30 Spectre with O/B's, do they porpoise? Please help!
 

I am in the market for a 28 skater, or 30 Spectre. I would love another 30 Skater but can't afford it. I'm looking for used and trying to stay in the $50k range. I'm finding some fair deals on 30 Spectres but I'm really curious if they have a porpoise or not, and if so, at what speeds and how bad is it. Tunnel tabs fix it or help? I used to have a 30 Skater and it porpoised from 50-75mph.

Any help is appreciated and especially if you have any experience in other boats to share your comparison.

Thanks in advance.

The 30 Skater, Spectre and Motion all seem to run very similar. Yes, a tunnel tab will fix the slight porpoise.

Any idea, at what speeds the Spectre porpoises. We're talkin flat water btw.

My inboard spectre hops between 65 85 depending on water conditions.
The tab does work.

The 30' Spectre with the 2.5 Merc. does not need a tunnel tab. But if you are going with the 3.2 300HP Merc you will need a tunnel tab.

I have a 28 Skater for sale ! Call for details

Tim
503-531-9300

Mine will porpoise around 65 and up unless I am hammer on it in the beginning and drive right through. I’m still getting a feel for the boat.

Yes they porpoise. That's dependent on a lot of things. It's worse on on glass calm water, a heavy boat, full of fuel, etc...

Go into the wind, have light chop, or low passengers and low fuel and it barely hops at all. Also, the colder, the better, because the motors run better.

Tunnel tabs will help, but not cure competely.

Mine will hope between 55-75 MPH (on average). Once you hit 75 MPH, she lays down and will cruise forever.

MDS

I had a 30 with twin shortshaft 2.5s that would porpoise at around 65 to 80 mph.
Also there was a slight oscillation from 100 to 106 mph.
After I added a third engine, the porpoise and oscillation went away. It handled fantastic. so there you go, make the 30 a triple