34' Powerquest performance
 

Looking at a 1999 34' with twin 500's. What kind of speeds can be expected from this setup?

Thanks
Dail

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Anyone have any experience with a 34 Viper?

Thanks,
Dail

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Dail,
I had a 99 34 PQ Vyper with that combination for a couple of years,,top end the boat would run 77/78 on gps in salt water, 74/75 in fresh water, The boat was a great boat,well built, good amenities, comfortable,,,,except it was a total PIG coming out of the water,,,took forever to plane, tried turning the props in, turned them out,(28 pitch 4 blade Bravo's),all to no avail,,without the tabs with 4 people it was damn near impossible to plane. tried 26 pitch props,,,didn't help,,boat pulled the 28's to the rev limiter,,talking to the factory and the local dealer at the time, the problem seemed to be in the stepped hull design and x diminsion.
Hope this helps.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Interesting. I have an '02 with HO's that will run those speeds. Yes, it is slow out of the hole, but not near as bad as mentioned. PQ may have made some mods to the hull since then. It's been a great boat.

BTW, I am contemplating moving up. PM me if you might be interested.

Hey, is that the '99 that is listed in Powerboat?

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

for 89K, probably...yes they did make some hull changes in 2000.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Say Baha Bennett

I have a 99 34' PQ with the HP500's and it runs 77 on GPS in good conditions and half a tank. Hits 75 when loaded down. I know it has more in it as I am only getting about 5050 RPM with the Lab 30' Bravo 1 props but just haven't tried any other prop's
The boat has been fantastic, lots of room for overnights it looks great and has all the good stuff including the electric bolsters and custom stainless steel supported canvas . Motors are strong, only 60 hours. Very Very clean boat. Description below.
If you are interested send me a PM and I will forward more Pic's as it is for sale, I bought a 38 PQ last summer.




HP500's and Bravo 1 drives with drive showers and Lab Finished Bravo 1 30" props. Motors have only 60 hours.
McLeod Electric Bolsters, K planes with Mechanical Indicators, Gaffrig Gages with Purple Bezels including Clock, GPS Speedo and Hour Meters, Tilt Helm with full hydraulic steering and windshield, VHF radio, stereo remote control on dash and swim platform, New Powerquest lay in cockpit carpet, Microwave, Pressure water, 110/12 volt Refrigerator, Porcelain head and pump out, 100 watt 6 speaker one subwoofer Sony AM/FM CD stereo, 15" flat screen stereo TV, Shorepower, 5'5" headroom and 6'6" berth, Cora Quick and Quiet Plus Exhaust, Spatter Paint Engine Compartment, Halon Fire Ext, 3 batteries with control switches, Water Strainers, Pop up Cleats, Exterior White Hardware, Docking Lights, Stainless Rub Rail, Transom Shower, 4 opening windows, Deck Graphic, Competition Package, Cockpit Cover, Mooring Cover, Custom Bimini (7' head room) with full enclosure and Deluxe Trailer with spare.
Oil changed every 20/25 hrs; drives removed every season, wiped down after every use.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

You go Jim! I guess with two PQ's you need to sell one more than I do. :p

So what ever happened to BB? No retort??

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

In talking to the factory about my planing problem, the had said that they were going to change the step/hull design a little to help with the problem, and they knew they had one when they released the stepped hull initially but they released it anyway.....Go figure..
I know that the stepped hulls don't plane as well/quickly as a conventional v or pad bottom,,but my 99 was ridiculous,, the 292 Fastech I just traded was a little slow to plane(app 6 to 7 seconds without tabs, 2 people and half tank of gas) but the 99 P/Q Vyper was much worse without using the tabs(app 12 seconds) and same load conditions, Once on plane it was great, just no fun getting it to plane.
Hope this information helps.
Not trying to shoot anyones boat sale down,,,they were excellent boats as far as the quality of the boat itself(very much comparable to the Formulas I've owned),,,just think they should have waited till they got the bugs worked out to release the hull design instead of hurring into the top speed races with everyone else..As long as you can live with the slow planing issue you'll be more than happy with the boat.

Just my personal experience/opinion..

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Say I have yo disagree on the time to plane issue with the 34 PQ.

Could be a boat by boat issue but none of the magazine reviews on the 34 PQ have identified this as a concern and my 99 comes up in 4 to 5 seconds with the tabs down and an additional sec. or so with them up. In fact it comes up better than most of the Formulas and Baja is see up here in Minnesota. To contrast with my 38 PQ it has less bow rise but both boats come on plane nicely.


Mack, you had any issues with yours? :D :D :D

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Nope! Pretty much the same as you. The only reason mine is slow to plane is because I baby it. I could hammer it if I wanted, but don't want to grenade a drive. Slowly bring her up to 3 grand, let her roll over nicely and then hit the sticks. :cool:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

MACK
Absolutely agree.Don't want to push the drives.
I give it about 3000 to 3200 RPM to start and as she comes up I lift the tabs and then push the throttles to where I want to be. Real smooth. The one difference with the 38 is I only need to bring it up to 2500 RPM and don't really need any tab, however it comes up quicker with the tabs at about 4 to 5.
They are both great boats.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Maybe I just expected to much from the boat, I don't know, I came out of a 24' DCB Extreme with a 500hp that knew no bounds as far as acceleration went(I owned the magazine cover boat in Jan 97 in Hot Boat)I pedalled that after about a year due to the fact it had absolutely no freeboard, the wife at the time took one look at it when they delivered it from Ca. and said its beautiful,,,,,,but I thought it would be bigger. and before that an 89 Formula 272sr1 with 420s in it.....Factory/reps had said that they were tweeking some things on the hull & x diminsion(obviously the made it better),,mine with tabs down was ok,,just without tabs if you brought it up to 3 grand/3200 it didn't want to break over.Plenty of bow rise, just no stern lift, that why we tried reversing prop rotation.If you tried to hammer it coming out, all it did was blow out the props.(and chanced breaking something)
Lack of dealer support in Fl was always an issue also with P/Q. and Formula too for that matter, which I never understood,,,both make real nice boats.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I wonder if 5 blades would've helped you Slick02 - sounds like your X was a little high, another blade on each side might have given you some extra bite.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

A distinct possibility Dr, but at the time I owned the boat I didn't understand quite as much about props as( I think) I do today,, all I knew was that I figured it had to be close due to the fact that it pulled fine in the midrange/topend and late 99/early 00 there wasn't a whole lot of selection without going to custom props(expensive).. As far as the x-diminsion, after talking to the dealer/factory rep (Mark Boniface)for the area and the factory itself they had said that they were working on the x due to the new step design..And the rep pretty well had me convinced at the time that I was expecting alot out of a 10,000 lb boat with all the crap the ole lady figured we needed to carry...Especially after coming out of the DCB(what a water rocket at the time)..as long as the water was smooth.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

10K lbs :eek: :eek: ... I thought the 34 is marketed at 7500. I always thought both the 34 and 38 look way to massive to be 7500 and 8500 respectively. You have to add a lot of options to add 2500 lbs.

Have any of the 34 or 38 owners ever taken their boats in for weighing. Not knocking PQ here, I have owned them, and have friends that own a 29 and 38. I always stand by them and think how can a boat this huge weigh so little, especially the 38.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

7500 lb is a dry shipping weight, now ad gas(app. 150 gallons) at 7 or 8lbs per gallon, fill the water tank, plus the all the personal crap the gets stored on the boat,plus spare props, tools, a portable generator,,etc,etc. oh and then theres the full camper canvas(which the ole lady insisted on.)
It doesn't take long to jack the weight right on up there.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Never weighed my 34 but would guess that in actual use it runs 1500# over the dry weight of 7400#. Would be very interested if anyone has weighed theirs. I plan on running my 38 to a scale first thing next spring.
What ever the weight is on these PQ's all I can say after owning 3 of them is they handle very well. They track straight and turn as tight as any other. The freeboard is great as it makes for a high and dry ride no mater what.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I talked to Vyper340 last night. They have new fork lifts at their marina that have scales built in. He has not had a chance to lift his boat with them yet, but will. It will be interesting to see what his boat weighs with a full tank of gas. Especially considering he has all the extras mine has.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

So the 34 is listed as 7500 lbs? Yeah, right - my '96 290 is listed as 6500 lbs dry, I believe. Be interesting to see what Vyper finds out...

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I'm damn curious about the actual weight, I kinda thought it went heavier than 7500lbs.....but hey, I've been wrong before..

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

A buddy has a 2000 34' Viper with 454's. 28' B1 props. I never thought of it having any trouble coming out of the hole. I think it is right at 70mph??????
It also has drive spacers. Would it come with those from PQ?

Very nice boat, but he's trying to sell it. His wife wants a cruiser. I think I'll have to beat her up.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

USA1F

The drive spacers would have helped tremendously as far as planing time,,,I have no idea if the factory sent any boats out with them.. As posted previously, the claimed they were working on the problem,,,so maybe they tried drive spacers to help,,,,who knows..

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

70 with 454's ????

Good looking ride, wish it was time for me to buy again :evilb:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

It can be just sell your to Jim :D

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Had to be mags - even then it would have to be set up right.

You could turn yours easily - time to start looking for something new. :D

You and Scott could both get Cats.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

yep. maybe more like 68-70. Plain ol 454 MPI's. All stock. Nice ride, love the head room.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

That is one efficient hull if 454 mpi's are turning 28 inch props.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

You had me second guessing the prop pitch. Just double checked, 28" B1's, not labbed.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Wally, you should buy this boat. Fits just what you need, and it will fit on your lift too.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Man, I would think long and hard about a 34 with only 454's. The PQ 34's are a much better boat with the HP500's. And they look really nice in the engine bay!! :drink: :drink:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

HP500's would look good in my boat! :p

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Wally I have to agree, this boat would look good on your lift :D The graphix are the same but at least the color combo is different, I would hate for you to have the same as mine on the same lake :eek: :drink:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

At least it would be the fastest PQ on the lake if not the longest:evilb:

I am hearing mixed reviews on the 34 getting on plane. Everything from its the worst boat people have ever been in to it planes just fine with the tabs down. I am not sure what to believe at this point, and if the 2000 hull changes make a difference or not. I have never been in one, but I think the vyper would be a nice addition to our lake :D I have eyed up Pmary's boat several times and I keep getting PM's that its for sale :D

Too bad I am looking at houses :(

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

I've found big differences from boat to boat in the same model and from different drivers. Just do a sea trial and decide for yourself. No way they would have ever sold one of those boats if they all were bad as the one you are referencing. For all we know, the driver had the tabs and drives all the way up and had the throttles firewalled coming out of the hole. Could have also been propped wrong.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

In the case of mine, the drives were tucked in and tried many different throttle techniques, with tabs up,,bad,,,with tabs down,,,,acceptable.., and I've been through enough performance boats to know/feel the difference, as previously stated, the factory claimed to be making some changes to the hull/drive heights to correct the problem, I ran a friends 01 38 PQ with 502 mags and had no problems with planing etc..as earlier stated, the boat itself was great as far as quality/construction,,,,,guess I got one of the bum ones..oh well.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Slick, the 34 that Wally and I are referencing is not yours. A friend of ours had a real bad experience on a sea trial of a 34 Vyper back in '99 down at LOTO. The boat we are referencing had 502's and with 5 guys in it and no fuel (boat actually ran out of gas on the trial), it took so long to plane that they thought it might not ever roll over. :eek:

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Wow, that's hard to believe considering my buddys with 454's has no problem with a full load of fuel and riders. Why is there such the difference? Was his way over proped?

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

If there is a 34 with that severe a problem comming up on plane someone has messed with it. Could be a combination of things but props has to be a part.All I can say is except fo som bow rise mine comes up quick and strong, full tank, full of people or both she comes up nice.

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

My 99 34 with 502's also came up with no problems with additional people and full fuel tanks. It ran 28 pitch 4 blades and it came up well with just a little bit of tab. Even if the tabs were lifted up all the way the time to plane was respectable. I know of other 34's that also had no problems getting on plane with different engine configurations. This complaint sounds a bit odd to me.

Tim

Re: 34' Powerquest performance
 

Sounds just like mine,,,,and horsepower wasnt the problem..mid range/ top end was great, with 2 people or 4 it didn't make a damn bit of difference,,,my dealer told me maybe we needed more stern lift so we reversed the props/controls,,,,nada.(just made docking harder) looking back now, the five blade prop or the 1"drive spacer would have probably been the ticket.
Mine was the teal/purple/black paint scheme