I sat in Jim Lees 28 with the new clear wrap around windshield. It is great, easy to get in the seats and over the top of my head, the flat deck is cool, along with the new dash

Beautiful boat ..

Be careful. Setting in that thing will make you write checks

:evilb::evilb:

Can Skater make a SB Stock cat that can compete with the Doug Wrights?

Pete can build anything you want.........he just needs somebody willing to spend the money to build a new raceboat for Stock Outboard - which not many new guys seem to want to go up against Kyler Talbott. Currently, a 30 Skater doesn't seem to be able to beat the DW32s. Nobody with the $$$ it takes to be competitive in the class has campaigned a 30 Skater in Stock Outboard yet though, so it hasn't been proven that they can't be competitive. However, the DW32 track record here in the US speaks for itself. Pete has the design thought out to build a boat to rival (or possibly beat) the DW32, but nobody has stepped up to build one yet. Can't blame them, it's easier just to build a proven DW32. Victory's boats kick the DW32s ass in X-Cat over in Europe, so it's not like the DW32 is the fastest outboard on the water. It is a great outboard boat though - no doubt about it!

Hey guy's quick question how does a 30' Spectre with 300xs match up against a 30' Skater with Same power?

About the same top speeds but the the 30 skater is quite a bit bigger and better in rough water. A 30 spectre is closer to a 28 skater but not as fast.

[QUOTE=Skater30;4216093]Pete can build anything you want.........he just needs somebody willing to spend the money to build a new raceboat for Stock Outboard

thanks for the info... was wondering why...watched Ryan run in KW...:...had hopes for him to do little better on Sunday running in rough stuff but the DW's still ran strong!

any of you outboard guys planning on making it down for the Tickfaw 200 this year?

Yes I plan on attending! We need to do an outboard Skater Skaterfest..

ok that would be cool as sh!t.

Yes, I also plan to attend Tickfaw in 2015. I stopped by Bloodriver Landing and met Joey last week on a trip to NOLA with my wife. I really nice guy that is really into the Tickfaw Poker Run! I still have an open invitation for the "Outboard Skater Fest" at my home lake, Lake Tenkiller in eastern Oklahoma for this summer or late fall. Any interest?

Craig what are the dates?

David are you talking about 2015?
I vote for a outboard skaterfest in the keys during the winter for you guys to catch a break from the cold.
Miami boat show run would be good!
Craig is your motor fixed yet?
David how's the boat running with the new powerhead.

Ron, Yes 2015 for Oklahoma. Keys is a possibility! The boat is in break in with 30P props. Every thing seems to be working well. I was hoping to get it out at least on more time this season, but now 21 degrees - an early winter , so I am done unless we come to your world!.

I already have reservations, I will be there...

I'm toast until May. I would be interested in meeting up where ever. I actually have the bosses permission to go to Tickfaw and LOTO so that definitely a go for me. Tenkiller is even closer but it's going to be tuff for me schedule wise this summer. FPC Destin Poker Run is great but you fresh water guys might stroke out. I don't think I can make Destin this year due to taking my offspring to college!

My goal this year is to attend Tickfaw, LOTO Shootout, and hopefully KW Worlds 2015.

But I'm certainly open to whatever works for the most guys.

Let's throw out some ideas of places and times and see when the most people can make it.

LOTO and Tickfaw are bucket list events if you have not attended and definitely worth the haul. Might be fun to attend one of these events and run together.

I gotta say this, Skater builds some of the best boats in the world hands down. Peter and his crew have done everything I have ever asked and more on our race boats. Our first 30 in 2006 he took back and built us a new boat. We've run the Skaters every year since in about 10 races a year. In most conditions our boat is simply, SLOWER. YES, our team is less funded then many of the other teams, we don't have new motors on the boat twice a year either. We are also a little lacking in our propeller selection. Peter also admits that he won't cut corners to save weight therefor our canopy is bomb proof, and yes we've tested it on 2 occasions. As I said they have made every change we have every asked for, I believe the the shape of the bow area is the difference. Our boat is wider in the "hips" and in my eyes not as aerodynamically correct as the 32 DW. ALSO the newer DW's tunnels are 7-8" wider than our tunnel. That is about 25% more lift right there. As with anything the newest / latest/ greatest is usually fastest as was proven by Talbot in KW. I am sure with a little tweaking that something built out of the new, wide tunnel, 30 mold would be faster and if we could teak the forward entry area some it could really be made to haul the mail!

our video from the final day in Key West....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J8vgRdvVKdo

awesome video Ryan...I was pulling for ya !!. we were actually on our final approach flying in on Wednesday when you guys were staring the race...the couple that came down with us got an awesome shot from the plane!!! I'll see if I can find and post it here.

Tickfaw 200 dates...Friday May 1st-2nd. Lots of people get here earlier...hell some get here the weekend before LOL.

I haven't moved forward on the engine repairs on the 308. pretty sure on what I'm doing though.

Great video Ryan! I felt like I was in the race, watching it. Thanks for posting

I agree with you Ryan 100 percent. You have done a great job for what you have. What I cannot believe is that one of those teams with all the money would not entertain building a Skater. I am sure Peter could come up with something that would take back what was once one of the best racing classes ever. I would personally would take the 28 hull and make it longer and wider. It is a proven design and is one of the best all around cats ever built in its size.
I sure hope in the coming years I make enough money to build one!
Some one needs to step up and get a new model done that would also be a good fit for the new outboards coming out. It will require a restructure of balance and tank locations etc to offset the heavier motors.

What I cannot believe is that one of those teams with all the money would not entertain building a Skater. I am sure Peter could come up with something that would take back what was once one of the best racing classes ever. I would personally would take the 28 hull and make it longer and wider. It is a proven design and is one of the best all around cats ever built in its size.
I sure hope in the coming years I make enough money to build one!
Some one needs to step up and get a new model done that would also be a good fit for the new outboards coming out. It will require a restructure of balance and tank locations etc to offset the heavier motors.[/QUOTE]

I really think you are on to something with the longer and wider 28 skater. The sponsons on the 30 are huge compared to the 28 and I know that's great for inboards but for outboards the narrow sponsons like the 28 and the Doug Wright seem to be the ticket for speed.

Now these new outboards you speak of. Do you know of something coming down the pipeline or just assuming that sooner or later we will get a new high performance outboard?

Ron, You are on the right track with the idea of a wider 28. At the start of my 28 purchase endeavor, I contacted Pete to do just that in a flat deck profile with carbon build-up. He was really pumped to do it. You are also right that it takes a lot of money - a lot of money! Too much for me at the time. It is in my dreams still.

I really think you are on to something with the longer and wider 28 skater. The sponsons on the 30 are huge compared to the 28 and I know that's great for inboards but for outboards the narrow sponsons like the 28 and the Doug Wright seem to be the ticket for speed.

Now these new outboards you speak of. Do you know of something coming down the pipeline or just assuming that sooner or later we will get a new high performance outboard?[/QUOTE]

He told me he built the 30 to haul people. That at the time that's where the demand was. He would entertain building a race boat hull again if the demand were there to justify the expense of tooling and molds. Considering the increase in poker run boats and diminishing race boat fleets Pete's not just a good boat builder but a good business man also. I could tell he was eating a him knowing he could be competitive if he chose to be.

I've been saying this for years, both to Peter and anyone that would listen.

Someone needs to have an insert in the mold after the first step of the 30' to narrow the running surface (keep the nose wider for rough water as it's not in the water at speed anyways), add to to the width or take a 28' Widen and Stretch it to 31'. The DW is also a lot lower tunnel height boat than the 30' something a 28' could improve upon.

In the past when Pete made a 30' boat he took a 32' and shorten'd it. I want him to go the other way around. The beam and length will bring stability to the 28' that it needs in the rough.

[QUOTE=Taboma;4218809]Ron, You are on the right track with the idea of a wider 28. At the start of my 28 purchase endeavor, I contacted Pete to do just that in a flat deck profile with carbon build

It's amazing that nobody has ever had Pete build a flat-deck 28. After seeing the 24, I'm not certain a 28 would look that great flat-decked with either quarter canopies or a wrap windshield. The 30/338 is just big enough to handle the size of the quarter-canopies/wrap windshields and not look disproportionate. The quarter canopies on my 30 are the smallest he ever installed. I had him cut them down as much as possible and still be functional (my seats are also mounted VERY low in the boat) to keep the look of the bigger Skaters. There's way more to building these boats and keeping them looking cool than most people think.

Maybe I can get the guys from up north to head down that way David!!

[Quote Skater 30] It's amazing that nobody has ever had Pete build a flat-deck 28. After seeing the 24, I'm not certain a 28 would look that great flat-decked with either quarter canopies or a wrap windshield. The 30/338 is just big enough to handle the size of the quarter-canopies/wrap windshields and not look disproportionate. The quarter canopies on my 30 are the smallest he ever installed. I had him cut them down as much as possible and still be functional (my seats are also mounted VERY low in the boat) to keep the look of the bigger Skaters. There's way more to building these boats and keeping them looking cool than most people think.[/QUOTE]


Who did Rick's? Or are you just referring to a new build? Looking forward to seeing Steve's finished? Both flat deck with canopies.

[QUOTE=Onetime;4218882][Quote Skater 30] It's amazing that nobody has ever had Pete build a flat

Hey Rich, Rick's 28 was done at Skater - but it's not a "flat-deck" Skater. It's a standard deck that Pete cuts the brow off of and glasses in a section that has the canopy registers molded into which the canopies mount to. Steve is modifying his 28 in a similar fashion, but using a reverse register to mount the canopies. A true "flat-deck" Skater is one that starts with the hull only, and Pete builds the entire deck from a single large "flat" sheet of cored laminate - not a deck that has been built in a mold.

Skate, I am realizing that a 28 is good for 2 light people! Me and my wide equal 300 pounds and the boat does great. I took it out with and additional 470pounds of FAT and the 28 handled like crap! I should remove the back seat!

Hey don't be diss'n fat when you are calling you wife "wide". Better correct your post before she finds out!

Yea they run great when light. Unfortunately I rarely get out without a bunch of guys or teenagers screaming in the back seat. I thought I would miss the top end capabilities of my 28 when I got the 308 but actually love the ride and handling especially when it gets rough.

It's all physics. Air intrapment hulls create just so much lift at a given speed. The more speed you have the more weight it will lift unfortunately the more weight you have the less lift it generate or somethinlike that. I like having plenty of fuel, my friends, kids, stereo, and ice chest and I'm not loosing wieght either so I'm usually toast on running mean and lean

Thanks "Skate" Today is my wife's birthday and WIDE did not go over well! Thanks for the "late" correction....

It's all in the balance boys!!!
My heavy weight runs great in the rough water! As a matter of fact sometimes I have to add ballast!!!!

I would agree that the Victory is faster in Xcat, but OTOH, Xcat has turned into flat water bay racing. I suspect the newer DW's would fair much better against the Victory's if they weren't always racing on glass.



Merc will have their new HP OB at the Miami show in a couple of months. :)

I suspect the new HP outboard will be a 400 verado, with a long shaft and club gear case for all the big Center Consoles out now.

I agree with you Jim, just a hopped-up Verado. Can't blame Mercury - they need to recoup the millions they spent developing those motors by selling a lot more than they already have! This "new" high hp outboard will most certainly not be anything of interest to us high performance cat guys. We'll be lucky if Mercury continues producing the XS for a few more years.

yep...probably so. we are just SOL unless all the CC guys decide to go to and OB cats and change the market demand LOL.

Or you guys switch over to the new G2 300R E-Tec motor with tons of torque and 315hp at the props? :party-smiley-004:

[QUOTE=Omni Present;4220596]Or you guys switch over to the new G2 300R E

OH???? get me 350-400 then I'm def in!!!