My opinion is a larger cat is very safe. I have had v's all my life and built a 39' cat 2 years ago so not a lot of seat time but......... never felt unsafe, very stable a whole different way of boating. Girl friend didn't like it at first (only as to ALL the TALK of blowovers) now after "experiencing the boat" she would'nt go back.

Best answer yet.

I feel better about going to the next level after reading this thread. Sounds like CATS can be controlled and are safe. The problem that I see is to flirt with more when you really shouldn't. If conditions are favorable and you drive accordingly, one should make it back ok. I can understand the adrenaline rush. We all have it. You're cruisin along and then a little more, and then a little more, and....well things are going so nicely, let's go a little more...and then...one may be in a 'ye bit of fix. That could be trouble. Snowmobiliers have access to 110-120 mph on 2 lane public trails where families ride. There are times to duct tape the throttle and then there are times not to. Stay FOCUSED, realize and remember what exactly you have in your arms and I think you are there. Cord stated: you have to be out before your out of shape. Well said. I agree with ins co and that is why premiums are 30% more on cats. Because you CAN get in big trouble. That doesn't mean you will. It really is all up to the operator. My boat only goes 75 but when I'm on it, you HAVE TO pay attension because anything can happen. Of course, too many beers at the stops and then the whole thing goes to hell. Thank you to the guys who REALLY KNOW, who took time out of their schedules and responded with some great input. Someday soon, I hope, I will have a CAT.

I disagree that insurance prices reflect the answer to this question. If you actually tell your insurance company that your boat does 130mph or whatever and you have a V and a Cat with the same value your insurance will be real close to the same. Cat insurance is higher than a V in most instances because the cat can go faster.
I feel a cat is much safer at 120 than a V even though the fastest I've gone was in "Can you hear me now" at 131 and it did not feel unsafe at any time.

Just my $.02
Caleb

Anyone that has boated on the ocean knows what can happen very quickly when a rogue wave suddenly appears... I think most of the boating accidents occur because of too little attention to what is happening with the water..... When I'm out boating and the water and sun are great... it's easy to get complacent about your surroundings.... then ... bam... suddenly you are in a panic situation because you have a six foot wave dead ahead and you are going 70 mph... I think cats pay 30% more insurance because given the same engine and drive they are almost 30% faster...

my .02

....a "v" gives some "warning signs" that things are getting out of hand and you can back off...a tunnel boat can be cruising along and without warning flip...

...not always the case...but you can see a wave coming usually...with a tunnel boat it's a lot of times a gust of wind...less predictable...

...ever see a hydroplane race up clse and couldn't figure out how the boat flipped? But with "v" you had the feeling they were heading for a plunge?

...and those race situations are sometimes on waters the average boater would never go out on at those speeds...

...and one reason I was told insurance is higher for cats is when you "throttle off" the boat dosen't decellerate as quickly....the "v" comes off plane immediately...that's a huge factor...better brakes on the "v's".!
It may take a football field to get a Cat down and almost instantly with a "v"

Good point on the speed=premium

OUCH!!!!!