Re: Changes needed
 

Well said and I have nothing to add. I have owned 4 velocities now and the only one that I have had that had a single stress crack was my first one and it was a 90 regal velocity. The 97 280, the 2003 390 nor the 2005 41 have any stess cracks and I can assure you they have all seen water that most people would not put their boat in, much less run on the wood.
Steve

Velocity GM
 

Hey Dude, I said that I had an idea and you never acknowledged it? I owned a 22 O/B and a 26 Summer Squall O/B, I have read all of the comments on here and what you REALLY need to do is put this hull back on the map! There is a dealer up by me that carried them for a few years and he complained about the dealer support and build quality, he also carries Fountain and Outerlimits.
As for the the way the boats are laid up, I put my 22 through HELL and it never skipped a beat and was 14 years old when I sold it!
If any of you have seen an Outerlimits that is used in rough water, they have TONS of gel cracks!

I was a TOTAL Velocity fan, although I raced a Scorpion a few year ago, and I just bought another one in Pleasure form that I am gonna restore. I will always love Velocities but you have been getting alot of bad press lately and to be honest with you, Steve need to stepp up and build a REAL race boat! The website talked about a 36 canopy boat and I have not seen one yet? For a company that was the first boat "over 100mph" and I know Reggie dissagrees, you haven't kept up with build quality and speed with everyone else.

The whole "Spin Out" thing is getting old! I have driven a Kryptonite and didn't like it (severe chine walk). Most of the other manufacturers and especially Fountain has "almost" engineered out the spinning out problem. You are still producing the same hull design, basically since the 80s? I know Steve has other interests, but if he wants to grow this company he needs to look at the competition and decide if he wants to keep building the same old boat or get creative and build a boat that everyone wants to own.

Richie Sutphen came out of semi retirement in the late 90s and shocked the racing community with his product, I am sure Steve could do the same!

I know you probably have a million people say they have the answer to "safe speed", but I think I do! I am not a Hydro engineer, but I am almost positive that my idea will work and work well!

A reply is all that I am looking for, I think I at least deserve that.

Tony M,
Thanks for the post!
Please feel free to call me at any time at the factory 407-321-1340
Regards,
David

David can you please call me 302 293 0487,I have left e mails and voice mails for Clay to call me back but I can not get a return call from him.Bill Weber

David,
Thanks for the return phone call so quickley I apreciate it and it was a pleasure speaking with you.Thanks again for your help.:cool: Bill

No problem Bill!.......I hope your event goes well.......Sounds like a great idea!.......David

David I still have not heard from Clay,one way or another.

Wow! Where to start....

First and foremost I will state that what I am about to type is simply MY opinion and I firmly believe that you cannot satisfy everyone or be everything to everyone as stated earlier. In fact I agree with alot of what was stated already. I can only comment on Velocities I have owned or driven and that would include the 22' 260 and 280. I have no experience with any model larger than that.

My first boat was a 19' Baja 190 Sport with a 4.3L, this was a great beginner boat that rode like SH*T. Around the same timeframe I took a ride in my first Velocity, a 1995 26' at Hutchinsons Boat Works in Alex Bay and I was HOOKED. I remember the boat riding so flat and smooth, I loved the deep freeboard an how safe I felt. Soon after that I purchased a 1996 22' Velocity with a 454 300HP Big Block. This boat taught me how to really DRIVE. (74 GPS with a labbed prop only) You would understand if you owned one.

I owned this boat for about four years and loved every minute of it. I ran this boat in some pretty serious water that I had no business being in. I remember Mark Lalonde telling me that the faster the boat goes the smoother the ride, and he was right! When i sold the boat there wasn't ONE stress crack anywhere.

My next boat was a Baja 272 with a 500HP, I upgraded the heads to Edelbrock Aluminum rectangle ports and the boat ran around 72 on GPS. I really WANTED a 280 but I ended up getting a real good deal on this boat and my wife was ready for stand up bolsters. Although I enjoyed this boat it never really "fit" for me and I have never stopped wanting a 280 since 1995. I really missed the Stepp (Pad) bottom and the way you had to "Drive" the boat. I am convinced it is a cult.

Fast forward to last summer when my friend buys a 1998 280. He was sold on Velocities when he drove my 22' on multiple occasions. You cannot imagine how difficult it was to tie up to that boat all Summer. So the long and short of it is that I will be taking delivery of a 1999 280 500HP at the end of the month. :D

The reason for sharing this story with you is to stress to everyone how riding in that damn boat back in 1995 and owning a 22' Velocity has had a lasting impression on me. The fact that I just sold my Baja 272 that was equipped with a 500HP to get a 280 with a 500HP speaks VOLUMES that the Velocity bottom WORKS. Please DO NOT CHANGE the bottom design, that is what makes Velocities Velocities.

I will however echo others statements that the quality control at the factory needs improvement based on experiences I have seen. My 22' Velocity was a culprit of no sealer on the transom, The drain plug receptacle (Three phillip head screw Brass insert) was never sealed from the factory and leaked. To me this is unacceptable. Another issue I had was with the back padded engine hatch. The wood decking got wet (I assume from the first owner because I am meticulous and always cover the boat with a mooring cover) and it rotted out causing it to collapse when I dove off the back into the water. (I was told this was not an isolated incident)

As far as design and style is concerned I feel as though the model line up from around the late 90's to early 00's was the best looking ever. I wasn't sold on the paint schemes, but the designs were my favorite. I am not sold on the 290SC from a looks standpoint, I agree with others that the windshield just doesn't look quite right although I think that could be ordered any way you like; I am however a big fan of the smoked lexan windscreens. I agree with Rippem that the integrated back platform on the 320 looked real nice and was functional to boot; I don't totally hate the bolted on platform on the 2860/280 though. I see someone commented on the bolster seats on newer models, I am not a big fan. I personally like the look and feel of the bolsters on the late 90' and early 00' boats, the new ones don't look good or feel good to me.

Obviously as stated earlier I love the bottom design, deep freeboard and ride of these boats. As far as the cuddy is concerned this is where I may differ from some others on the board. While I agree that a Velocity should be faster than most, if not all of other manufacturer boats with the same power I think that alot of options in the cuddy (or at least the ability to order them) is real nice. My wife and I like to overnight in our boat and it's nice to have amenities in the cuddy. In fact the new 290SC is appealing from an option standpoint. I think an enclosed head/sink is real nice. The only other Powerboat that I am aware of with the same options is the 26' Sonic.

As far as the 290SC being slower than other manufacturers with the same power, I have seen other members post the speeds that they have seen in a 290SC and they seem to be pretty fast with all the options. 290SC 496HO 72-73, 525EFI 80-82. Not too many other manufacturers with 29 foot boats that can run that well with the options offered that I am aware of.

The only other suggestion I can offer is that perhaps you should think about offering two separate "hull/body" options within each model or at least certain models. An example of this would be the 280 and the 290SC. One caters more towards a boat with more options and a slightly slower speed, the other would be a little more bare bones and be dedicated to the highest possible top speed. This is much like Baja does with the "Performance" series ala 272 and the "Outlaw" series ala 25 Outlaw.


Thanks for listening,


Jeff


BTW Ragged, I used to drool over your boat when boating in the 1000 islands. (Your old boat of course) Bad Ass :D

1Hyper1
 

You still got your 32? Have you talked to John lately? When are you gonna race that thing in P-4?

I heard Teddy finally sold the 32 and bought an Outerlimits, where are you guys doing most of your boating these days? I bought a 32 Scorpion in December, it needs some work, but as soon as I sell my 36 Sea Ray, I will down to play with you guys!

Terminal Velocity

P.S. You know your old Corsa is still sitting on a trailer not being used, what a waste!

They already do this.... the VR-1 is the same hull as the 290SC, just with a cut-down deck. Makes for a great handling boat!

I just happen to have a real nice one availalbe! :)