Has anyone looked at having the steering wing plates and tie bar done in carbon fiber? It seems that everyone is concerned with weight but uses HEAVY A$$ wingplates and tie bars? Seems like it would be a good alternative to the SS ones we all currently use and would weigh 1/10 or less. What are the cons other than no one currently offers them?

Seems like I've heard of Titanium wing plates and tie bars, but not carbon fibre. Might be a good idea for the wing plates.

Not sure if they would be strong enough where the bolt goes through from the steering ram.
I would think it would wallow out and get play in it unless it was very thick. Would be nice to save the weight.
I will ask Latham and see what Bob thinks.

The strength at the mounting points was also a concern but figured that could be overcome by either making those areas thicker and / or using collars. Either way the weight savings would still have to be huge. Any reason it wouldn’t work for the tie bar as well? If not how about a CF Kevlar blend?

Also would really like some of your opinions on the other thread I started about pros cons of 28-32 OB VS IO.

Thanks

I would not put my life on the line to save weight on wing plates.

Well after a two year boat hiatus to build a 338 that I never got in the water before I traded for the 308 I have now my boating season started this week. Like a good Skater Brother I changed the lower unit oil, topped off the oil tanks, filled her with ethanol free 93 octane and dragged her an hour and half after work Wednesday to my lake house. As I was unloading the 308 at my ramp I went to my dock to let my newly installed lift down which was suppose to fit a 338 but trimmed to fit the 308 only to find it was installed in the slip backwards. After backing the boat in and an hour later to get the bunks to hit the inner tunnel rails I had it on the lift with 8' sticking out from under the roof. I flew to Ft Lauderdale Thursday night only to get delayed 2 hours in Atlanta weather at the airport. Arriving in Ft L at 1:00 am. I finally get to my hotel only to get a call from Delta telling my they have my laptop which I left in the back seat of the plane. They told me no problem as I could pick it up in the morning only problem I had to have it for the lecture I was giving that morning. So I grab a cab back to the airport and retrieve the computer. 36 hours and two lectures later I leave beautiful Ft. Lauderdale never once going to see the beach or any of the Skater Brothers in the area. I fly back to Little Rock only to be diverted an hour for yet another storm. I leave LR airport at 9:00 PM go directly to the lake where my family is only to wake up Sunday morning to this.

[ATTACH=CONFIG]524430[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH=CONFIG]524431[/ATTACH]

So I spent the rest of the day Sunday doing honey dos in the rain until 5:30 PM when we get a 30 minute window to run the boat. Which btw was great. So we come back to the dock back in and with four people holding and adjusting it only takes 15 minutes to lift the boat. An hour later I get to cook dinner outside in the rain.

I keep wondering why we do this to ourselves?:lolhit:

Skate,
That sucks. We all have some of those days. Wish you could have seen the beach and had more time. Could have met up with you. Boat dock/lift looks great. I am jealous of you guys living on a lake and getting to run on a moments notice. At least you were able to get the laptop back.
To answer your question the reason is we all have sickness with these boats and we will go through hell and back for 30 minutes of fun!!! You are not alone and this type of hobby is not for everyone!!!
It is called Skater Fever!

d@mn sam that was a lot of here and there for a short run!! will you be able to get the 308 to sit back in the slip???

my run went ok in the 28 but I need to check the ground on the starboard engine...the fuel pump shut down after a 30 minute run...cooled down and fired back up but did the same thing on the way back...we are all sick puppies LOL.

As soon as the rainy season monsoon stops we are going to spin the lift around and the boat will all fit under the roof.

I wasn't asking anyone to put their life on the line only wanted to get opinions on whether or not CF may be alternative to the really heavy SS wing plates we all use. If it must be that heavy or made of SS no problem I agree that safety is first I just also know that overkill is good to a point then it's waste. With the advances we've made in composites I'd just be surprised that we can't make them just as strong if not stronger and it weigh much less. My thoughts are that it should be pretty straight forward possibly add collars to the ram and tie bar attachment points to spread that laod and gussets along some of the primary tension areas between them. Would just be curious if it would work and if so what kind of benifits might there be in weight savings. Weight savings that far back in the boat could really help make a difference in CG is my thought.

Don't let the rain get you down, at least you got that 30 minutes on the water and how much more time just looking out at the dock and thinking about that beautiful boat sitting down there waiting for you :)

I like your ideas on using composites and adding collars to spread the load, curious if someone here who has an engineering background can stress test composites for this use. The stress test will be done on the computer.



.

I'm still waiting on my lowers to get repaired so I can go run...really need to get out and get some solid performance info.

and as further proof of the insanity of man, I submit what we do for our women, and sometime we don't get the 30 minutes out of them either...:lolhit:

,


LA,

This is an awesome thread!

There's like multiple virtual threads with in it, and people are posting to those individual threads

if you didn't catch this thread from the onset, could be confusing :), but its awl gooood!

To quote LA "Damn Sam". I just got my cat back yesterday afternoon with 1400.00, new to me lower add another 1110.00 for freshen up on both only to have two left hand rotation props. My LUs' were held hostage by a mechanic who does excellent work ,but, has no work ethic. I just went to prop shop only to be told that he doesn't have a fixture to hold over the hub props and doesn't work on stainless props. I thanked him for his honesty and beat rush hour home. I am looking at my Talon out my window as I type this with my bathing suit on . I have one perfect three blade 28* HOSS and 30* Spinelli both left hand rotation. I do have a credit card and will fix this problem by tomorrow morning. I have been out 4 times in 2.5 months and probably have 3500.00 in the cat including 60 gallons of fuel on board as I type this season. This hobby is definitely an expensive disease, but I wouldn't trade it for any female or drug that I know of or have met. Time for a swim! lol!


How is Will doing?

B

I have a perfect 26"x15" 3 blade cleaver RH 1988 vintage Second Effort prop hanging on the wall of the man cave made into a clock. Too bad it's not higher pitch and lab finished I'd send it your way.

Will is doing great. It was our first trip back to the lake as a family since the accident. It was cold and rainy so he opted out of riding in the boat and hung with his friends at the house. Everyone is home from Atlanta and we plan to send him to College in August.

That is awesome news Sam! I hope to see you two sometime soon. I know where a prop garden is in my friends side yard. They are all bravo thru hub ,but pushed his CC Talon to 101.4 mph with 300s. I just want to run and I shall by Friday.
Watch out for debris. I just pulled another tree out of big water off of my peninsula and got a leech to prove it. Your storms are blowing thru SC now Sam. lol

B

lots more going on in here than I imagined LOL.

I have gone back twice to skim back over things... and to make sure I didn't miss some info or bullchit!! :stooges:

.


Single Outboard Race Cat gotten from the "other" forum

Engine: single 200XS ROS

http://youtu.be/CZ3YrfEsvFI

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...d_race_cat.jpg




.

Cool Thread, subscribed!:boat:

Can anyone inform me what make model and length the blue boat above is ? I want one ASAP

.

Someone told me they're Argentinian Hot Bot for class 3 racing, but I haven't found pics to prove that yet.

here are some links that might get us closer in answering the questions that we both have. I want one too :)
seems to be a class 3C


http://www.ortmoffshore.com/default.asp?t=13


http://www.svera.org/files/img/argentina_cp-5-1.jpg

http://www.bymnews.com/photos/displa...um=155&pos=143


http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...C-DSC_7546.jpg
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...136566_n-1.jpg
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...C-DSC_7547.jpg
http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...C-DSC_7545.jpg

They ARE called Argentinian "Hot Boats" built out of wood, in Italy.

Ryan ,

That blue boat posted is wood ? Do you know the mfg ?

Anyone have any experience with BBlades Blaster props. I tried a set of 15x30* 4 blade over the hub bravos earlier today and could only turn them 6200@ 82 mph. No stern lift at all, which my Talon needs. Got 92 mph @ 6200 with my 15x30 Spinelli 3 blade cleavers and 70 gallons of fuel. I know I'm leaving rpms on the table.I know this is a skater thread but hell there isn't even a Talon Forum. Hustler bought the molds. I know I know there is a Hustler forum, but this is where all the cool kids hang out. Lol

Sorry for asking but maybe I missed what size boat it is, engine and gear ratio configuration.

It's all good Bob. You can be our "Token Talon Guy"

I guess that info would be pertinent especially to a rigger lol DR. I have an 1989 25' Talon ex- race boat. Aprox 3500 lbs. rigged with two 55 gallon tanks. I have 1998 Diamond Marine 225 Promaxes, just top pinned and fresh w/ approx. 80 hrs. from Marty buy way of Jeff @ FFV. I have 1.87 Sportmasters turning in at 1.5 " above pad. I was told I need to turn them out, but have never tried turning out as I have been happy with performance and too lazy to swap cables around.I will this fall when I convert to fatshafts.
I bought the boat from Tim Hunter in Wake forest who saw 105 with old 2.4s' with the Spinellis (15x30 labbed) which I could only turn to approx. 6200 to 6400 rpm, but saw a best of 96 with a 12 mph headwind. I have a Hoss HPD 15x27* that Tim was nice enough to through in with the sale. Lost one Hoss when propshaft broke years ago. Tim stated that the Hoss was his favorite all around prop for the hull. My friend Lee I borrowed the Bravos from ran them on his Talon CC which with a heavier liner has a diffrent CG and the hull responded well to. He was running 300s' which provided him much more torque. He saw a best of 101.4 with some cleavers also ,but the CC hull liked the Bravo style hull. Lee Stated that the cleavers generate more stern lift which I am accustomed to and the boat feel light in the stern with the cleavers. The bravos WOULD NOT allow the boat to fly even in 1.5 to 2s at 80 mph. It felt as the bravos were sucking the hull to the water. I am a newb to prop science. A cleaver generates more stern lift DR as Lee stated? My thinking was that the big Four blades turning in would lift the stern. They sure didn't yesterday. Lee is on his 27th performance boat an AO with a 555" BBC NA approx. 750 hp and is seeing 92 mph ,in 25 years so I have no reason to doubt him just looking for more opinions on propping for my hull. I am 47 yrs old with a Degree in Mech. Engineering specializing in machine design so I understand engineering. I just need some info from someone who has been where I hope to go.

As a point of reference, before I bent my Spinellis I ran 86 mph with 5 people and 80 gal. on fuel with the Spinellis two months ago and 92 mph with 2 in boat and 75 gallons of fuel.

Funny Sam I am known as Token at the Ammo point where I work as all my employees are Black. They used to call me the double stuff in the Oreo cookie of the ASP. I generally get up at 430 am to be on site at 6 as we crankup the ranges at day break.I"m going to lay back down and try to get a couple of more hours of sleep before swabbing the deck. After 21 yrs. of getting up at 430 its hard to sleep in. The 60 somethings at the restaurant at dinner last nite laughed at me as I told them I was headed home at 630 to get some rest Thanks to all for any advice.

BB

P.S. Anyone have or know were I could find another Hoss 15x27*? I looked on SandF. I plan on calling BBlades Monday to rent the Blasters on Lee and Randy Coursons recommendation.

Cant sleep so removed head from rectum to answer my own question I think. I am comparing the 32 DW to my hull. Apples to oranges. We ran 5 blade Herring Bravo style over the hub to 107 with 280s in the DW. The DW generates MUCH more lift than my mod vp style Talon at speed. The Bravos on my Talon are lifting the bow and PLANTING the stern! My Talon likes neutral trim with the cleavers allowing the hull to generate its own lift? Correct ? DUH! The cleavers aren't actually lifting the stern. They are allowing the hull to WORK itself.
Once again Craig and Sam and any others in fresh water here we have had rain watch out for debris. Saw plenty of crap with all the rain we have had yesterday.
Check back in few hours for opinions. Enjoy your cats boys.

Kevlarkat32
Yes that boat is wood as are all of the Argentinian hot boats. They also build larger models and are not uncommon as a few of them run in x-cat .

BB as far as the 28' Skater goes and the theory of turning in versus out. Turning in produces bow lift and would pull the transom down. In rough water when the boat rolls side to side that actually helps continue to roll the boat that direction. Back in the days of the Mobil One boat it was tried many times with no success on the 28. A few competitors tried it also only to get smoked in the race by Mobil One. I know the guys with the 30 Skaters turn them in but if I were you I would swap them and give it a try. It will definitely change the way the boat feels.
Docking will be easier also. There has been a lot of threads on which is better but every boat performs different. For me it is also a safety factor that is not worth few MPH's. Also I have found the degree of rake on the props can help how the bow flys too. Are you running 20 degrees or 22? I have found for overall speed the bravo style props are not as fast especially with a x dimension. I have a set of 4 Blade Herring 29's + 15 1/4 thru hub bravo style props. They run good in slow to mid range and mainly us them for all around running in the ocean.
Also have a set of 4 blade dewalds 30" + 14 3/4". They work well in the ocean also keeping the nose down as they are 20 degree rake versus the 22 degree of the Herrings.

DR I was told by Randy Courson to turn the out as my hull as he said was designed to have them spinning out. I am going to call BBlades as well as send them my injured Spinelli, and try a set of their Blasters. They are four blades and other than some 26* Mach choppers I ran on my Velocity and the bravos on the now I don't like how the cat responds. My Talon flys flat with the 3 blade clevers and, as you stated, the bravos turning in are lifting the bow and pulling the stern down. What are your thoughts on three blade clevers vs. 4 blade. I like the flighty feel ing the three blades provide as my CG must be wayyyyyyyyyyy aft on my Talon. The t










Talon seems to run faster with more people in the boat moving the CG forward. and flys level. I look for rough water to fly in and these bravos turning in are awful. Don with the DW likes the Dewalts also.

"The Talon Guy"

DR I don't know the rake. That is a good question and one I will investigate. I am going to swap drives either today or this week and get these 4 blade bravos off of my Talon. Does anyone happen to have a Hoss Hyperdrive 15x 27 3 blade? I lost a right hand rotation prop years ago when my propshaft broke. Anyone have any recommendations on a prop repair shop?

Thanks
The Talon Guy

.

Is this a Skater?



http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...ater/Scan6.jpg

Yes it is a 32.

what's the name of the company who builds the black and green-top cat?

In the flats, it was kicking ash!

http://youtu.be/CZ3YrfEsvFI

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...5at81135AM.png

I think the only way to generate 450+ outboard HP is to go John-Rude V8, like this momma ==>

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...ae7c7d456.jpeg

All you need is desire and a big checkbook. A book you might like Noli is Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design by James D. Russells Phd. Eng.

Any word on the new Merc Bravo OC props???

I had that book as a college kid. I was going to get a degree in marine engineering and build boats. then one of my mentors told me how to make a small fortune in boat building..., Start with a large one:lolhit: