It will be interesting to see what the light 46 does with the seatek diesel's. I am building a new Skater with Diesel's, my hull will be heavier but the engines and trans will be lighter then the seatek's, so in the end we will be about the same weight. Here is an article in this months Boating Magazine about the boat I'm building.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]540939[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]540942[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]540940[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]540941[/ATTACH]

I think it was 97 or 98 but the 4 engine boat was not there. Alcone won the race.

I found the shirt but it does not have the year on it.

Hello this is Jim Lee. I guess it was the next year when we raced Matt and Jerry in the Alcone 46 Skater and Bob and I were in Big Thunder 4 engine 46. Rough that year as well. Probably one of the most challenging Fun races where both boats ran the entire race and we diced it out the entire 126 miles or so.. If you find the tape I would love one!! Thanks! It was a great trip!!! :)

Is it a new longer 50' or 46' with bustle like the other "50's" and "52"? An extra 4' could really help I'd imagine.

Jim and Curtis, jeez guys, rough? those sea's couldnt have been more than 10 to 12 with an occasional 14+. ok I guess that was rough. I remember being on shore watching WHM turn out from the beach and hit a big roller and the wind caught it. they ended up about 20 feet to the right at a 45 degree angle from the direction they started out. as for Sloppy Joes, the boat launched and stood straight up and the wind was so bad the guys in the chopper above said it just stopped moving forward and flopped over on the roof. every year we raced there the wind would not let up. in the first race one of the local boats (twin outboard made out of plywood) stuffed and blew apart. when they brought the crew in the driver reached in the rescue boat and pulled out his seat. that was all that was left of the boat. I will see what I have for tapes.
Jim, you coming to the Pirates of Lanier poker run? if so I will see you there.
steve

There seem to be a lot of differences in the gear ratios being used amongst these diesel boats.
The Skater 42 V is running 1.38-1 for 84 mph
The 46 Skater Supreme I was on last year had 0.86-1 for 106mph
Joakim Skater is going to run 1.24-1 for? mph
And my 43 Nortech Supercat I was going to use 0.80-1
Bigyellowcat what ratio you trying in the 50?

I was always under the impression if you had the power and torque prop speed is what’s needed to get a diesel boat to run relatively fast?
All the above have one thing in common Arnesons.

The gear ratio I will have will be 1-1. I am using a straight #8 arneson with no drop box, the transmission I am building will be a full time forward, full time reverse 1-1 gear ratio with a trolling valve for low speed (docking,ect.). The main difference with mine and the other ones is I will have high speed diesels (4000 rpm continuous, 5000 rpm race). With the gear ratio and rpm of the engines I will be able to prop it just like the normal gas powered big skaters.

Yes just as I thought you are going with of a prop speed of 3800 rpm + which is the number I am shooting for.
Props are more readily available as they are similar to gas motors which are running 1.3-1.5 reduction.

The Skater I was on had a prop speed of 3600 and ran around 106mph with 17x32 five blades,

This boat was in NJ and for sale last year, anybody know were it is now?

Those are the same drives I have, did it get on plane easy? handle good? have a crazy big rooster tail?

I'm thinking I will be running 17 x 38 six blades to keep my prop slip down and to take some load off each blade.