AO Cat
 

I'm considering the 31' American Offshore named Cats Ass in the classified section. Its clear that’s it’s a fast boat but how will the ride be at 30 to 40 MPH in a one to two foot chop? For those special times when you can't run fast. Would I get wet?

no you wont get wet sweet spot is about 65mph on plane boats run great at 100 plus i have 525 hrs on my 1997 31 ao and i love it;)

Thanks for the info. Its a 350 mile ride one way to see the boat. If it was a cat that runs wet at the lower speeds, I wouldn't bother to go.

I won't be able to go see it untill 11-16. I hope its not snowing then. It was snowing there last week.

I think its a perfect set-up for me. I'll let you know.

Great riding boat & handeling boat..

This is my 1985 Chris Cat. After AO purchased the molds from CC they did some minor refinements, but they are basicly the same. I do get a little mist from the center of the tunnel at slower speeds in bumpy water, but its no big deal to me, because it does not happen all the time. It does feel real good when its a real hot day.:D I love my Chris and it runs through the rough stuff with ease.

I say go for the AO!

What are you doing with the red boat? If you plan on keeping it, I would be happy to make sure it is looked after :)

I saw that boat at put-in-bay on labor day weekend it looks and sounds good i think you would be happy with it

you will get wet running that slow they all sneeze at slower speeds but you'll find that you will be running faster than 40 mph

they ride better at 70+
:D

I'm real excited about seeing this boat. From what all you guys say, I won't be going wrong. The funny thing is I saw that black and white Chris Cat that was in the classified section some time ago and thought what a great looking boat, like yours is Flashback. Then I found out it became the AO. It must be a sign.

khadley
Its good to hear that it floats and runs. I'm not sure we will be able to put it in the water this late in the season.

Chris
Thanks for the offer but as hard as it would be to sell the Checkmate, it would have to go. I only have one slip and not enough money to keep two boats. Plus, you need to get your back healthy before you get back in the rough stuff.

About the spray. I've been sprayed good in my Checkmate and lived. I guess if you don't want to get wet, leave it on the trailer.

WOW! Cats Ass is SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:D :D :D :D

What Flashback said. We get a little wet sometimes, but so what! We really like our Chris Cat!

I'm not a big cat guy, but if I went the cat way I would only go with the AO3100. Just love those things. Awesome boats.

Dueclaws!!!

Do you have your boat in slings behind the house or on a trailer somewhere?? I know I've seen you out before!

At least its still warm there!!

:D :D

29-
You call 65 warm?:D If it's below 72, I'm cold.

You've seen me on Clear Lake and possibly Galveston Bay.

How big of water have you run in before it got a little uncomfortable? I know there built like tanks , but just wondering about the rough stuff!!

Thanks!

Dueclaws: I am right there with you!

Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllll, I'm ata powerplant in Michigan and its 36 right now with a 8 mile an hour wind!! Burrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!

What a person will do to buy a bigger boat!!!

Hey Shaw what are you doing at that powerplant? Which one is it? Drop me an email [email protected]

Plus... It is your own fault that you are up there not ours :D

29-
We've been out in some pretty rough stuff. IMHO it's subjective because different folks have different definitions of rough. My wife has a sensitive back, so we have to choose the water conditions more carefully. But, in many "rough" conditions the faster you run the better the ride! We normally cruise at 70-80 mph.

Most cats will not give a wet ride like the AO (Chris Cat) does. The AO has no spray rails. A heavier boat, will also ride rougher not smoother. A great hull will float from wave to wave ie: Skater, Motion, Spectre and Eliminator are some examples.

Hey Quiet
 

Whats the HP rating. A 30 spectre will do 110 w 2x 500efi's ?(470hp) probably a little faster with some dialing in. If you need to go faster why not do it with a hull thats not working against you. I do like the name though!

There may be one for sale at Jay's shop. Give him a ring.


www.spectrepowerboats.com

Tell him Maximus sent you over.

Maximus

Catmando- all that hp and only 114??????

Maximus

The motors are rated 675hp each. I'll take a look at Spectre but the price on this AO will fit my budget.

The Eliminator Daytonas will spray over the top when going over waves @ 30 - 50 mph and they are smother ride at 70+. The only time you should get wet is when accelerating or stopping. :D

quiet
 

I think you will be impressed.

675 x 2 in a 30 spectre would put you in the upper 120s. with unbelievable acceleration

and no spray

Maximus

if the drives stay on it. those boats are just like skaters with bravos. they wont hold up.:)

Maximus

The Spectre is a great looking boat but I think the AO would work better for me. If speed was all that I was after that may be a better choice. I want something with a little bit of a cabin and a secure ride. I guess 115 would have to do.

I heard th XR drives tend to blow seals but a $60.00 kit would fix that problem.

Hey 29, I thought you would of run back to the warm weather in TX by now. Were you walking by the power plant or boating. The last time I was there I got yelled at by a guard. Its too bad, that was a great place to hang out.

Catmando

I spoke to Jim at AO. He was very helpfull even though I was asking about a used boat from another person. He offered info on the motors and I asked if they would make a swim platform for for the boat. He said that it would be no problem. I understand that Fastcats (Scott is his name?) is easy to talk to also. This is refreshing, the more I learn the better it gets.

Quiet Storm,

Its getting a little chilly up here. The only problem with the weather is, I have my girlfriend and her daughter up here and their not used to the cold.

Me, on the other hand, I worked in Chicago for almost 3 years and its not cold to me yet!!

But, thanks form asking!!!

As far as the plant thing goes, when your the plant electrical engineer you just remind them who's paying thier salary!!!!

I have a friend with a 30 spectre with twin500 hp's, it does 103 to 106{radar}
nice boat, the ride is not the best, it has shallow freeboard and a narrow beam it does have a little bounce to it also at slower speeds, and you will get a little wet at slow speeds and on some turns, I have also been in a 28 eliminator with twin 496 mags nice boat with a cabin it was not the low profile, has a good ride, I liked it better than the 30 spectre, and I have been on a 31 american, they have some mods done that the older boats do not have {chris cat} the american has more freeboard and a cabin, it rides very nice and is a better boat in the rough than the spectre{30} this is my 2 cents buy the american offshore you will love it

I agree
 

I understand about the cabin and I know Jay puts small cabins in some of the 30's.

Secure ride. there is a reason the AO "spits" at you. Hull design. All I have to say is do your homework get inside...workmanship and quality of product will tell the whole story. When you take a turn does the AO lean in or out? Cat builders come from two different camps with regard to hull "flex" where does AO stand? Why? At the very least go for a ride in a couple of different cats before you write the check.


T2x would probably be able to help us here. Although I know he only prefers the reigning "king of boats" he may be able to offer some thoughts. He's seen what happens to boats over 100 plus when things go wrong.

Look.. the AO is a nice machine albeit a little "clunky and dated" in design.

Speed may not be everything to you but your pushing a lot of hp through those drives. 675 hp through a drive that was origionaly designed for 300hp.

I'm turning 470 through XR's with sportmaster lowers.. I have lost both uppers and replaced the seals on both. Seals are backordered till late Nov. getting a new XR drive replaced under Warranty takes approx 3-4 wks. Are you sure your making a wise decision. 2 mo's of summer could dissappear quickly. Less HP to go just as fast. If not under Warranty your difference in price could dissappear quickly.

I will say Mercury has been fantastic about standing by their product. Really first class!!!


Maximus

ps. It will be 80 degrees here today and I'm taking the boat out around 2pm....Catch a quick flight!! you too catmando!

Hey quiet storm, I have met Scott from American Offshore, he gave me a tour of his place{i don't live far from the factory}I saw several boats from start to finish, he has a first class operation, he does in house engine work and most everything else, he is a super guy that stands behind his product, but like some of the other people said test drive some of the brands out there, then make your choice, you can not go wrong with a AO3100
Mark

Scott is no longer with AO. Art has it back.

Also, the AO has the same freeboard, cabin area (different layout), etc, as a Chris Cat. The main difference is in power train (usually Bravos), dash, and lighter layups in the newer AOs. The C Cats used offshore racing style installations: Merc Speedmasters, the engines are installed farther forward using driveshafts, etc.


:D

Catman
Go to the American Offshore Owner's Forum for an update.

29

Since you have an in, can you tell us will we ever be allowed to anchor by the power plant again? I do understand the security aspect but its like a old friend turning its back on you. Many of us enjoyed anchoring there for years. We waved at the guards and they waved back. I feel that we are being punished for something we did not do and would never consider doing. Namely damaging the plant.

Maximus

I will be checking out Cats Ass in a couple of weeks. (It was fun writing that) After that, if I have any doubts about the AO, I will catch a flight and let you show me the difference.

From what I've read, T2x hasn't said too many bad things about AO's especially the 3100.

I do know one thing about you, you can rub it in. Quote: 80 degrees here today. I think we may have reached 45.:(

i have been in a friends 31 AO, with 502's and procharger it runs over 100, and is solid, ive watch other lighter cats run with us and were very squirrely to say the least. ride in every cat of similar size and watch how the boats handle in moderate chop.

dont misunderstand
 

I am not bashing the AO. It's a nice machine. And everyone has their specific needs in a boat.
I personally didn't want a cabin (never usd,broken stuff)
regards to the t2x advice comment. that was purely for his exp with cat design. I don't know what AO's theorys are I just thought it would be important to ask some of these questions before you buy so you dont have buyers remorse.

I've ony run against one AO (last spring/Ft Myers Poker Run). A 31 and it did just fine running at 100 in 1.5's . We had a great run. lots of fun.

Good luck with whatever you choose. and remember the golden rule about Splitting Hairs and go for reliability. A cat is tourture on equipment

Maximus

ps. Open offer still stands for the run on my Spectre

Maximus

I do appreciate the advice. If I didn’t want help with making a decision, I wouldn’t be on here asking for it. I have only been on two cats. A 30’Carrera and a 31’ Warlock. I didn’t like the way the Carrera was put together and I didn’t like the way the Warlock handled. I was ready to give up on cats.

I asked for advise on the Warlock and T2x gave me a very straight up answer. There was no doubt how he felt about the boat and why. From previous post I saw that T2x was involved with the design of the Chris Cat that turned into the AO. Can’t be all bad.

As catmondo puts it: Cats with high freeboard appeal to the recreational performance boater who wants his family to feel safer and more protected in the cockpit. This is where I’m at.

I would still love to take a ride on your Spectre. I don’t know when I will be down there but I’ll look you up then.

Thanks Roger

catmando

I do like the seating and throttle arrangement. It would be different driving from the port side. There has been many times my wife would of liked to have control of the throttles.:eek: It will make things interesting.

H2Xmark

Thanks for the input and advice.

Dueclaws

Where can I see find the info on Scott? I tried to find the AO Owner's Fourm and couldn't.:confused:

Okay, here goes.......................

I am very familiar with the design.....but not the construction of the AO. Presuming it is built correctly the Chris Cat molds will produce a very satisfying cat.

Concerning the wetness, there is no doubt that most cats are subject to spray at low speed, in breezy conditions. Shadows sprayed, Chris Cats sprayed, Skaters spray, and so do Spectres.
When you encounter a forward quartering breeze over 8-10mph in choppy waters.......you may get an occasional splash in the face.....at speeds below 30 or so. The Shadow/Chris's are a little worse because of the abrupt straight sides forward....but even spray rails do not fully correct this.........

Many vees have the same problem.....I encountered it in a Formula 33 about 2 years ago.

As to the performance.......The Chris design will run about 10 mph slower than current Skaters of equal size.....mostly due to the extra tunnel lift in the Skater and the lighter materials and overall profile. Rough water has always been the great equalizer between these designs and in anything over 3 feet the performance equalizes and begins to tip in favor of the older deeper design....... However, Peter's new 32 has very similar aspect ratios to the old Shadows and Chris Cats, making it superior or equal in all conditions.

Obviously, having built the Shadows and currently owning a Skater, I have made my choice...........

T2x

or you could own them both like i do a 31 ao and a 32 skater both great boats and i love them both. i agree the skater is a little more flighty then the ao by the way t2x thanks for the headset and the comp com see ya charlie amann;)