Pad bottom boats?
 

I was just wondering if other brands have pad bottoms as well. Was told this weekend that sunsations are pad bottoms also, just got me wondering. Are all Velocitys pad bottom regardles of size?

Yep. :evilb:

What, exactly,IS "pad bottom"?

It means....
 

the keel has a flat running surface on the last several feet. This allows the boat to ride on that (hence, "on the pad") which greatly reduces wetted area/drag and improves top speeds.
All the fastest V bottoms (I/O and O/B) have them.
The argument against them is that it reduces the rough water ride due to not "cutting" the water on water re-entry but you normally don't feel it and in most peoples opinions the positives far out weight the perceived negatives.

Interesting... Thanks!

Friend of mine has a 280 velocity that he bought brand new.... with equal power in my sonic 260 prowler he would walk away from me so easily that many times he slowed down to wait for me (and taunt me). He also had the boat de-laminate on him during his second season. Which was warranty honored by velocity and they gave him a new model year boat. I personally like his boat and have bin on it many times, and it is a driverss boat for sure and he runs with the big boys all day long.

We have a small delta pad on our 28 ZX's. look at the rear most part of the hull and you'll see the flat area.

It isn't near big enough to fully ride on though

Us Allison (small V-pad outboard) driver's have a saying:

"I drive an Allison, because I can drive an Allison" :evilb: :evilb:

Steve Stepp basically expanded on Paul/Darris Allison's pad bottom concept into larger Offshore boats. ;)

Is this essentially where Donzi clipped off the point of the V off on the last step (about 6" wide)?

There's a local guy here with a 280... Same thing, 2000# lighter than the Donzi and twin 496's... Runs 88 to my 71 (at least for the moment)!

I have logged about 25 hrs on my Velocity. 290sc with the 496ho. Im still learning but getting it down well enough that my wife is no longer white knuckled. I can say that the ozark snot beats the boat and passengers to death unless your WFO. Thats when its dancing. I have not seen topend yet due to prop, at first, and then low fuel pressure(filters). It is now getting above 4600rpm (90% power) and scoots along quite well. Im going to the lake for vaca so should have it dialed in. Hope to see 70mph but probably not with the current prop.

I raced two different models years ago , loved the way they cornered and handled the slop :party-smiley-020:

My VR 1 handles the gulf nicely when she gets nasty, and is a very dry riding boat.

Yep, youre passengers look at you funny when you tell them "we have to go faster to make the ride smoother" and that is when it becomes the drivers boat that we all talk about.

When I first got my 280 I was taking it easy so I didn't freak out my wife. I have learned since, that's the worst thing you can do. It loves 55 in the rough stuff. You have to get up on the pad. For me 55 - 60 is optimum smooth running and best mileage. I'm getting about 3mpg with a top speed near 90. Hope to improve both this weekend with some prop testing.