Velocity 22
 

Hi all, looking at a 1985 Velocity 22 at the weekend to pass the time until a decent Scarab 38 or 43 becomes available.

is there anything I should look out for? It’s got a Mercruiser V8 in it.

Any advice welcomed

Cheers

Like with any 40 year old boat, closely inspect the transom, stringers and cockpit floor. The engine hatch wood can be soft from rain water and perhaps the rear bench seat wood frame. Don't "stress" about minor stress cracking in the gelcoat - the 1985's were layed up on the lighter side!

You really want an outboard version.

Thanks for that I’ll give it a good look over on Saturday 👌🏻

I hear you but it’s almost impossible to find one in the UK😩

steer away from an '84 model year 22. 1984 was the first year of production on the 22's. every one of them needed the bottoms fixed at velocity for delamination. the 3/8' baltek balsa core was layed in, upside down, with the scrim on the wrong side. brought in, and started using a chopper gun soon after, so '85 & '86 22's were better. then sold out to regal.

Thanks for the heads up

This one’s an 85 so should be ok🤞🏼

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...47762d2f3.jpeg
Apparently it’s not a 22 it’s a 230! Any idea if it could still be a 1985 or would it be newer? Any help appreciated

The last two digits of the HIN should be the yr of production

Looks like it is a Regal made Velocity. That would make it an 1986?

Padraig

1987 to 1991 or so IIRC is when Regal made them

Also, the 230 Regal was this style, all were I/Os
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...c074cda3f4.jpg

Yes, this might be the 1989 Regal Velocity 230 in Lübeck, Germany? The 230 was designed by Steve Stepp,, when he worked at Regal, after his sale to them.

It's based on his Velocity 22 design, but with a reworked step, higher freeboards, and with the cuddy deck. 230 is claimed to be 23 degrees at transom, but most

say it's exactly 22-degrees as the 22 race boat. However, very wide pad, instead of the 22's 12" pad. Most people like the ride, dislike the build-quality,

especially the interior. The most interesting boat is Steve Stepp's 1993 own Thoroughbred/Velocity 22 Sportcruiser that he built in 1993 and on.

If someone wants a smaller ol' school driver's boat though and have been drawn to Challenger 21, Shadow and Superboat 21, the 22 Velocity is

a cool option. Personally I like the Progression 22 and 24 models due to their 24 degrees at transom and build quality.

Some contemporary video stuff on Steve Stepp:

You Tube

You Tube

https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...647d752138.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...f1558ad984.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...47f3bc290d.jpg
My choice...

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...cc2c4b0620.jpg
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...923fe4b5f4.jpg
https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...99c05baeec.jpg

One correction. The 230 did not have a reworked step. Velocity boats never had one to rework and the 23 did not have one either.

Thanks

Padraig

When they launched the 230, the called it the Regal Velocity 23 first, and Steve described the change of the step and the much wider pad. They then called it

the Regal Velocity 230 Cuddy and made the cuddy plusher. After Steve quit and started Thoroughbred/Velocity he won in court about the Velocity name since

the Regal contract stated that they had only a leased right to the name and it expired. Steve got rid of the hook in his original Velocity 22 design and changed

the later boat's step. Gone was also the wide pad from the Regal/Velocity 23/230 Cuddy. The wide pad can be seen in this photo of the 1989 Regal Velocity

230 Cuddy in Germany.

https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...5ae7615f1b.jpg

I have had Velocity boats and I have had a 23 Regal Velocity. It does not have a step!

Padraig

Another comment. Scott McCormick; who was working for Steve at Thoroughbred/Velocity, is as you know the new owner of Velocity, has again updated

the bottom on their Velocity 22 Punisher. He has driven many different versions of the 22, the original, the later Steve designed as the 22 Sportcruiser,

and now new changes to the notch/step on the 2021 Punisher.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.off...d83c25ba03.jpg

Correct, the early Regal Velocity 22 didn't when Steve was there. Steve designed the Regal Velocity 23/230 Cuddy

and made the changes I mentioned. After Steve left, Regal changed the bottom and notched it. When Steve came

out with his Velocity 22 Sportcruiser he changed as both I and the article explained most things again. No step or hook,

but the notch and great original 12" pad, and that's what you got depending on your Velocity boats over the years, Padraig?

Bottom line is, Steve's designs have always evolved and so did my hero Larry Smith's, of Team Scarab fame's designs, and now

Scott McCormick is continuing that legacy, and I think Velocity will be tough to beat in Class 7 from now on.

Ok....I see where the confusion comes from. It does have a notch...that is a whole different animal then a Step. Despite his name, Steve Stepp totally was against step hull boats. I agree, Scott McCormac is doing a fantastic job....including customer service.

Padraig

Couldn't agree more an both aspects of the hull design. The future of Velocity looks fantastic with Scott at the rudder and Steve Stepp's HydraStepp brand is

kicking butt, with him in the lead, in the flats-/bay-boat market.