I see one incident in the post, and I beleive this was the same Fountain we have heard about several times on the boards.

Any others with First hand knowledge?

Tonight, you are really showing some wit and humor. Better not use it all up on this thread...afterall at your AGE, you might not have many more nights where you're this funny. Best not waste them all at once! :D:D

Thanks...but I had to "Stepp" in here as the post was becoming redundant and silly..... I decided it needed a change in tone....plus Steve Stepp is a friend of mine.... and was an amazing outboard racer.

One point of clarification.......Velocity is credited on this thread with creating the first "offshore" pad bottom in 1978....and , of course, Paul Allison put pads on vee bottom OPC boats in 1965............ The "pad" boat below.... was developed in 1975........ and competed in Offshore racing.....................

T2x ;)

Current derivatives of the Challenger/Shadow hull are running over 100 mph with outboard power..............

They'd be slower with steps..............and wouldn't turn as well.

T2x

Try this with today's "technology".....

Sadly, we too often confuse a "fad" with a technological improvement. I include steroids, crystal meth, hip hop, warehouse stores, and steps in that category.

This photo was taken a LOOONG time ago..........................


T2x

Some of the best reading in a long time. Compliments of T2x of course. :D Thank you once again.

So just how long is that rooster tail?

Brian

I would probably say Hip Hop and wharehouse stores are a matter of taste not truly a fad. But, I agree on all the other points.

On a personal note, when is SkaterFest? If you haven't heard, I left NYC late last week for the time being and am preparing to depart for the Middle East to assist in the rebuilding and reconstruction efforts. Don't know if I'll take an Iraq or Afghan posting as I'm still negotiation MOUs (basically a 12-month contract in stock form). Too bad we never had sushi. But, I will get 6 weeks off and several return tickets to the US. I'm thinking I might like to win the "most miles traveled" award at the next SkaterFest if I can.

I estimate it at 400 feet...........


And thank you too......


T2x

No plans for Skaterfest at present....Maybe it will be in Michigan as part of "Smoke on The Water" Poker Run..

Right now the top priority is Doug Lewis' health.

Good luck in the Middle East..... Maybe you should reconsider.....

We'll do Sushi the next time you come through....that's a promise.

T2x

I'm going to hold you to that promise.

I hope Doug improves soon. We need more people like him in this world.

No way I'm reconsidering. If we don't rebuild and help turn the tide in the Middle East, the terrorists will step into the vacuum and mold the next generation. So, to stop me they'll have to kill me. But, I will take all precautions possible as I plan to return unscathed.

God speed...

Yes please...we have enough scaths around here already.

Best wishes......

T2x

Thanks.

I don't know you, except through OSS but please be careful and thank you for doing this. Construction can be dangerous and in Irag even more so. Hopefully when you get back there will be a new boat or engines or whatever in your future.

Re: Stepp
 

stepp should sell used cars! as is no warranty! he does not stand behind anything he sells! just try to get him to pick up the phone when you have a problem!

Re: Stepp
 

Never had a proplem getting Steve Stepp on the phone. There was a couple of times that he had to call me back as he was testing boats but he always called. Even helped me out with advise on a boat he didn't build.

Re: Stepp
 

were you looking to get a velocity warrantied? he didn't owe you anything!stop by the factory and look at the boats with problems sometime.

Re: Stepp
 

I later bought a Velocity and had no problem with communications. IMO he is a stand up guy.

Re: Stepp
 

i have bought a few and had problems with most! steering, motor alignment,gelcoat cracks and the list goes on. since then i have bought fountains and had no problems! as far as speed goes and price you compare 29 fever 525hp=81mph, 280 velocity same power 79mph, price with the same options is about the same. lets see? 29 fountain weighs 5850 which is 1200lbs heavier then the 280 and has double the stringers yet still goes faster! 29 fever standard options gps, power bolsters,tabs, steering,bow rails,deck hatch, decent swim ladder,anchor locker and the list goes on all if you purchased a velocity you would have to pay extra!

Re: Stepp
 

Not trying to flame here, but if you had problems with every Velocity, why did you continue to buy them? Just curious.

Re: Stepp
 

we don't buy them anymore!

Re: Stepp
 

hey guys, just reading the thread, i dont post often as im not yet a paying member, but i wanted to share a story...at 21 years old im def. not a pro but i have had some time behind the wheel of many diff. kinds of boats since i work at a high performance shop in wisconsin. was testing a 33 scarab with the avs bottom(2 steps if i remember correctly) boat had 500efis. i was doing about 76-77 and spun her out. sheered one of the drives completley off. drive was hanging only by the tie bar to the other drive, thank god the yoke broke at one of the u-joints and stayed in the T/A or i would of had a serious chance of sinking the boat. i also bent the livorsi steering wheel almost in half. limped in on one motor.....found out later that the cause of the spin was due to air pockets in the hydraulic steering system. dont mean to ramble on but wanted to mention i love readin all the technical stuff you guys post about on here ive learned a lot just from readin.....the snows flyin here and cant wait til spring! - Andrew

Re: Stepp
 

why is klaatu stirring up old threads... :evilb: :rolleyes: :drink:

Re: Stepp
 

106 MPH Velocity......No Chit

Re: Stepp
 

Because he's a knob.

Re: Stepp
 

whether v or stepped or cat. no boat design is perfect. Just enjoy. sooner or later something new will come up Just enjoy life boating and always remember, there's alway someone out there thats crazy enough to spend his life savings trying to go faster than the next guy. I knew a guy like that, He's dead now. Hit a rock. now everyones faster than him.
Merry Christmas

Re: Stepp
 

R Addiction, who's boat is that? IS that Bob's boat? It is a carbon copy of mine, although I don't have V8s any more.

Re: Stepp
 

What's a knob??????? :drink:

Re: Stepp
 

this may be a dumb question, but i have a 90' 26 nova st w/step or pad. The boat has one 3.5 inch step up right below the helm and then this "flat pad " running down the center(no point) would this be a stepped or pad hull?. Wellcraft made a regular deep-v version as well. I have stock 350 mags and it gets about 65 WOT. The same boat in a v-hull w/bigblocks only runs around 67 stock. My step hull (I call it) has some sustantial yaw characteristics when trimmed up but runs fast . I here the ride is better in the v-hull but creates more natural drag but slower. Again, i'm talking about 1990 technology. If anyone has heard or knows if this is a good or bad design , feed me......like i said the boat is fast but seems alittle unstable..at high trim. . how come wellcraft didn't continue down this path or why the option of hulls. was this strictly concept?.

thanks,
the rookie