34 Step Hull Question
 

Ok, so I have been reading up on the differences, I pulled this out of a post by performancemary:

If you go through the posts on this you will learn about the Viper hull changes. The most significant was the change in 2000 where they cut the hull depth towards the rear of the boat. The easy way to tell if you have the old or new design is by looking at the tie down u bolts on the transon. If there is only an inch or so between the bottom of the u bolt and the hull bottom you have the new one. If the distance is closer to two inches you have the old hull. The diff is worth 3 to 5 MPH.

My question is the u-bolt distance only apply to the 2000 models. The reason I ask is I am looking at a pic of a 2002, and the U-bolt looks to be higher than 1" from the bottom.

Then along the same lines was the good hull a running change in 2000? Meaning early 2000's are the slow hull, and later 2000's are the 3 to 5 MPH faster hulls, and then they just keep getting better as we go into the 200x's?

Thanks,
Dave

34 Hull Change
 

D2 As it was explained to me the change came early in the 2000 year but was not there from the beginning.
Your really want to get the newer hull

Thanks, I probably sould have just PM'd you! :ernaehrung004:

Southeastern rep(Mark Boniface) at the time told me that during the 99/2000 production runs that they had made multiple changes, was told by the time mid 2000's were out that they had pretty well sorted it out,,and my 99 sucked/loved the boat/hated the planing and handling.

34 Viper
 

I had a 99 viper and it was a great boat but mine was an early one that did not have the newer hull. It had significent bow rise on take off but with tabs down that could be controlled. Mine had HP 500'S and had a top speed of 76 / 77 However the guy I sold it to got 80 out of her, perhaps a better driver.

D2HP
I ran into the same thing when we were looking to buy. I don't know about the 2000 in particular, but Here is a pic of our 2002 and I agree the U-Bolt is definately higher than an inch or two. It has the 496 HO's and does 78 mph any day.
Shawn

Mine had the mid-year hull,,it planed like a pig, even with tabs, it had 500hp's and 28 pitch 4blades and we tried rotating the props inward, outward and not much helped, the boat would run anywhere from 74 to 77 on gps depending on load, weather etc. I was holding out for the 30' Revenge, but they put off production on it so I took what I could have right now, I have ridden in a late 2000 Vyper and it was 10 times the boat as mine as far as planing and handling. Also, turning the props inward ruined the low speed manuvering around docks etc.

Thanks for all the helpful posts.

Shawn D, thanks for the info on your boat. Looks like the 02 I was looking at is like yours. How many hours did you get on the boat last summer? I have read through quite a few of your posts, and the have definitely been helpful.

Thanks also Slick02 looks like my search keeps narrowing.

Dave

viper
 

D2HP

All I can say is the hooks on my 99 viper were not as high as those shown on that boat but still higher than I have seen on vipers with newer hulls. They must have done alot of changes on the vipers befor they got it right.

My 2001 avenger has very little bow rise, runs flat and the hooks are very close to the bottom. See picture

Here is a pic of my '02 340. 76 - 78 normal conditions with stock 28 B's. Hit 80 with labbed 30's. 496 HO's. And mine was the slowest of the three we had in our club.

Oh chit! I guess I can't post a pic because I have not renewed. :rolleyes:

Oh well, my U bolt is easily 2 inches up...if not more.

viper ubolt
 

Well I guess that nails it ,there seems to be no consistancy on the ubolt placement relative to the 99 and newer Vipers. All we know is that the factory was messing with the hull in 2000 and made changes that affected its placement.

The hull I had was an early 99, had HP500's and generally slower than Macklins.
Still a great boat though. Not as smmoth as the Avenger but very nice.

Performancemary, do you still have your 380?

The inconsistency of the hull's'/speeds/handling always confused me on this particular boat,,the boat show 34 I rode in in Miami in 2000(which is what convinced me to buy one) exhibited none of the bad traits that mine had and it was suppoedly a 99 also...confusing.

Good Call
 

Yes I still have it but am looking to trade her in on a crusier or sell outright. Working with a couple of dealers right now, one in Oshkosh.

I hate to sell but we have had performance boats for several years now and its my wifes turn to pick the next boat.

It's amazing how that works,,isn't it?

Keep in mind every hull is not the same, some run like a raped ape and some are just pigs, I have seen some really fast running PQ's and in the same field some that would chine walk all over the place. Is it driver or hull ? Probably both at some point, I know my old 91 270 laser with single 502 mag was awesome, no chine walk what so ever, my buddies 22 with 454 mag would be all over the place, and my vyper running 78-80 with 500 HP's runs like an animal straight and clean holding its own to like powered cigs in our club. So depends on the hull and mostly the driver in my opinion.

I switched last year to a Formula 350 SS. Even most of my go fast friends enjoy a day out on the 350. As for my wife - now she prods me to get going and go out versus the other way around - she loves it.

There are a few days I miss the go fast. But overall, I don't think I will ever go back.

Great boats for sure, the 350 and 400 SS would be my choice as well if going to a cruiser, nice boat.

Very nice looking(it ought to be looks like my 27pc on steroids), my next boat is going to be a houseboat and maybe try to swing a 23 to 30 ft dayboat, if I can ever find someone to take my PC off my hands.