Daytona Eliminator
 

I Have Just Purchased A 27 Daytona W/twin Bbc's.it Is A Hand Full To Run Even After Running My Blown Bbc 27 Excalibur.i Have Seen Blow Over Videos And I Am Shook.the Trim Switches Were Not Set Up Rite And Only Had A Single Switch For Both Drives.that Is Not A Problem Now Thanks To The Special At Dana Marine.but I Need To Know How I Should Trim The Boat And Will It Really Blow Over. Thanks Lew

Cool ride... What year is it ?

NICE where are you at ???? If you are in N/C my old 33 Daytona is runnin around there makin passes at 138 and he'd help you out with your ride
GOOD LUCK get her figured out before to wind her up

Thanks Guys Shes An 88 And I'm In Md On The Eastern Shore,you Know A Marsh Billy.i Have Only Run It Once And It Seemed Fast Trimmed Up But Started Doing Some Kooky Stuff.nothing Like I Have Experienced In A Vee.it Was Running In The Low 90's And Had More.a Buddy Told Me To Power Thru It But That Water Was Cold And I Do Like My New To Me Boat.any Tipps Thanks Lew

Lew dont know about the smaller ones but sounds like you will have to drive thru it with a lil down tab ,sounds like your doing the elim porpouise ... our 33 did it from 75 to 90 like we were riding the bull at GILLYS and then was gone like a rocket ...

Thanks For The Help Any More Info Would Be Great.not To Sound Stupid But Can A Boat That Size And At The Speeds This Boat Should Run Blow Over.or Was I Just Scared From The Change In The Ride From A Vee And Too Much Time On Youtube Looking At Much Faster Boats.this Is All New To Me. Thanks Lew

take the tres martin speed boat course .
look in the general discussion fourm.
wear a life vest :) and a kill switch cord :)
http://www.performanceboatschool.com/course.php

That one you may want to call BOB LEACH at elim , our 33 would'nt go over but with the bottom we always had to run neg tab even with the big dana monster on there .. The SKATER i've been told hammer down the 40 wont/cant blow over . the elim liked drives at level 0 and a lil neg trim whatever you do dont be tabbin down runnin at some ggod speeds gotta keep ya around LEW my .02:cool-smiley-011:

or Was I Just Scared ????
Nothin wrong with being scared , dont like to admit it but scared of the plane and the SKATER but i think if i got a lil over confident with them they just may eat me alive ......

What Will Happen Tabbin Down At Fast Speeds.i Thought It Would Just Slow Down And Maybee Give Me Some Spray

It'l give you some spray when it pushes the nose down ..

Lew, discression is the better part of valor. Cats are a whole different animal than a vee. They take TIME to get comfortable with. I have a 28 ft Advantage Sport Cat, and I can say twins in a cat our size is no joke. I think a lot of what you are feeling is the hull really starting to pack air. When this happens, there isn't much boat in the water. On my cat, after I'm on step, the center tab goes in the full up postion and stay there. All running attitude is controlled by drives only. I have noticed that after my hull really starts to pack air I actually use less trim than at intermediate speeds. And as far as the blowover is concerned, well.... I wouldn't say it's impossible.



Darrell.

Mate i'll tell you just get out there and drive it.Wear a jacket and kill switch and we all on here could post forever but nothing will teach you like seat time.I run my 27 over 100 and i don't have big flat lakes like over there.I have always been lead to believe the danger zone in a 27 cat is 95 and above.Now what is "The danger zone".I believe that is where you really have to drive the boat,meaning driving to the conditions where you and the boat feel "safe".Nothing will prepare you better than spending time in the boat.Your right Vee's and Cats are completely different animals.If it makes you feel better in one race i ran 85 miles in the open Pacific ocean and spent more than 2/3 of that above 100 in the open bow in my avatar.Next race i could only average 50.I was driving to the conditions.You shouldn't be using your tabs for anything but to get on plane(you probably don't need them for that)or levelling the boat to port or starboard.Be safe and learn the boat.

http://www.aopc.com.au/news.htm

The is a 27 eliminator that runs at the shoot out at loto that runs in the 140's I wouldn't be worried about blow overs.

Be careful what you tell others on how to operate boats. They may have a bad set up or Handling condition that may warrant looking at. Its not worth gettiing hurt. I see people all the time telling others how to drive and give them imformation that can ge them killed. Not to mention you can get named in a law case. In a case like this I new guy need proper training, I would hate to read a post about this guy getting hurt. In the lst few monthes I went do classes on a few boats that new owners were trying to drive with little sucsess and when drove the boat I found out that it was unexceptable set up boat for anyone to drive. So please be carefull

Since you're new to cats, I hope you realize spins, rolls, and stuffs are a lot more likely than a blowover. And the way they occur is a lot different than a V.

I had a 97' Eliminator Daytona, it is a good hull design but it is not like current models. The center pod is deeper than the outboard sponsons, I would call it more modified tunnel than tunnel. In some earlier years these hulls had some delamination issues but it was mainly some hulls that were very lightly built. These were built in Min. or Wisc.? My hull was built in Cali. and was a tank probably a lot heavy. My boat handled very well. It turns more like a "V" because of the lower center pod. The only time my boat would hop(correct name for porpoise) was when I tried 5 blade Herrings. I had twin 600hp and the best I got was 97. The boat felt very good at that speed. I am suspicious that something may be off in your set up. There is a guy in Cinti. OH that knows a lot about these hulls. I have forgotten his name, but his screen name was Merlin 540. I think he had one of these things going 120's which was insane speed at that time. My boat did not require much trim at all. I wouldn't try to drive through anything it's not worth it. Hope this helps. Eric

Lew find one of your local guys on the lake with a cat and have him go for a ride with ya , maybe your bottom is messed up for a while they put out some porpoiusing boats . theres guys out there like Teague that can jump in a boat feel it out and find the sweet spot . :D

Thanks Guys And Mostly Runninhotracinn But I'm Not A Lake Guy I'm A Salty And Live In It And Below Sea Level,and Love It.sorry Just Proud To Be A Marsh Billy.any How I'm A Boat Builder And Do Under Stand The Basics.thank You Every One For The Help.a Good Vest And Kill Lanyerd Is A Good Idea.it Also Seems Like Getting This Boat In The Winter And Having Time To Talk To You Guys Before I Run It With Too Many Beers In Me Is A Good Idea.i Do Not Want Or Think I Can Handle Anything That This Boat Can Throw At Me.that Being Said All My Life Has Been Spent On The Water And I'am Looking For Tips A Little Past The Beginer Level.all Though The Lanyard Idea Never Crossed My Mind.i'm Hopeing To Get Ideas On The Proper Set Up And Trim Angles Not Numbers To Driving Schools.this Is For Fun And I'm Just Trying To Do It With Out Getting Hurt Or Even More Important Is My Buddys When They Say Go Faster Ha Ha. Thanks Lew

Spins, Rolls & Stuffs - What makes these happen? I'm not trying to act like a know it all, but the set up part is what I do for a living. What driver imput is required in rough choppy salty water in a boat like this? I'm on the chesapeake bay and conditions vary from slick calm to a gale. Maybe I'm asking ?'s that are too broad for one thread? Just puttin myself out there.
Thanks, Lew

I find it hard to believe that you do not know the answer to these questions if this is "what you do for a living."

Stranger things have happened !!!!!!!! I sold a 33 daytona 138 mph on OSO guy liked the pics on OSO ,never came down to look or for a ride, wired me 140K + to my bank ,payed my son 1200.00 to meet him halfway with the boat in a rest area on the freeway ,and then calls a week later cant figure out how to drive the boat .. gave him my sons phone # he walked him thru it on the cell and the've been makin 128 & 138 mph passes for a year now .... :D

If you need truth. and start off the right way,,, www.performanceboatschool.com

i build offshore sport fishing boats not 100 mph boats. i understand the mechaics involved i was just asking for some tips on how to run it.wow it seemed easy to post on here a couple simple questions.some of you guys take your self pretty serious.thanks for the help from the few that did and i did not mean to waste the rest of your guys time.sorry i thought we did this for fun.look at the boats i biuld far from 100 mph. compositeyacht.biz thanks again for the help lew

Lew let me know how you get on.Speed,handling,driveability etc.

thanks i'm sure it will take me some time to be able to wind it out safely.i does not have external steering so that is top of my list.thanks everyone for the tipps. lew

Lew, Maybe you need to take this a little more seriously. These guys are not trying to be smart azzes. They know what they are talking about. They take the safety part of this fun sport very seriously and have the credentials to back up what they say.
Any performance boat the runs over 70-75 should have full hydralic steering! If you are have handling issues at 80, you are taxing your stock steering even more. Something is going to break and you are going to have a violent spinout. You need to fix this!!
Then if your boat still has handling problems you can look at those safely.

thanks payton i do respect everyones imput and the boat and i do not want to sound like a no it all cuz i have a lot to learn about high speed boating.thanks again everyone for the help and please keep it coming.i have the rest of the winter to work on the boat and its set up.also learning what to anticipate at high speeds.i know that time at the helm is important before going balls to the wall.i was hoping that knowing what i might experience at high speeds can better help me prepare.i'm also not beyond going to some driving schools i just thought some of you guys might want to tell me what you have experienced in simaliar boats at high speeds. thanks lew

Hi Lew
I'm new to cats also, mine is a 28 profile single with a 622ci N/A, spent last summer learning the difference between V's and cats, start slow, get to know the boat and how it feels as speed climes, currently running just under a 100 and it feels good, boat has more in it but I don't "yet". but most important is the steering, I had a cable break at 65 in a V and I'm surprised no one was killed, full Hydraulic is a must in that boat, considering the year and the stresses that have already been put on that system, UPGRADE NOW, it will save you problems later. good luck on your new ride and be safe.
Larry

thanks larry .if anyone has any info on used systems or even good prices on new.i have wing plates and a tie bar also do i need tabs the boat gets on plane great, is it safe to just trim with just the drives.tanks for all the help lew

There is no place for tabs. I do not believe that one on the center sponson would help. Probably would be bad. All trimming is with the drives. Look at the back of my boat for ideas on the hyd. steering. The worst thing that happened while driving my boat is that I almost went over backward because I had too much positive trim hitting a cruiser wake. My boat planed better with negative trim and ran with the safest attitude with almost neutral trim.

thanks that is some nice hardware.again anyone got any steering for sale maybe local.

Lew, take a look at Lathem. They make full hdy systems. I run this set up on my Advantage, and it incorperates the trim switches right into the steering wheel. There are 3 buttons on the wheel, and all 3 adjust both drives.There are also seperate switches on the counsel. This way you never have to take your hand off the wheel. It's a great system and very reliable. As others have said, most cats do not use tabs underway. Every one that I have been in, moved the center tab full up after getting on plane.


Darrell.

Hardy,

Tres is on the money. Be careful. Flying a cat takes seat time. Some guys get it. some don't. Once learned there is nothing like it.

A quality twin ram hydraulic steering system overhaul or upgrade is mandatory.

I'm curious...they made some of these with outboards. Is this an IO boat or Outboard?

If your comfortable with it, Take some pics of the rear of the boat and post them. You could ask for some thoughts thru private emails.

If you hang a tunnel tab on the pod and trim down at the wrong time you can stuff the boat or worse. You probably don't need it. I'd call Eliminator and Daves and network to owners that have these to save yourself some time on setup. This board has a wealth of info if you choose to use it.

If it's an outboard rig I'd try scream& fly.com and do a search. There are guys on that site who have done it all with this hull. It most likely save you a lot of time and money.

Seat time and set up is the key. Make sure your trim guages and drives are even and know the setting at neutral trim. Check your tow in and make sure all of the steering connections are tight. Be careful using positive or negative trim at speed. Ask other owners what props they like and what ones they don't like. Props can make a big difference in handling.

I think the biggest problem with the center pod cats in rough water is figuring out the correct speed and trim for the conditions. I have been caught a couple times going a little to fast and hitting rogue waves. My boat has skyed straight up, tripped on the next wave, then caught one of the sponsons on another wave. Catching a sponson with some negative trim will spin the boat. It happened a couple times to me before I figured out how much speed and trim I could get away with.

Too much positive trim can sky the boat when going off a wave, chopping the throttle when going off a wave can stuff the boat. Seat time is the key, be a test pilot and slowly push the envelope.

I don't post much, as I don't have a performance boat, and feel that I probably don't have a whole lot to offer in this realm.
The group here is a very knowledgeable bunch, so I try to stay quiet. I read a few posts and news, but I've got to admit, I'm in the classifieds most.:D
But just to weigh in, Lew (Hardy.Hardy) is my brother. Although we deal with sport fishing boats primarily, we do spend a fair amount of time on performance boats, as our roots are pretty deeply seated in the region, and not all of our buddies fish.
Although I will agree that a performance school would be nice, and w/o question something we all could probably benefit from, I'm not sure how soon we'll make it there. Especially since there's all this steering stuff to spend $ on!

I'm posting primarily to show my appreciation for all your helpful responses. I'm also quite confident that we'll have the cat (Lewie's thinking about "Cat-alized" as a name, since most of what we do requires catalyst) running at her potential this summer. I think that we'll get a feel for her pretty quickly.
Thanks again for the feedback, and for an excellent site.

Good Luck Bewitched and take it slow :cool-smiley-011:

Thank you, Sir.
We're pulling together parts for her external steering, and we're getting her trim sorted out.
It was hard to get her trimmed properly when you have no idea what the drives are doing. And her trim motors don't trim equally, so we were winging it.
So, there's no question we've got a few bugs to work. But I think once we get her steering tightened up, and we know exactly what the drives are doing, we'll start to see some good passes from her.
I'm excited.

Hey Guys Listen Tres and what he has to say. I have known him and his family for many years while working for Donzi. The family along with Tres has been into racing more years than some of you guys driving boats. I would trust his with my life. Brad , his partner in crime is also a very smart and carefull driver and boat owner himself and only known his for a few years and i would strongly listen to these guys. They could and can save your LIFE !!

Nothing like education from a REAL expert! If you think knowledge is expensive TRY Ignorance! I commend you guys for listening to these fellows...........I have been lurking here for years.

BE SAFE! Get good jackets (lifeline my fav) wear the kill switch lanyard, and gain speed slowly. I flew my 25 talon @ 850 hp the first time out> I removed the hood pins and put hydrolic lifts (stupid). Talon put the hood pins on there for a reason! At 110 mph the hatch blew up vertlcle and I went for the ride of my life. Yes the can blow over, especially if some thing like that happens. Discretion is the better part of valor!

Have fun....... I love Cats, but they like V's have there own set of characteristics. At speed remember you are flying a boat!

Stu