat and judge the difference for yourself. I'm sure you can find someone at your local ramp to take you for a blast so you can feel the difference. Cats are a totally different ride and a whole new driving experience. Guys will argue their opinions all day long about which boat is better but it comes down to personal preference. IMO a cat is a more stabil ride in any water condition because of its foot print on the water. Lots less side to side motion. I ride with friends all the time, similar size boats and I watch as we go thru the same seas. Their rolling up and down and side to side while I am much smoother with mostly up and down. And yes, I am faster

Thought you were talking about me untill I read the....
 

"older couple part" :lolhit: Actually great comparison too except for the additional 7' of hull length and how many thousand lbs??
Was fun actually seeing it though. If we were in a 30' Velocity how different would it have been? I've run beside two different buddies in those same boats (30' Velocity) in the same conditions we were in and result was the same. I had to work to stay with them while they were BSing in the cockpit :cartman:

Couple of observations based on my experience. A bit skewed as it is O/B vs I/O which ain't quite the same. I have fairly strong opinions and personal preferences but I will keep them to myself ;)

Performance/capability: My first twin O/B 24' Sonic ran dead nuts on 80 GPS w/twin 250 O/B's (approx. 490 hp's total). I ran a guy in a 24' HTM cat w/a 500 HP (470 hp's??) and was a dead heat.
Ran a buddy's 25' Outlaw w/the same 500 HP and I had him by about 3 mph's but my boat had slowed down approx. 3 mph's by that time so I'd say the Outlaw was at 73/74.
From what I've seen, it appears that a single 500-ish I/O will push an efficient Vee 70/low 70's where a cat will see another 10 maybe. IMO, when you start adding massive power is where the speed disparity really shows. I also believe that you need a minimum speed for the efficiency of the tunnels to start working. It takes power to make that lift too.

Had a friend w/a 24' Skater that did my regular Lake Erie trip and almost lost his boat and wife said never again. I wasn't there but sounded to be extreme conditions for that boat but similar to what I have done many times. It seems that the cat's are regarded as better until extreme conditions are found. So go over in a cat and come back in a cab or go both ways in a vee if you know what you're doing.

Driving: In all of the boats I've been in and driven (that are fast) this is no contest. Yeah I guess we can all bury our tabs and drives in our Vee's but that's not real world. To make them run the way they were designed, you have to "drive" them.
Unless it's farm pond smooth w/no passengers (shifting payload) I'm on the throttles, drives and tabs the entire time.
The cats, unless you're running really fast you set em and crack a beer.

This is proven time and again in the smaller boats. 100 in my 19' STV tunnel boat barely kept you awake. 100 in my 19' Allison left you at dock wanting a cigarette even if you don't smoke!
IMO, an important aspect here (to the cat's) is the ride/handling of the cat tempts you to drop your guard. (Check some of the recent poker run threads to confirm this) I've done this in the smaller boats too. Running fast in the V's requires you to be on your "A" game where as the cat is much more forgiving (did I actually type that??) and allows you to drop your guard.
Next thing you know, you're at a wake that's 3 times bigger than you thought, going 3 times faster than you should. In my vee anyhow, being so involved in it's operation, it's very rare that I get surprised by sea conditions.

Great discussion w/very little mud slinging. So far :whistle:

I do agree that in SEVERE conditions, the vee will be able to still run a decent speed, and the cat will just be taking waves over the front. But I am talking very rough seas and these are pleasure boats, not work boats that have to be out there on those kind of days, so leave it tied up if its that bad. But, I like my vee bottom for the simple fact that it has a cabin (that you use more than many notice), andf you can put more than 5 people in the boat. With that said I am kind of looking for a cat haha

another thing to consider w/the cats...
 

semi-severe to severe conditions w/a strong head wind. Spooky stuff.
Also crosses lines from performance boating to pleasure boating which are two different things in my world.