I'm not a cat guy. Have a question about the drag of the lower units. Is it not better to have the outboard in line with the hulls ? Seems that the hulls have disrupted the water so why not have the lower unit drag their also ?
Thanks.

Maybe it is going to be another Skater surprise! :party-smiley-004:
Could it be some new motors also?????????? Who knows!:party-smiley-048:

Sorry guys for the delayed response, as ive been out fishing with my granpa

"Nice" :-)

Lol that's good Dave!!

Has Gramps got you talked into 5) more mercs on the 36? ;-)

Its been difficult making time to work on this latest project. after getting the Skater back from glassdave my schedule has been extremely busy. Here and there ive been able to get a few things done.
Dave did a great job of re-sculpting the tunnel pods and filling the old bolt holes giving me a fresh new transom to work with.
Then I made a template out of masonite of the engine jackplate bolt pattern and clamped it to the transom so that I could mark the new hole configuration. I moved everything in 2.5 inches,

I then used the template to have a 1/4" aluminum plate made to add strength and protect the transom

Then it came time to drill the mounting holes. The old saying measure twice cut (drill) once, takes on new meaning here. There's little room for error here.
Mounting the jackplates, It's critical to have everything square in to relation to each of them. You dont want an engine to be mounted crooked even slightly. Its proven that for maximum efficiency, you want all engines mounted perfectly straight up and down. In this I took extra time to do my best.
Once there I used mounting bolt kits straight from Mercury Marine, they are pricey but I believe worth the price to avoid problems down ghe road. They are stainless bolts fine thread with bronze nuts to prevent gauling. They come in pkgs of 4 complete with wide and narrow stainless flat washers that you need to mount an outboard.

With enough boat life 2 part loaded and ready in the caulk guns I proceeded to apply liberal amounts of caulking to the mating areas of the transom, aluminum plate and jackplate mating surfaces
I was working by myself and had to work with a sense of urgency due to the cure times of the 2 part sealant. Eventually I got it done

Before the day was over I was able to get a couple of engines hung

Check the clearance between the cowlings

David it looks amazing. Great work and love your boat!

Very nice! LOTO??? Please tell me you will be there.

We wont be there this year Sam, are you going to run in the shootout?

My 28 wouldn't float the hardware for 4) motors. :-)

As usual ........... "Awesome" work

Not this year. I have not had time this summer to dial it in. Too many commitments. I did see 97.5 with my bravo props with 4 on board and 3/8+ tanks. It's at Boat Customs for bottom blue printing final clearcoat and some additional hardware. I'll be at Camden with my wife this year I was hopeful the wives could meet.

We will be there next year. Make sure not to leave the shootout with all.of the cruiser traffic so she doesnt get a bad taste in her mouth and not want to come back next year. It would be great for.Ru to.meet her. Hopefully both you and I will have our skaters dialed in and ready for 2016.
Are you going boatless this year or will your skater get finished in time to have it there to.just have fun driving around?

Thanks Stephen, what about your project? I truthfully have not had a chsnce to look at the other forum to check your progress

Plan is to have it there. But then again when doing a boat project island time has a way of creeping into your schedule. Yes I had already planned to hang at Captain Ron's and preserve equipment if she comes along to the Shootout. Actually I think she is hanging during the Shootout so if it's a boys only trip I see major air time in the near future!

It looks like you're doing an awesome job on the re-rig David! Keep up the good work and post up plenty of pics as you go along.

Thanks, its now ready for testing, cant wait
Pics showing new set up with closer engine spacing compared to before

Should have it on the water first thing sunday morning

I hope she meets and exceeds your expectations David. Keep us posted.

"Nice" [ATTACH=CONFIG]544173[/ATTACH]

I know this great little pond in central Missouri with lots of friends to help that gets reaalllly right for testing in two weeks.......

David i say you take it to LOTO and just cruise and enjoy it.

haha Sam two minds think alike :lolhit:

Nice it is!

Thanks guys for all of the compliments and encouragement
Today was the first day this year to get the skater out on the water. Here we go to see if all of this re-doing and re-rigging has paid off.

So how did it go??

The bow steer problem is GONE!

The need for hundreds of pounds of ballast GONE!

Now I can truly start dialing in like a "normal" Skater!
Its like a different boat now. :bananalove:

(plus top speed is up) :eating:

"Congrats" on the improvement. :-)


The bow steer problem is GONE!

The need for hundreds of pounds of ballast GONE!

The price of going fast .... $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ GONE!

I think you got the last one wrong!!!!!! Must be a misprint LOL! :ernaehrung004:

Sawweeeeeet!

:Score-101010: yay!! lol . . . . so having two white water kayaks epoxied to the tunnel is a bad thing? :confused: lol

So does this mean We can return those pillow cases that we "borrowed" from the Camden to keep the sand bags from exploding in the back of your boat???:lolhit:

Really glad to hear it worked out for you David! :ernaehrung004:

Yes Sam it has been on my concience too. And while im at it I think that I owe you several hd zip ties as well:D