First Outboard-Powered Skater 388 Catamaran Set For May Completion
 

Looking for this beauty on Lake Michigan this summer, https://www.speedonthewater.com/firs...ay-completion/

It would be interesting to know roughly how much money was saved rigging it himself. For the right people, could almost make a new boat “affordable”

Bad-Ass Boat!!!

Not only is Steve a multi-talented guy, he's also one of the nicest people you'll ever meet. I happened to be back at the factory when Steve was visiting his new boat before it left Skater and we discussed many aspects of his project. It's going to be the perfect rig for his intended use - lots of hours of use on the BIG waters of Lake Michigan. The new king of rough water outboard cats has just been born...........

Wasn't there a triple 450R 38 in the works for a Havsu customer that pasted away? Did that become this boat or is it still waiting for a new buyer?

If I only had the resources?? I would be in the build line:D

Wonderful Boat! Congrats!

DAYUM that thing is pretty! Love the colors and the design. Dig the black cradle over white trailer too. The whole thing flows so nicely. Fantastic.

The King of outboard cats was born two years ago, my old 368 with 450's and C-Zone and all the same stuff and much more with 8 year extended warrantys and I saw it for sale just the other day and its a carbon boat. The new outboard boats are epoxy. Mine was a carbon boat that had never had the transom drilled.

The 68 boats are slightly slower than the competitors but they handle the big stuff very well and they are very forgiving and it would be almost impossible to put one over, you would have to try really hard!!

F-ing sexy!

Beautiful boat!!!

which 368 was yours? not many outboard 368's out there. think you are correct on the best of the best outboard cat!!!

It would be interesting to know how much this 388 differs from a I/O 388 to accommodate twin O/Bs. Was the bottom changed, the CG moved? Looks like the cockpit is about the same size.

The hulls are identical (they're built in the same mold), with the exception of an insert being installed in the mold at the start of the build process that produces the notch in the bottom of the sponsons at the transom. The notch moves the load bearing end of the running surface of the sponsons forward, to help carry the front of the boat better. The layout of the deck/cockpit vary as much as the owner wants them to - all of that is built one-off for each owner's preference.

Dale, whats your guess on Top Speed?

Hey Jon, I think Steve could get 120+ out of it if he chases it, but I don't think he will. Sam saw a best of 124 in his 368/450 setup without ever really chasing a big number. As an inboard boat with lighter power, Pete says a 368 is about 5mph faster than a 388. So if the same holds true for the outboard versions, 120 should be attainable for the 388/450R setup. No doubt it is giving up 10 mph on smooth water to all the outboard-specific cat models out there, but it will more than make up for that when the water gets rough.

Just shows how fast doug wright's hulls are. My new 42' which is a big boat, has topped 128.

DWs are awesome that is for sure. But I believe the point Skater30 is making is that the 68 and 88 were always designed to be IO boats. DWs OB boats! Dale has mentioned before about the width of the sponsons. The Skaters are much bigger. All the new OB cats are like the DWs with narrow sponsons and SHALLOW tunnels

Man Times have changed. Crazy to think of new outboard skaters as rough water only boats and not a top dog in speed.

With the outboard market being what it is these days, I would suspect the Skater 388 may have a few surprises moving forward! But then again who knows?

The fastest boat is not always the quickest on a given day! :boat:

Isn't that the truth Ron! Top speed on flat water does you no good in "real" water conditions. It's all about the boat that can get you from point A to point B in the shortest amount of time.

I highly doubt it. Pete is not a fan of the 450Rs because they cost almost the same as a 700/6 package with less performance and way more drive problems. Skater is selling all the boats they can produce (and then some) without chasing the outboard cat market.

I realize that the Skater sales are very strong and will be, the 450 will be old news here soon with a more bigger power coming that my weigh as much or less, and you know how that game goes! (especially if you ran snow machines, the minute you order a machine it is obsolete!) I would hope with some minor modifications (Which may or may not be in the works) the hull will preform a bit better with outboards.
I have rambled incoherently long enough!:D

its for sale.. warparty and his wife ran it to kw

:picard1:
My DCB is 10-6 w/a 65" tunnel. The same width as a 390MTI w/a 72" tunnel. This 388 will certainly be wider, but not ALL the new OB cats have narrow sponsons. The new 390DW has big sponsons AND a big tunnel.

Are that many people concerned with the flat out top speed? Is it really important to go 118 instead of 112, especially if the 112 boat was a better riding boat in all conditions? To me, it is more about a great ride in snotty water with respectable speed. With that, it seems like Skater is the choice. The 368 that War Party has would look great at my dock, except that I could no longer afford the dock!

I also believe that the new 6 and 8 passenger cats will be a big hit, as seating capacity has been a drawback to many.

:whistle:

You know what weight does to your 28. The big boats are no different, 8 people and fuel "kills the effect". As power and speed increases, this will more then likely be a good thing (its all fun until).....

Joe

I would sell the 0 time outboards and install inboard power with arnsons

Well, they might even be more FlightClub 39s than Cig. LOL