Back when my 30 was built (2004), Tiger Performance sold velcro "poker run" belts that we ran with the first-of-their-kind Sparco-style Skater race seats. After having passengers end up on the floor of my 28 Skater that I owned at the time, I thought it would be better to have my passengers kept in their seats. Rick Bowling also ran velcro lap belts in his 28 Skater after having his son's girlfriend injuring her back after she slid forward out of her seat (in the back) as Rick slowed for a cruiser wake, thus taking the shock to her spine as she was sitting on the floor as they landed off the subsequent wakes. I always thought it was better to chance a passenger having a more difficult time getting out of their seat on the slim chance we went over than it was to not have my passengers held in their seats with velcro lap belts. When Rik and I did go over in 2006, I felt the outcome was best having been kept in our seats, it was not difficult to forcefully push yourself out of the seats to get out - the velcro released without too much force. Tiger Performance no longer sells the velcro "poker run" belts, but I've continued to run similar velcro belts in several of the boats I've had since. My 36 currently does not have the velcro belts, as the back seat has Skater's "plug-in" style rear seat that keeps passengers secure. It's not the most comfortable seat imo, but I feel comfortable that my passengers are held securely in their seats and I've not once had anyone end up on the floor over big wakes or rough water conditions. I am adding velcro lap belts for the front seats this winter though, as I'm tired of looking over and seeing my girlfriend with a death-grip on the seat sides when we're running at high speeds (120 and up) or rough water conditions. I've asked her if she wanted the velcro lap belts for this coming season and she said yes, she likes that setup better than not having them. Ever since Stefan's accident, she is not as comfortable at high speeds as she was before. And she'll never get into an outboard cat again, she saw firsthand the difference in ride quality between I/O vs outboard after I converted my 30, and after the accident, she swore off ever getting in another outboard cat again (and yes, she's never been in my triple 300X/32 - she won't go out in it).
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I'm with ya Johnny, I always wear my Lifeline when I'm out by myself testing, but we all wear Mustang Survival auto-inflate vests the rest of the time.

You or anyone else have never had an issue in the back seat of the 36, have you Rob? No doubt that the style seats in the 30 needed them, and they worked great, but the wrap-over-sides style of the back seat in the 36 seems to work great. It doesn't even seem like anyone in the back ever uses the grab straps, that back seat seems to really keep people secure no matter what the water conditions are.

I have the same type of seats in back, middle seat is wider but you really slide into them and feel very secure.
Post up pics of what you do in the front please

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Skater30, please don't flip the 36. I built and was the original owner of that boat, and over the years there's been quite a few upgrades, including what you've done. It would be sad to lose it, or anyone else for that matter.

I think you may have my boat confused with another 36. Mine is hull #75 and was originally built as a "kit boat" for Bob Teague. It even made it all the way out to California before it was sent back, paint colors and hatch scoops changed a little, 1075s rigged in it and out the door it went to its new owner (which may have been you). I have a picture of
it (by chance) from 3/10/2008 when I was back at Skater and it was still silver/green/orange with the big scoops when it was ready to ship out to TCM. It's in the background behind the blue/silver 40 in the attached pic. As far as putting it over, unless we have a drive come off it like we did the 30, it's going to stay with the sponsons side down.

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The details you received are a bit fuzzy..... but, yes.

Glad you all were alright after losing the drive. I don't keep up much with this site - I missed hearing about your accident.

That is the EXACT reason I got out of cats.... if a non-operator-error occurs, it occurs at a much higher speed, and the drives being so far apart doesn't lend for much forgiveness or ability to stop the boat from going over.

Friends joke and say I just got old.... but I'm actually having much more fun in the larger non-go-fast boats -- but they ain't cheap! Ugh....

All the best,

Joe

There`s somethin about the lines of a Skater that`s really growing on me.:bananalove:

That is a great Skater for sure. I remember it when Ray would photo my wife many moons ago. This was Outlaw 2016
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Dave!?