80mph and 12 ft. sea's, hope this guy has good life insurance!

About the "STEP" or "NO STEP" subject , I know of a 38 step hull, and I won't mention any names or boat manufacturer, that rolled in a turn completely over, upside down and right side up again.Some of you may have heard of the incident.The boat ran in the low 90's and this person took the boat way past it's limit in a turn.Now I'm not knocking the step hull.I'll run step or no step anytime,anywhere.This was an extreme situation and in this situation a boat with strakes running the full length of the wetted surface,a no step,wouldn't have rolled.

I own a step hulled boat, at lower speeds ,under 40, I have turned the wheel sharp, no problems. I have never tried this at higher speeds-I know what can happen. You don' t trim in the drives for a turn on a step hull. The benefit is that cruise and top speed is higher than non-step with the same power. I can't comment on which hull is better in rough water, I think experience/skill makes a big difference on how a boat rides/handles.

Now this is the unbiased info and experience that I'm looking for.
BTW my friend said that he talked to the driver of a race boat who owns 3 boats, 2 F brand and 1 O brand, thats where the 80 mph in 12' seas story came from.
Let's hear more
Thanks
Joe

Maybe you guys can clarify 12 foot seas for me. Is this ocean waves(big rollers)? because I boat in lake erie and when we get 12 footers they will beat you to death in a fourty foot boat at 50 mph.

80 mph in 12 footers ??????

That sumbtch better say "47 Apache" all over it !!!!!!!!!!!1

80 MPH in 12 footers, isn't my idea of recreational boating!

A properly designed step-bottom will run faster in rough water than a non-stepped boat.

While I go pop some popcorn, can you back this statement up?

well I have a stepped bottom , granted this no large
one 26' and in the ruff is a bit unpredictable
in smooth water or 1-2' ers its great with a nice ride to boot

Where is T2X on this topic
 

He had some pretty serious opionions about Steps. It appeared from an earlier thread, in the general discussion section, that he felt steps are not much more that fads and add little if anything to the speed / effeciency to a hull.

I disagree with him, but that was on the other thread as well.:p