Small outboard boats are a ton of fun.
That shot of the STV is impressive!

Thanks.

That boat was a ton of fun.

Ran a 100 w/a box stock JohnRude.


That’s my favorite pic of that boat.

If you look close, there are no signs of hull to water contact, anywhere.

That was 95 mph and I am flying the boat.
Slower that way but more fun 😂

Was at a run where all my friends were running oneteens so all I could do was show off!

BTW, STVs are the easiest boat to drive fast that there is.
That hull will smack you in the head before it will blow over!

Great shot!

My bow eye would be pointing at the moon if I did that w/my junk!

The only build difference I can see that would affect COG between a factory O/B vs I/O 26' Sutphen is the fuel tank is about 3 feet closer to the transom and a bracket was always used. Pretty sure the 1200 lb heavier model would be a twin 350 Mag/Alpha boat.

Very cool ad that I’ve never seen!

According to my math, I’ve added 100–150 lbs going from the single big block IO to twin OB’s.

But……, Ive moved the center of that mass, aft by 5-6’!

There use to be a guy on here "Crayola" he was extremely methodical about CG and weight. He used two 45lb gym weights and two 80 LB bags of sand and would move them around based on calculations, photos, setup changes. Yes, you are an outboard guy but for example, he would take pictures of his boat at 100mph and move the bags of sand forward or aft at the point that the water breaks on his hull/keel at 100 mph.

Go get some sand.

I think it will always be a compromise depending upon how many people are in the boat and the water conditions that day. For the best ride and control in rougher water I think you need to feel what your keel is up to and a COG under your feet gives you that. Going fast where max hull lift is needed is something else - sit back, tabs up, add some trim and fly the bow.

Yep.
Been there, done that.

Problem is I haven’t been able to light it up yet, so no pixs of it running.

I do have pixs and measurements of water line/freeboard at bow/keel at rest and does sit about 2” higher w/the OBs on it.

I remember a thread on here years ago though where they were talking about that they have a target, for the offshore race guys.

Reminded me of it watching the YouTube video of Bob Scantini (?) and his amazing 41 Apache build.

One of his comments was how well the weight distribution came out on that boat out of the box and maybe for the first time ever.

You can see it in videos of it launching off of monster waves and landing almost level!

Yep.

Goal is to get as fast possible w/full water tank as I need it for the rough.

Then when fuel tank is 1/2 empty, dump the water and see what it does.

I saw 76 GPS when I was just getting the motors to run decent but it was a scary SOB below 50!
(before water tank)

Basically had to drive it like a 100 mile an hour Allison vee bottom.

Get it to about 30, pull the tabs up, set the trim close to where you want it and nail the throttles and let the horse power pick the bow up and carry it until it starts building lift and then dial in from there.

But I thought it was gonna spit me out several times to get to that point.

Heres a shot of my first Sonic.

I dissected that shot a million times!

Took a straight and drew lines for the keel where it was invisible in the spray and another along the transom to estimate wetted area.

That boat had a round keel so not a pad bottom vee.

I calculated the last 3’ of keel and 6” on both sides were the only thing wet.

Perfect attitude (for an OB), perfect trim and the perfect, long flat rooster tail!
Goal is not have tail above top of motor cowlings when WFO.

Was also a handful to drive fast.

That is such a cool pic you've been granted a pass on the scummy bottom.