Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

I have had 3 and the bestway to run them is fast and with the trim and tabs set drive it flat out and do not be affraid to let it get up on the pad that is where it works the best.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

having been in the Velocity owner's ring for a while, a 26 can be run virtually tabless, it's that forgiving a hull once you know how to run it, the 32 is not.

I ran my "26' " with 600 plus HP in the '94~'97 time period with no tabs or hydraulic steering. Piece of cake to drive next to a 32'

On my 32' (6 seasons and hydraulic steering with a faster helm than standard ;) ) I used tab to leverage wieght back to the pad forward to keep the nose down.
and used drive trim to control how high overall I was gonna run the boat. that was a peculiar hull...you'd better understand...the "tripod" effect at speed
The tabs were in effect a rocker plate bottom back there, in that you would'nt be anywhere without positive tab input.
Alot of work to do well, and way too many people are flat out skeered of that hull (or intimidated).
But in the right hands...done it, seen it.
The 32' wants to be run higher and harder than the rest (to be able to stay on the undersized pad or be high enough to be influenced by it's inherent lift).
The tabs were integral to the operation of that hull.
So they were in effect... part of the bottom,
just a piece of the bottom you could adjust. :rolleyes:
Too little pad on the boat I think for a tall hullsided, Twin BB side by side engine boat.

Oh well, it sounds crazy but the best thing for you to do is really study the shape of the bottom of your boat, and the size of the pad, be aware of how high the boat is when running watch the boat's every reaction to the water...closely...
To be the best with his boats you need to be able to see in your mind at the time/all the time the bottoms' shape reacting...or rather how it's going to interact with what's just in front of the boat.
You become the boat's bottom in your mind live, as it happens, (or rather just ahead of time).
One thing about his boats they are definitely interactive.
You have to be, you don't just point his boats...you drive them.
I cant imagine any other V-bottom that makes you feel more invovled with the hull.
"Excitement Comes Standard"
It does, it really does. :D

It did on the 22 also.
My personal favorite (of many) for evening speed runs on a chop somewhere was a friend's twin turbo SB 22'
I got to take the boat and do just that with it a couple times.
It was early 90's 22' with the longer pad on it.
Drive thru a little bobble at 75 as you put the foot throttle down and just start running the trim up.
That 75-95 ride was a blast.... :D

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

My 280 was a blast to drive,600 plus hp and it would go through anything,it is a drivers boat like no other,I sold it and went to a 32,and like Rippem said that is a totally different animal,with twin supercharged big blocks and new Imco drives and related hardware it is a hand full at 100 plus you are driving it like my 280,the point is with a Velocity it is a drivers boat not some one who wants to just point and go,good luck and have some safe fun while doing it,there are alot of people on this board that can show you how to make that thing perform and all you have to do is ask,be safe and have fun.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

Went out today to put the faster/smoother theory to the test and it really works! The best part was explaining to the wife that we were simply going to go faster and fly over the top! She responded with something like: "do we need to click our heels together and say a special prayer?...". She had very little faith in the theory and felt that you guys were having a little fun with me. Oh well ... she is becoming more of a believer now! But it really takes some "intestinal fortitude" to stay in the stick when you see that nasty water ahead of you. I also realize that this theory has it limits, based on the size of the boat and the size of the water.

I have the external full hydraulic steering and a Bravo one prop and experienced no "chine walking" or other handling abnormality up to about 70mph. I hope to install a ProCharger/Vortech in the near future and will see how the hull responds to the additional speed then. Anybody with experience in this hull beyond 75mph, I would love to hear your comments and recommendations.

Thanks again,

Leo

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

ttt

I was searching through looking for more info on driving a velocity and came across this thread.

I bought a 1995 26' thoroughbred this winter and am planning to splash it this weekend. I have never driven a velocity before, and didn't even get a chance to sea-trial this one (surveyor did though). With the 454 mag, I am told that the top speed is around 66-67 on this particular boat. Are there any tips for me on driving this boat? I read in this post about pulling the wheel to one side briefly to get out of a chine walk. Will this hull walk under 68mph? Also, I have no tabs on this boat. I'm gonna run it this year and decide if I need them or not. I've been told different things about needing them or not on this boat. Thanks in advance for any info you can share with me.

ps - I am not new to boating, just new to velocity.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

i have a 2000 26 with a 454 mag and it runs right around 80. Just run the **** out of it.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

....that shouldn't be a problem :D

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

I agree with TH. I had that boat, and all you need to do is stay in the throttle and have a blast! It is very forgiving once you get used to driving it. Then you get to scare the hell out of anyone who wants to ride with you. Problem is, then you need to find someone else. And yes, a 454 mag mpi that is set up correctly can be that fast in a 260. Have fun!

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

All i can say is full throttle and hang on.
James P4-20 Team Undecided
30 Velocity 1200 HP

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

Whats up Doug How yeh been?