How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

I searched around, before purchasing my Velocity, and read several posts where people claimed that you had to learn how to drive a Velocity differently than other comparably sized boats in the rougher seas. I have had the boat out several times and it seems to prefer running a little "fast and loose" rather than slowing down and atempting to plow through the rough stuff.

What pointers would you veterans recommend for someone new to Velocities?

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

There is truth to learning how to drive a Velocity!

I have a 320 with twins.... but I'd go out on a limb and say they are probably similar.

Right on, skip across the tops of the ruff stuff! may require some tab and pull the drives in to keep the nose down. Ride is much improved in really big water if you slice thru the tops a little, I try not to launch it if I'm racing, I try to keep it level, it rides better and is faster.

But the best way to learn how to drive a Velocity.... go on a couple of poker runs and try to keep up with the big boys!!
That's the way I learned. There is no standard trim and tab setup for max speed, it will always change with water conditions. I was told to try and keep the deck parallel with the water surface.... but natural instinct from driving standard v-hulls is to over trim, lift the tabs to high and start rocking chine to chine.... drives are too far out! Pull the drives in then start picking up the tabs..... keeping an eye on the GPS speed, get comfortable with the feel and adjust the trim and tabs. I try to pick up the tabs as much as possible without getting unstable, and that may require to trim way in, but keeping an eye on the GPS, it is quite a bit faster than drives out with the tabs down.

This is my first Velocity and I've only had it for two seasons now, so I'm still learning. But the best teacher was some competition and miles of open water to adjust, adjust, and adjust. Once you get the "feeling", then you get the confidence, and then you get a lot of satisfaction trying to master this hull.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

I'm no "veteran", having just under 100 hours on my 26' Thoroughbred since I bought it, but I do have a couple of observations:

My boat DOES NOT like to go 40 in rough water. Beat's the crap out of you. Push it up to 55-60, and it's a whole different boat. At 70+, BIG GRIN!

I was scared of the chine walk the first couple of times I experienced it. After talking to Kenny at Velocity, and following his advise: No problem at all! He told me to "pop" the wheel to one side very quickly at the onset of chine walk. As soon as it settles, hammer it! Works every time for me.

Overall the best handling boat I've ever driven.

Jim

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

L9X25, I have a 1986 30 and i can tell you TeamV and bglz42 are right on the money with there advice!!!! Minimal trim and tab and maximum speed, in a following sea,and you can trim out a little more in a head sea!!! You want to stay hooked up and on top and run level !! The tabs will give you too much stern lift if you use too much!! I use my tabs like training wheels in the flat water, just enough to keep from walking ! Oh yea I have about 3000 Hrs.playing and racing in my boat!!! Good luck!! STEELIN TIME OPA P4-33.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

Thanks folks ... that is about what I expected to hear but was afraid to try without some confirmation.

We went out for a little day trip, starting out in calmer water, and ended up in a bad chop. We had picked up the speed before we hit the choppy conditions and pretty much drove over the top. We made a stop and never had the nerve to crank the speed back up while in the rough stuff. We rationalized that the seas had gotten worse during our stop, while I honestly believe that we should have tried to get back on top. We endured a miserable ride back to the calmer water.

I have a little experience with a similar scenario in a smaller tunnel boat that we have owned for many years ... it would beat you to death at slower speeds but would reward you as speeds got over 60, to a point. If the water got too big you ran the risk of "stuffing" which I did once or twice (really piercing a big wave) and that was not fun.

Thanks again to all for you comments

Leo

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

give the wife/girlfriend a ride in the ruff stuff and you will slow down 10 mph or so. Just kidding friend, stay on top fast is good be safe.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

Interesting comments on how to drive a Velocity. I just picked up my '89 Regal/Velocity 23 cuddy last Friday. It has a 454 Mag four barrel w/Bravo one 1.36 and a nose cone. The dealer was to install a 4 blade prop but I ended up with a 3 blade Mirage plus 21" pitch. I had a couple buddies join me and the mechanic in the trial run so with the four of us we had close to 800 lb. in the boat. Sure enough the water conditions in the Puget Sound was very rough that day. The Velocity seemed to feel very light and somewhat hard to handle and control at high speed. I fully understand that it is a drivers boat and that is great. My Velocity does not have trim tabs and the dealer/mechanic said I didn't need them. I noticed that several times when we got it up on the pad the back end seemed to slide sideways. I assumed it was sliding off the pad? Am I correct? Conditions were rough enough that we did get it completely out of the water. The mechanic said a four blade Bravo in a 22" pitch will level it out more (lift the back) and do a better job of maximizing the performance with the combo I have. Is the back end sliding like that common on a Velocity? I love that boat. Being 15 years old and a fresh water boat it is spotless. Looks like new. The previous owner(s) definitely loved it also. What a great classic look.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

VelocityET try a 24 hydromotive. I will be the first to tell you that I hate these props but they work well on your style boat.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

Velocity Mark he has a 1.36 drive i think the 24 may be a little tall for that gear :eek:

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

they do like to run flat....

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?

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

mine isn't the 260 its a 1995 26', which is the same hull as the 280. That being said, i'm sure all the advice still applies. Thanks for the info, i just want to make sure i have as much knowledge of the hull as possible so that i can stay safe. I'll try and get some pictures this weekend of the maiden voyage.

Re: How to drive a Velocity 260...
 

Things are going well James. Still running that 260? You looking for a 290?.....

What prop?
 

I know this is an old thread but I just bought a 2000' 260 with 454MPI and was wondering what prop you were running to see 80.

Thanks

There is no way he was getting 80mph with a 454. I don,t care what kind of prop he puts on it, like Hyper said you need about 600hp to run 80 plus.My 2000 280 has 425hp and running 73 with me and 3/8 of a tank with a 26 pitch.

gospel ;)

Hey Thongster with all of the weight loss,your boat should be alot faster.:rolleyes: Give your wife a kiss for me.:rolleyes:

That speedo must have been reading real hot. Real speed would have been around 70 -73.

never seen a 454 Mag boat run more than 67-68 real MPH

maybe 70+ on speedo

I just sea trialed my new engine on monday. I can attest to the fact that it takes 650hp, 2 people, full tank of gas and a 28 pitch prop to get to 80 on a 280, so 600 sounds right for a 260.

I'm hoping to get a few more mph, on fumes.

Man am I glad to hear you guys say that. I have a 97 that had a 454 in it (upgraded to a hp500 this year) and wasnt anywhere near 80mph. I thought it was me. I was about to sell everything and just get a pontoon if I was that bad of a driver.

That's what I thought
 

I don't really care how fast mine runs I just want to get the most out of what I've got! I have a 20' LaveyCraft tunnel with 454 MAG and 26" Hydromotive and it will only run 78 on GPS so 80 in a 26' seems impossible.

Like I said though any help getting it dialed in as best as possible would be appreciated. I read all the old forums about this boat and how to drive it. Can't wait to get more seat time!

Thanks,
Andy

Hey NASHPDA.

I'm in Knoxville. I Want to visit Old Hickory this year.

Hey used parts,how fast u goin with 1200 hp??? and i got a 30 with 3 200 merc obs,goes 70,when u trim it out it SLOW'S down:eek: :eek: :eek: those guys are tellin the truth!!! it likes the pad,when u get on it its like no other hull,u can feel the lift tripps

Just sent you a PM. Give me a call.

Ok I got to drive my new 2000 260 this weekend. I really enjoyed it but had a lot of porpoising from about 55MPH on up? No problem with chine walking. It has a 24" Bravo 1 on it now. I'm going to try a 26" Hydromotive 3 blade this weekend and see if that helps. Best I saw with Bravo 1 was 68MPH at 5200RPM and lots of Porpoise.

A 260 (24+Platform) will run mid 70's GPS on a 454 mag mpi, EMI exhaust, Arizona speed and marine upgrade, and prop work. That is @ 450 HP, 5350 rpm, and 26" Hydro 4 blade.

600 hp in a 260 should put you to mid to upper 80's.

525 in a school bus windshield 290 will hit 80.

Minus the silver bullets. Oh and Hyper. I already did. :evilb: :drink:

Trim
 

I know everyone is saying not to trim out too much. But trimming out seems to be the way to stop the porpoise. Should I see a noticable rooster tail at full out trim? I don't have any tabs and have been told that I shouldn't need them on this boat.

Thanks,
Andy

Mine likes to ride right about the trim level when you start to see that little rooster tail form. The best way is to keep an eye on your tach and speedo. As you trim up, you should gain rpm's and mph's. When you see those start to decrease, tap the trim button down a hair and you've found your proper trim setting.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll know just what to do, without looking at the gauges.

I get on a plain, tap the trim up button 3 times and that sets me good for cruising speeds. When i go balls to the wall, i put the stick to the dash first (coming from cruise speed) and start trimming up till i hit 5200 rpm.

On calm water mine will porpous a little at 55. I just leave the drive tucked in a little and run my tabs a hare below neutral. Seems like its worse with people in the back seat. I would try some different props.