24 in rough waters
 

I've ran in some 2-3' slop and was able to "get on top" and run hard on a few occasions.

This weekend I was on Lake Michigan and got into some really confused water. No rhythm at all. Decent sized waves then a hole and a big one and launch time. Coming in all directions, etc.

I was getting some good air every 5-6 seconds or so and thought I was running good. But, my friends in other boats thought I was running great! I'm sure 30+ foot boats could have ran faster but I'm just curious what a decent average speed for these conditions would be in a "little" 24. :D

Thanks

I've run back from Catalina in the afternoon in the 40 - 50 mph range in my 24. Probably similar conditions or worse. I was sore for a week... It was AWESOME though!

So far, the roughest water we've ran in was over Memorial Day weekend. We went from St. Pete to Sarasota with a 20+ mph blowing from the east. As we crossed Tampa Bay it was ranging 3-4 ft. We averaged around 50 or so the whole way across.

We were with 3 other boats, a 24 Skater, a 30 Spectre, and a 30 Velocity, and although I'm the slowest out of the four, we damn near led the pack the whole way. :evilb: :evilb: Myself and my friend in the 24' Skater were out front the whole time.

It's definitely easier to maintain a constant speed when your running directly into or against the waves. It becomes much more difficult when you have waves coming from all directions. :p

24'
 

Ran my 24' in a poker run/fun run this weekend that sunsation put on, it was on lake st.clair in Mi. 3ft slop really rough... we never ran under 60mph, we hit a couple monster 6ft wakes left by big vikings and launched the pantera a few times, prop was at least 3 to 4 ft outta the water, boat stayed nice & flat and landed soft.... while all that was going on alot of the sunsations under 35ft couldnt run thru what we were fly'n thru...... these 24' pantera's are badd azz!!!! mines get'n a 632bbc over the winter. i cant say enough good things about these boats!!!

Sounds like I was in the ball park then. :D When I could get on top I was running 60+ easily. But as we went south they got bigger and started to develop some big holes. I still kept a good pace but I was launching the boat every 5 to 6 seconds when I'd come out of a hole. I was impressed with how she flew! :D

Just curious, how are you guys running in the bigger slop as far as tabs and trim settings?

My boat seems to like a little negative tab and slight positive trim. If I try to run with the tabs higher and less trim it doesn't fly as level.

Just curious how you other 24 owners run?

I run the tabs as high as i can keep them, usually the right side is all the way up and need to level the boat with the left tab very slightly.... i run the drive up pretty high too, depends on how rough the water is, when it starts to skate around i back it down a lil until its stable.

heres an oldie but a goodie.

Scotts 24, it may be a raceboat, but has a full cabin, and single controls, he throttled, drove and tabbed this thing.

Yeah in consistant water I will run with the tabs higher. But, in the big slop I have to run a little negative tab. 1-2' slop about neutral.

And I run the left one a little lower in most cases.

I love that pic! I see a little tab there. That is what I call SNOT!!! :D