With today's options, I don't think it's too much of an issue to make 350+ hp with an OB, the problem is keeping the lower in one piece. I know Merc is releasing a new HP OB at the Miami show, a 2 stroke would be awesome, but more importantly... that the sportmaster lower can finally handle all the power the powerhead makes with offshore abuse!

It would take a 500 Yamaha, or Evinrude to run with a stock 300 XS Merc. Plus no way on the gearcases

Subscribed, great thread, Congrats on the new boat!!
This is going to be awesome

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Here is another pic I found from the factory. Looks like its during the end of the widening process. It was the only 30 wide body at the factory at the time. Steve.

Can't speak on cats however that's my next boat gonna hang a set of the G2 300R E-Tecs on a 30' cat they're putting out 315hp at the prop. So far I've been running 250HO E-Tec for two years zero issues other then Big Power Racing doing a hack 5.5 month rigg job that a couple of professionals rectified in 4 days. The motors bone stock including the lowers once again zero issues even with Ronnie chopping up hydraulic hose and putting it in the fuel cell. I ran down World champion throttleman Joey Imprescia for ten miles at the CT River run in a 30' cat with twin 300xs's and he couldnt get away to save his life and that's with a ten boat length head start!!!!!!!

http://youtu.be/_GfE3l8nAkA

http://youtu.be/0Wt6ZlNKgTc

Sounds like a challenge, bring the progression to the keys in February, we do a little run from Key Largo to Marathon, last one there buys.great fun, you have a very nice boat. Enjoy it safely.

We have a E tech 150 on our Hells Bay Neptune, great engine.

The 30 Skater is looking great, I would like to build one, can not wait to see the colors, Nastybug I bet you can't sleep thinking about it.

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

No not a challenge just stating fact you see the videos and how many boats where there all the LI south shore guys where there. So the normal it didn't happen speeches can't happen plus there's video just in a different format I just can't upload it on here for some reason. Personally I'm in love with this 308 wide body flat deck as stated earlier it's not gonna be a Rockit like a 28' with 300x's however I run in snotty water so I'd sacrifice speed for ruff water drivability. Funny I may be in that neck of the woods with the boat in February heck speed wise there difinitely a difference between the 28' & 30' cats but heck momma didn't raise no coward I'm always up fo a good challenge. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

[QUOTE=Nastybug;4221940]Hello All, Nastybug here. Been reading for a while. Lots of great information on your site. Its been very helpful in helping me make some decisions. Ive been messaging back and forth with Rayzor who has also been a great help. He suggested I post the build of my first Skater on this site as it would be of interest to some of you and there is a great group over here that could be very helpful at times.

So about a month or so ago I purchased a new Skater 308 flat deck outboard. It was still in the mold. Then about a week ago I met with Pete and Tony in Key West at race time and after some brief discussion decided to make that same boat a Wide body and also had the transom strengthened for extra motor weight in case a third one makes an appearance. They already had one out of the mold and widened plus strengthened transom. It is actually farther along than the original one i had contracted for. Currently the hull has been widened 10". It still has a long way to go. I have some pics of it from the factory but being Im an idiot I have no idea how to get them on the site. I will get them on when Im back in NJ this weekend. Tony recently Measured the transom and counted approx 10'1". The deck has to be added and the finished product is supposed to be 10'2" beam at its widest point. Im told very wide and that the extra beam would be worth it. We will see what happens as I know some times things get shaved down a bit during the building process. Whatever the final measurements are tunnel will be 10 inches wider. I will put more info on as I get it. All of your feedback would be greatly appreciated as this is my first Skater and Im sure Ill stick my foot in my mouth a few times at least during this process. Looking forward to becoming one of the family. Thanx Steve.[/QUOTE

I hope that I didn't miss something here but do you have the tunnel width measurement for the standard 308 compared to what your wide body version Is? I think it would be cool to know tunnel widths for all of the skater models,

[QUOTE=da*****rcury;4226282]Not sure of the width of the 308 tunnel but Pete typically adds 10" on the split hull of the widened 308. The new mold he has with high sides ready for cut down to add a flat deck is 12" wider.

[QUOTE=da*****rcury;4226282]Hey David, The additional width of the boat is ten inches at 10' 2" wide. I was told the tunnel width is 48" on the stock boat. Tony at skater said a quick measurement on my boat was somewhere around 60 inches.I was thinking it should be around 58 inches if the whole boat was widened 10 inches. Said it was hard to get a good read because of the way the boat was sitting. Measurement was at the rear of the tunnel. Ill ask him to confirm it when he has a chance. Steve.