Offshoreonly.com - Question from JEFFREY the founder of OSO!

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Question from JEFFREY the founder of OSO!

Can't believe it's been almost 25 years since that one Sunday where I sat with some canned software and created OSO (I'm not even sure Claris software is around anymore). After selling the site to Steve a few years later he then took it to the next level many times over. His passion for everything offshore powerboating was evident and the continued success of the site today is due in large part to his many contributions.

The one thing I find most amusing about the website today is the logo. Neither Steve nor the company who purchased OSO every bothered to "update" the logo. That same logo with the flames is now vintage! Many of you with older boats will remember a time when flames were the "IN" thing in our community (and perhaps some of you still believe so ... ha ha!). Anyway, I've been in and out of the boating world over the last few decades and most recently (three years ago) dipped my foot back into the world of big boats. I had always been a Cigarette guy having owned everything from a Cafe Racer to multiple Top Guns (including a F2 race boat), a Gladiator and a Tiger. I loved the brand and still admire everything they are producing today. When I sold my last Cigarette I knew that the only thing that might draw me back into the boating world was something really different and extreme.

When Hellfire - the turbine powered 46 Skater came up for sale - I couldn't resist the allure. Although it's been challenging at times I've enjoyed owning the boat and plan to own it for many years to come. As difficult as it may be to own/operate such a beast - you just can't beat the uniqueness of the setup. I plan to have it on a trailer in the Eye of the Storm in April at Lake Havasu. Come by and say hello if you're there! Anyway, sorry for the lengthy lead up to my question but it's been years since I've made a post so I figured I might as well reminisce a little while doing so!

Since a majority of my experience has been operating deep vees I have a question about my Skater and am looking for some opinions from those of you with alot more "cat" experience. Even though I've run the boat for the past few years I feel like the set up is not exactly right. From my little experience in cats I know they get "darty" when there's too much sponson in the water. I'm assuming this is due to the boat actually not being fully on plane yet. My boat actually stays "darty" above 100mph and I'm wondering if it's due to the fact that the combined turbine weight is about 500-600lbs less than two large piston powerplants. If the boat was originally set up with large blower motors and then converted to turbines would this adversely affect the boat's CG with so much less weight in the stern? Is the boat basically too bow heavy now? My original thought was that the "dartiness" was due to the fact that I wasn't going fast enough. Now I'm wondering if it's just ballast related? Maybe the boat just needs more rear ballast?

I look forward to some input, old friends saying hello, or just plain comments about OSO. I'm glad to have played my little part in creating a great resource that's endured the test of time. I probably won't post again for another few years so I wish everyone a happy and safe 2020 boating season!

Jeffrey

Welcome back!!!!!
Funny thing, Steve actually just posted a week or two ago for the first time in several years too.

I think you are going to have to reach out to some of experts with your rare setup. Maybe Jim Lee since he's on his second 46, Johnny T, or Peter at Skater.
I had a friend that went from a 44MTI to a 48MTI and he said they were a totally different feel driving them and the 48 had to be driven very differently.

Your old F2 boat ( Speed Racer ) is being well taken care of

Would you like to buy the board back please? :drink:

I wish I could offer some suggestions on your Skater's handling issues but I don't know enough about them to speculate, But I would like to say that we launched right next to you/your boat at Windsor Beech last year early in the week of Desret Storm, and it is a Very Impressive boat. hope you can get it dialed in to your liking.

I have enjoyed this site for many years even thou I am not a frequent poster. Who can ever forget Puder, Nick and Clay for some great posts.

PS my Orginal T-shirt is not just a rag in the garage

Wow, member number one comes home. Cool. I like the original logo with the flames and your story explains why I don't see Hellfire on Lake Erie anymore! Not a whole lot of turbine boats out there but hopefully you will get your answer.:cool: Oh, here is a pic of me admiring your boat at PIB. Can't find the video I took of it spooling up and pulling away.
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...96088888de.jpg

One would think Tyson would have some great input with all his skater experience

What is the rake on the props? And does it feel like there is a lot of transom lift (counteracting BB weight setup vs. Turbine with same props)
Do you have any running shots of yourself at the controls when the boat is twitchy?

The boat should run on rails with a full pack in the tunnel but trimming it up too much, the "pack" can be unstable.(you can see this on shootout runs when the cats are trying to take a set)....it was either Marc or Scotty (Miss Geico) made a comment in a thread or an interview that running top speeds and stable, their boat was very flat and not trimmed up excessively like the competitors