3600 Supercat hop ?
 

A friend of mine is looking into getting a new to him cat and has been down to the Factory and likes the boat, but he told me yesterday that everybody he talks to says you need 850hp+ in one to get rid of the hop they have. I am not a cat guy so don't know but since he is just using it on the Potomac most of the time he is looking for 600-700hp but still with 6's so he can run it more than work on it. He had a 36 Spector with big power and Bravo style drives and it ate them up. Any truth to that? Now he's looking at Skater and MTI too.

You dont want bravos on a 3600 Supercat... Just go with reliable 700s/nxts if you dont want problems..... As far as the "hop" goes,, ive noticed it before,, and im sure its an issue with others,,, but it just comes down to what you like... Your either a Nortech guy,, or you'll look at the other cats out there.... Nortech always "blingy" if your into that...

Good luck..!!!:drink:

PokerRun,
I am not trying to get on your case, but people come here to OSO with questions about their boats and to get information about problems or specific issues with specific boats. You do not help anyone when you post to a thread like this or the other thread from a guy who has never owned a cat and was looking for good, true feedback about a cat when your experience is simply reading magazines about these boats. I am sure anyone who spends time here knows who you are and they would not take your information as first person, but the danger lies in the first timer you answered about the bounce of a cat thinking you have experience about what you post here. He would not know you do not own a cat and have no boating experience and you diminish the value of forums like this. It is hard enough for someone to weed through all the different opinions of all the people who actually have owned and operated these boats without your answers to threads you know nothing about. I do not want to hurt your feelings, but add to a thread if you have true knowledge or experience that will help and do not pretend to know the answer to something specific about a Nor-tech cat. As far as your question about my 36, you have asked the same thing of me over and over again and I have answered you many times. Either you don’t read the answer or you forget, but you do ask me over and over again the same thing. You will know when I go to Havasu and it will not be before the end of the month, as I am really busy at work now and do not have time. Sorry to be testy with you, but your answers to threads like this irritate me.

The hop thing is absolutely normal on the 36's and it usually happens between 65-80 mph. (Most Cats have the same thing). I run big power with Merc #6 drives on my Nor-Tech. You can reduce the hop considerably when you learn how to drive the boat correctly. Correct use of throttle, tabs, and trim is key. The hop is nothing more than the boat trying to settle in. My boat now seldom hops since I learned how to drive it.

Also, your concern about big power with Bravo's. Bravo's are not designed for big power, of course the drives will blow up. For 700's use NXT's and anything bigger Merc #6's if you want reliability.

Boats not for me and I don't want Bravos on any boat, just saying he had them on his Spector with 800hp ish and blew them. He has heard that with the lower hp 700ish he wants now and 6's are going to put his cruise speed right where the boat has a hop. I figured people were telling him wrong and it was just setup but that is what OSO is for. He is looking in the 200k range at used ones other wise I am sure he would order it with 700/nxt drive but he aint getting that for 200k

I bet you've had a lot of experience. People actually utilize the opinions they get form this site. Be careful of the "advice" you give. It's not necessarily the right advice and can cause someone lots of $$$$. As OSD said, state opinions, not facts.

Most cats have some sort of a hop or porpoise at a certain speed. It is more severe on some. I had a 36 Spectre with 800 hp and no tunnel tab and at 60 to 80 it would hop .At 90 it went away. It is at the point where the hull is least efficient and trying to lift and release air. I currently have a 36 Nor Tech with 1000+ Hp and #6s. It does have a tendency hop but as GH said to with proper trim, tab, PROP selection it can be minimized. The big power doesnt eliminate it, it just gives you more control and more options. That coupled with a little seat time and you will hardly notice it. Water conditions also have an impact,flat water makes it more noticable than chop. The Nor Tech really is at home in rough slop.It may not be in the same league as Skater or Mti, but dollar for dollar it is hard to beat

hey BIG Daddy or just but a SKATER :eek::ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004:

If we give this kid acpl hundred of 1 dollar bills , maybe he will find he likes strip bars better than offshore boats...

or Mcdonalds Happy Meals :lolhit:

RHR...I would but cant justify a payment book as thick, as the Yellows pages right now , just have to stay a second class citizen for awhile. You guys still have snow?

but theres some great deals out there , no snow in Tarpon Springs just 67 degrees & 72 tomorrow . back at home thats another story the kidz have sno up to there azz..:lolhit: when you headed to LOTO BIG Daddy ?

Not for a while can ice fish back here. Have been in Clearwater Beach off and on for the last month, too much fun there!

you can have the Ice fishin BIG Daddy i'll be havin a cocktail under the umbrella :lolhit: the girls spend a great deal of time at Clearwater beach and the boardwalk is pretty cool but only on them 70 + degree days :drink: here for 2 more weeks and then Key West let me know if you're heading up /down u gots my #

You mean your 900 # ? Yes, will do, keep it between the navigational beacons

Oh Yeah between the navigational beacons:lolhit::hitit::drink:

I had a 36 with 525's and currently have a 36 with 700's. The hop is 60 to just under 80. The boat has a higher cruise speed than 80 with 700's. If your friend has any questions I would be happy to talk to him. My cell is (518) 796-3325. Good luck to him with whatever he decides on. The hop is very minimal with just a little tab, as previously stated.

P.S. 2008 available and I will put it "On the Money"!!!:drink:

On mine the hop is during the transition period as others have mentioned between 60-80. Mine started out with XR's and whippled 525's and it was fairly noticeable until you learned the best way to drive through it...If you just slowly go up to this limit it was definitely noticeable but if you powered through this range it wasn't very bad at all...

I've since upgraded to Arnesons and 925's and you hardly notice it at all regardless of how fast you get up to speed......

Did you use the Bravo to Arneson upgrade kit and if so, how did it go on? Any fiberglass work needed? How do you like the surface drives?

For mine we used the ASD-7M Kit which is able to handle the increased HP of my new motors and not have to worry about them breaking...

My 3600 is one of the few that have a notch at the bottom and a filler piece and some fiberglass work was needed so the "X" Dimension was in the right spot.

Other than that there is some transom work to fit up the new standoff boxes since they are quite a bit larger than the XR/ITS system that was originally on the boat... If the boat doesn't have a notch it's a pretty straight forward conversion at roughly 1/2 the cost of a single #6 drive and transmission...

I really like the surface drives and Rik Wimp is always available to answer questions, provide information to do the upgrade. I've run them for a couple of seasons now down at LOTO and haven't had a lick of problems...

Jim

They sure look good. Does the boat handle the same at high speeds and how difficult is the boat to get to plane? I have heard you have to rev fairly high to plane out. Do you feel they added any top end or only reliability? Thanks for all your input, Dan

Thanks,

It gets onto plane about the same as it did with the XR's it's just you use different trim and tab settings...It's something I had to play with it for a while to get it right... It feels like it's improved the mid-range and top end but to be honest I haven't run it nearly as hard as some guy's do...

I actually think the Arneson's are easier to maneuver around the docks and when parking, some of it probably has to do with them being further behind the boat than before...

I just re-powered it last spring with a pair of Eddie Young 925EFI's which dynoed at around 1025 and wanted to use last year to get used to them. They pull so hard compared to my old motors it really get's your attention... Hopefully this season I'll be able to run them up a bit, I know I'm probably a little under propped but for me it works pretty well...

Jim

I have wanted a cat for many years but felt I needed to graduate to that speed zone . I have been window shopping again but can't get the Beyond the B.... thing out of my head ..As I have never ridden in a cat I have no clue what to expect . My question :

What size waves or chop can these boats handle ? We have some very large cruisers plowing down the river throwing serious rollers .. Im scared Chit less of not spotting one of these rollers .. wether head on or quartering ..In my v I either hammer it and fly or back off and conservatively cross ..Will the cat handle a steady four foot chop ?

Big Cats say over 40 can run fast in pretty much any water that a big V can from what I have seen. And softer as long as you dont stuff just one side.

I was driven my 36 cat for 3-4 years in Norway and been in some terrible seas with BIG waves, and the boat handles great. I guess you will give up before the boat does...

is stuffing one sponson a freak accident or is this a common occurence ? I gotta convince the bride ( and myself )it safe ..

How have you noticed it before? You DONT even own a boat! I read your post way back when you answered someone that you live in CA and your PARENTS own a boat! Everyone is getting sick of you! Have you not even seen the thread called "PECKER RUN 388"? That's you everyone is mocking. It's not for any other reason than how you act and the BS you come up with. Stop the SH*T. Look at how many responses on your mock thread. That's how many pissed off members you have on here. People come on here to ask real questions and get real answers before spending their hard earned money and then you answer it. Grow Up Bro! You said you are on here to learn, so learn. Listen and stop talking!

:argue::drink:

i had the same concerns myself. i am in the 1000 islands too. send me a PM and we can chat more about it.

All true tunnel hull cats will have a porpoise at the transition speed. Nortech, Skater, MTI all of them. The Eliminaters style hulls with the pod in the center will have very little hop. The true tunnels are faster and will eat big water much better. The pod boats are much better at the cruising speeds under 100 mph. My MTI is not happy unless running over 100. Cruising speed is 110 most of the time as anything less is not fun as the boat is too wet. The question about higher power is a good one in a cat. I have owned many cats 10+ and the cats (true tunnels) with low power are really not fun to drive as the porpoise speed 70-85 takes too long to punch through. It is annoying in flat water. If you want a 115 mph cat get an Eliminator or DCB. They are a blast to drive and can crusie at any speed in comfort. My wife and I really almost hate riding in V-hulls these days. I hate standing up and they ride too rough compared to our cats.

Hey Brad.....thanku for that message.... Very well said,,, everyone thinking of buying a Cat should read this...!!! very very good advice and I learned alot just by the little that you said..... Its nice that you actually gave great advice,,, bcuz most on here just say something rude or tell others how stupid they are... SO THANKU..!! ps... Brad i nvr saw ur MTI on AI,,, and i watched it 2 times... idk?

Do you still own the 3600 with ASD-7s I am currently looking at the same setup on same boat, really would like to talk with you.