When was step bottoms developed?
 

What year did the bottoms change from conventional to stepped?

21?=

24=

30=

Any offshore championships won after the change?


Thanks

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

I dont think the 21 has a step.

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

ask reggie he will tell ya, and it was his idea too//////////////////lol

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Unless Reggie built this in 1920, I don't think he invented the stepped hull. LOL. They were out before the 20's.
None of our stepped 24's have raced. And the 21 is still a true V.

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Forgot the picture

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

THATS ONE BIIIG STEP!!!!! :eek:

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Is that the 1st Superboat ever built ?????? :D :evilb:

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

1998 for the 24's. :cool:

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Superboats only please...

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Dave M. has one of the first step bottom 24' Supers from 1998.
My 1997 boat was one of the last straight V 24' Supers.

As for the 30' Supers, The Zuperboat was the first I/O with steps.
The 30' Outboard hulls had a step 2-3ft from the transom many years earlier though. Late 80s early 90s would be my guess. FX10?

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Steps Are Over Rated. It Takes The Fun Out Of Having To Drive The Boat. Faster With Less Trim, Running Flatter In Bigger Water. It Makes Boating Less Of A Challenge.

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Well, I don't think the step on the 24's does much. But, the pad does. It's pretty challenging to keep the boat running on the pad.

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

I Like The Pad Too. Its The Chines So Far Out That I Dont Like. In Closer Mite Give More Lift More Speed. Thats A Big Word Mite. I Guess We Always Want More. Johns Boat Did Just Fine In The Shootout Against The West Coast Boats. I Dont Know If He Was Beat By Activator Or By The Mrd Rigging In The Activators.

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

I would agree with Dave that the step in the 24 likely does vary little if anything. The pad for sure adds some lift...
Speaking with JC about the 1998 and newer 24' hull, he told me that the inner strakes are larger. I'm not sure if they are larger in cross section or if they extend farther toward the transom.
I wonder how the 24' would react with full length lifting strakes rather than the step?

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Just to comment on the above remarks.

Relating to the 24 stepbottom SB outboard model from my testing & driving experiences...the only thing that gives a best speed is a big chop.

-"Steps are over rated". Yes.

-"Faster with Less Trim". Sounds good on paper. But No. They require a ton of trim. Too much boat in the water. Very sticky.

-"Flatter in Bigger water".Yes. But also flatter in flat water. Flat = Slow.

-"Makes boating less of a challenge". Not really. By having to trim the hell outta the boat to fly it to get any speed the boat becomes a handful....ruff or flat water.

-"Dont think the step on the 24 does much". It does do much. But in a negative direction. Nothing trim or tabs couldnt take care of old style.

-"The pad does much". The 24's were better with the straight vee. Challenging ? Has anyone here driven a 21 over 80 ???

-"Chines far out that I dont like". Agreed.

-"Dont think the Step in the 24 likely does vary little if anything." Oh I Disagree.

-"The pad for sure adds some lift". Pads dont add lift. Strakes add lift.

-"Full length lifting strakes in place of step". Agreed.

So is anyone besides Supergary happy I'm back ??? http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6035/laughws8.gif

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Hey Bash, your correct, big chop = good, flat water = yuk. also you were dead on as to the trophy, way better all the way around. me bad, my speed was no good due to only running on 5 cylinders, ooops, got it fixed and its all good now. thanks Rick

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

So is anyone besides Supergary happy I'm back ??? http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/6035/laughws8.gif[/QUOTE]
RG 3 IS HAPPY !!!!!!!

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Thanks for the input!

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

So from what I gather in here so far. The best years of Superboats history are in straight V technology? I see the early 30 outboards had a huge set back at the transom also. Now that we are entering from what I see as the fouth generation 30' hull, are the steps beneficial or glamore needed to sell boats. Does anyone have a 30' hull I/O without steps for peformance comparison numbers?

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Glad to see Bash is back!

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Thanks DaveM ! I'm a SUPERBOAT guy thru & thru. Till the end. No matter what. I just havent figured out why yet !http://img282.imageshack.us/img282/9526/bashcf4.gif

http://img520.imageshack.us/img520/218/011np8ka4.jpg

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Nice pic! I'd like to ride in an OB Super to see how it compares to an I/O. How many hours do you have on that OB?

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Dave You Don't Want An Outboard. Theirs No Warranty When They Fall Off And Sink. Bash Did You Install A Bungee Cord To It Just In Case ? Nice photos looks like your fealing better or is it good pain meds ?

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

lol lol, hey Bash you ever gonna become a paying member at OSO ????? :D

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

Nice shot SuperBash!
Did you remove your K-planes?
And Yes, Dave is not the only one happy to see you posting on OSO again. :cool:

Hey Rick,
Is it time for a new FX bottom on the 24s? :evilb:
How about one larger step in place of the two small ones that are there now.
Then if your running on clam water, you can trim past it and run on the last feet of the hull.
In rougher water the step would help to create less drag.

Re: When was step bottoms developed?
 

[QUOTE=AIR BASH]J ? Has anyone here driven a 21 over 80 ???

QUOTE]
Driven a 21 challenger with a 454 blown at 88 SCARY

What are your experiences off speed with the 24 stepbottom?

Hey Jimmy,

You own the silver/red Y2K. I saw it in the poker run video that was floating around here. Looks nice!


I owned a '98 24 I/O for 10 years. Used it in just about every water condition. I rarely got outrun by similar size and powered boat in flat or rough water.

The 24 I had came with a 454 Mag MPI (385 HP) and ran 72-74 MPH. I repowered with a 496HO (425 HP) and it ran 76-78. The extra 40 HP allowed me to go from 26P to a 28P prop. My slip was down around 10-11%.

Good speeds and info. Was your '98 one of the first stepp hulls? I have a friend with a later year (2000+) 24 stepp with a 496 (375hp) power, 28P bravo and his top speed best is 74.

I know another guy with and older '95 non-step , 502 (415) and he claims top speeds of 81-83.

I drive a 21' Challenger w/ 250+ outboard to 88-89. Handles like it's on rails put it's all in the set-up !

on the speedo maybe, not GPS. I had a 97 with 415HP 502. The best I ever saw was 78GPs, no gas, just me, on a cold day, with the wind. 75mph most days...

Sounds about right. I think he might be slightly over propped with the 28P. I ran a 26P w/385HP right at 5K RPMs.

Cool...75-78 are good speeds....what prop did you spin ? Wait, I am now recalling something about he added some head work and something else so said the 415 was bumped to maybe 480-500hp. Maybe that's what got him the 81-83? He was running a 4 blade hydromotive prop.

Hey Dave m and pat m im still ALIVE JUST DEALIN W ALOT OF C---P THE PAD IS THE BEST wen I win mega or power im gonna build a boat like mine but with some changes that will benefit all lets go !!! your buddy tripps

Hey Tripps! Glad to see your still posting. Still got the Velocity?

Are there any differences in speed or construction among the old and newer straight-bottom 24s? I'm trying to figure out how our '79 will run if ever we get it back together...