Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

I am looking to buy another boat pretty soon, and I finally narrowed down what I really want- 1990 or newer, tunnel hull, 22 foot or less, 3-4 seats, and as close to 100 mph as $35000 or less will buy.

I have looked at STV 's and they look like a lot of performance for the money.

Does anyone have any good/bad opinions about them? Suggestions on models/brands to look at?

Thanks-

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

I like Skaters.These guys at screamandfly.com get real excited over STV's though.

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

I've been in a bunch of STV's and own a Mirage.

Best bang for the buck that you're gonna find.
100mph in them is kind of boring though. No chinewalk. No edge of death feeling.

I like 16' padvees, myself, but they aren't for everybody.

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

I have a customer who owns an STV, that is for sale. I would be happy to put you in touch with him for questions or possibly to buy his. I know he is particular in how he kept this boat, and I am pretty sure he just put a new engine on it. Don't know much else but if you are interested in talking or buying from him let me know.

[email protected]

Don

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

I've been driving a Mirage lately.

2.5 Merc, 7,500 rpm, 111 mph (gps) with a three blade 29" cleaver. The Yamaha propellers accelerate bottom to mid range better but cannot take the abuse of slamming the boats in the turns.

At 80, lift throttle, tuck the engine in, turn hard right/left, and stab the throttle and hold on. They are a big bang for the buck.

They do not turn with the engine trimmed out.

Speeds above 90 the boats do not want to turn really well, a 28' Skater can really kick its ass in the turns at speeds of 90 and above. But what can one expect as there is no boat in the water and the sponsons are not designed for the high speed turns.

Boats are very trim sensitive. You will need to boat with two people on board to keep the boat from kiting (even then it is possible)

They are easy to swamp when crossing rollers, I strongly advise bilge pumps!

Brace the seats for the side loads in the turns and hold on.

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

good boat Ive been in one and they ride good. 35000 k is outa control. under 20 is obtainable if you shop. get the 2.5 and efi if y0u can. 225 horse or up. Its a fun ride even in a mild state. Greg

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

a good friend of mine has a 20' ish mirage that runs 100 he is asking under 20k for.. it is late 90's or early 2000's.. VERY VERY clean boat.. 419-509-1882 Scott

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

Which STV are you looking at? Pro comp? Euro or River racer? Which bottom, race or ski?
The boat with a 280 hp 2.5 will run in the 110 to 115 area. Awsome handling and acceleration,amazing turning ability.
check out the stv owners web site for more info. You can find a link at www.screamandfly.com

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

www.Screamandfly.com has a alot of members with the STV's. Rork Summerford sold the molds to Triad a few years ago. Triad is making them now.

The Triad hull is a drag race hull. My buddy here in MS won the SE championship in pro fuel 2 years.It was on alcohol with sometimes up to 36%nitro methane :eek: It would blow a flame out of it at night when the tested here.Pretty sharp



They are a dealer for both boats and he might know on some boats for sale.He has sold and race the STV's.try em

http://www.boatworks.net/

His club :)

http://www.dockrocker.com/index2.htm

Wallys page **STV

http://boatworks.net/stvTriad.htm


Ck out the Motec dash they put in the $$$$$

http://boatworks.net/trimpics/Scan309.jpg

Re: Thinking of getting an STV - are they a good boat?
 

check over at HOTBOAT,stvkeith has a very fast one ,115mph,NOW.he just rebuilt it

triad has sold the molds now to full throttle power boats.. the procomp hasent been made since i think 1992ish .. mid 20s will get a very clean 2000 and up (thats what you want there the triad boats in many people eyes the best version). and river rocket has a very small cockpit can be in any confifirtionfrom 2 to 3 to 4 seats.. and euro is the same bottom but a much mor useable boat..... same type of pricing..
Lee

Triad Euro with a 280, sport master fat shaft gearcase, 7750 rev limiter and hang on !
this would be my 2nd choice. http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...d.php?t=194429

I had a Mirage that was about an early to mid 1990s. It was the last year that Brad Collins build Mirages in Texas. The configuration was two buckets, one behind the other. With a bone stock 280 the boat ran 119 on gps with a 32 Ron Hill Cleaver. I sold it 6 or so years ago. The boat was named "Nervous Mother" for obvious reasons.

The best part of the boat was not the top end but acceleration. After all that is what you really feel. The Yamaha 26 3 blades were easy to get, relatively cheap and would still run 110 to 112 but with lots of rpms. Driving the boat was easy compared to previous Allisons and Hydrostreams.

I agree that mid $20,000 will get you a fun ride that you'll need to careful with. Also, I agree that you will need 3 well anchored bilge pumps, one in each of the sponsons and one in the center.

I would like to do that again but Mrs. "Nervous" is not a fan. Enjoy. Quent

Quent, did you sell nervous mother to Itchy in Dothan Alabama ? ran with it many many times, it's a hot rod ! He got married last year and was interested in my Euro.

I talked with Brad several times about buying one of his boats but I went in another direction. Mirages are hard to find. Those who have them are keeping them, and with good reason.

Copiercat, I did sell Nervous Mother to Itchy in Dothan. He came here to Knoxville in May several years ago and it was misty raining. I launched the boat from my ramp in the back yard and sat him in the back seat. I told him that I would go as fast as he was comfortable and he said let her rip. The drag prop was on it and we ran 110mph or so and I stopped to get the rain out of our eyes.

I ask if he wanted to try and of course he said yes. I had a LED trim indicator and I told Itchy to firewall it and trim til the red light was on 4. He did and we ran about 105 in 15 seconds. He slowed down, turned the engine off and I ask him what he thought. He said,"I'll take it".

You should have seen the boat's namesake, Mrs. Nervous Mother, and her eyes as Itchy drove off with the boat. They weren't misty, just smiling.

That was probably the most adrenalin producing boat out of the 39 that I have had. I turned a Hydrostream VKing over backwards at a little over a 100mph in 1982 so I had some reference point for appreciating this boat. I could come back after driving it, my heart rate was raging and all I wanted to do was get on the trailer and get a beer. Good times.

Copiercat, found a picture of the boat and its namesake on the day Itchy bought it. It was the one and only time she sat in it.

Quent, Been wondering what you have been up to. I remember that like it was yesterday! I think Mrs. Nervous went for a walk when we put it in the water if I'm not bad mistaken. Still enjoying the Mirage! Could'nt bear to change the name after you told me the story. Came home with it and shortly after put a 22 yammy on her......Broke the the seat loose a time or 2. She is and has been a great boat. Still running stock heads on 93 octane. I put a polished offshore mid on her with a Sporty gearcase for stength, Found a Mariner cowl to match the grey and put hydraulic steering on last year. Other than that shes just like when I picked her up. Heres a couple of pics....The one of it running was from the South Georgia Showdown in Bainbridge a couple of weeks ago. Got outrun by an Allison Drag.

Itchy

http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...ous/Mother.jpg
http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l1...ous/swpq0w.jpg

Have driven light STV's & Q-shots.....This Mirage drives like a Cadillac compared to em!

Itchy, good to see the old gal is still flying. The offshore midsection really helps the looks along with the new cowl. I am also glad to see that you are staying with the stock heads. After blowing up countless powerheads with racing gas, Alcohol and nitrous, there is nothing like having confidence that you will run every time you go to the water.

I currently have a '07 24 Lavey Craft with a 710 Ilmor. Good piece but really different form the quickness of your Mirage. Here are some pics. Stay safe Itchy. Best regards, Quent

Jack barsh full throttle powerboats in jacksonville is making them now.he also races them.He does some nice work ! call him.

They may be hard to find, but I suggest looking for a 22' Talon with twins. I owned this 1994 Talon for 7 years. It is a center pod cat with great lines and a surprisingly nice ride in the rough. Oh... and crazy quick, especially on nitrous. Never had a STV or Mirage go around me, and I raced a lot of 'em!:D

I have three new 21 Liberators for sale. They run 104-106 with a 300xs. I also have a new 18 Liberator. Email [email protected] More pics on my website:
http://liberatorfl.tripod.com/id19.html


http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/100_2613.jpg


http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/100_2611.jpg


http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t...n/100_2810.jpg

Forget the tunnel part, and go for the best...
 

Get an Allison Grand Sport and meet all of your criteria except being a tunnel, with the added benefit of being the best built 20 foot v hull boat made...period...bar none...that is not a question...it is a statement of fact.

Scott