Way to GO, Ridge!!...seein' that number go past 60 musta been worth every $$!!...

I like the way your CC sits...some we have seen here sit butt-heavy w/a bracket and big HP motor...NICE!!

Do you have trim tabs?...might pick up a couple more MPH and keep the bow-fly down better...who knows??...:party:

Spare you are the closest at 59. Noone guessed 60 or higher. I even doubted 60 was possible early on while I was experiencing stator problems. I honestly believe the weather played a factor, this Merc makes a lot of power when the air is cool.
Thanks reel, I was flogging it, tabs were tried, it was a little faster with a small amount of tab.
It does sit heavy in the stern compared to the lighter 200 carb that was on it. It doesn't look that bad in the picture because there is no boot stripe. It sits so low that the close quarters manuvering suffers compared to the light motor. Once underway it is a pleasure to drive, turns at 50 are predictable and confidence inspiring.
Never turned much on the WOT runs but it is definitely feeling light over 57.
I need some video, I want to know what it looks like doing 60. Exactly how far out of the water is it? It is a sickness I think.

Ridge, the boat is a beauty! 60 ++ mph? :oh:

From the looks of that GPS you've been around that body of water a time or two. Nice pics. :pic:

Wow, what a great thread! I was "avoiding it" and had time to kill today.

Congrats on your breaking the 60mph barrier even though you had to brave that "cool 69 degree morning".

Yeah, the crumb trails were there from break-in. Lake Parker in Lakeland. Thanks on the compliments. A true 10year labor of love.

Thanks, I never used to post anything. I officially highjacked this thread a while back and made it my own. My apology to anyone I may have walked on.

Breaking the 60mph mark was a little bit surprising. Light load and good weather. If I had known it was going to be so cool I would have worn some underwear. I forget that there are posters and members from all over the country. It is hard to beat our mild Florida winter for boating.:beer:

I wouldn't worry about hijacking this thread, it keeps right with the original subject.

Plus it never bothered me when my threads get hijacked (other forums), in fact I kinda like it as it keeps conversations going.

February 17, 2010:

'90 Evinrude 225 turning a 14 1/2 X 19 stainless.
I hit 53.? mph on GPS at 5600 rpms into the wind and current before I blew the rings out.:cry:

P.S. This was lightly loaded with just me and about 40+/- gallons of gas on board.

Bradford, good speed. Sorry to hear that about the motor. Been there, I feel your pain. Nothing screws up a good day on the water like motor trouble.

they allways run best right before they blow

Thats the thought that entered my mind after slowing down and hearing the spray paint rattle can sound.:nut:

nice work, Ridge ... i would love to see some more pics of your boat. looks real nice. do you have any you could post up?

You can click on RidgeRunner and look at the pictures in the profile. I don't have many of the rebuild and all of them are poloroid instant pictures. Thanks for your kind words.

you did a heck of a job. if my cc comes out half that nice i will be happy. i would love to see some more pics and read the details of what you did to that boat.

love it.

Ressurection with another prop test. Trying to reach a new speed record (for me) Conditions were OK, 65 degrees, clear day with nearly no wind. The boat likes a little chop. Tried a 25 Tempest, semi-old school with the large square ventilation holes. I mention the large holes because the boat was a pig out of the hole with this prop. Throwing the hammer down from idle the motor would instantly ventilate the prop spinning the motor to 5800 and the boat speed was not enough to get on plane. I had to keep the throttle pinned for what seemed like forever (six seconds)until it finally nosed over. Once on plane things got back to normal. Max RPM with negative trim was 4800RPM running a flat 43 mph. Trim it to neutral and the speed climbed to 48MPH at 5000 RPM. Add a little positive trim and I saw 50 MPH turning the same 5000 RPM. Tried 4000 RPM and I got 40 MPH. Trimmed it out WOT and saw 61MPH (ie. Trimmed it to the end of the trim stroke with a little bit of trim tab) and it would only turn 5600 RPM throwing a huge rooster tail. Conclusions, Too much strain on the motor to get on plane and I know the motor was working harder/using more fuel cruising around. Prop slip is thru the roof. I found a prop the Merc can't easily handle and I could never live with the time to plane. Now I am done, until the next hair-brained idea that is.:fam:

I had a 19' Renken with 225 Merc that would approach 60 and that boat had a similar splash roll (not quite as pronounced) as the V20 I have now. The splash roll caused a lot of lift issues when it started creeping up over 55. Had a Glastron with a 200 Merc that hit 60 easy but the tiny splash roll on that one caused some issues. I think these things get aerodynamically limited as to what they can achieve due to that huge splash roll up front. You don't see Scarabs, Fountains or Apaches with splash rolls and bass boats sure don't have 'em. Not a boat I'd want to do 60 in but it sure is solid in the low 40's!

"Not a boat I'd want to do 60 in but it sure is solid in the low 40's!"

I agree, I am not saying 60 is practical. :hide: Just having a little fun. Boat handles great all thru the 30's 40's and low 50's. You are probably right, aerodynamics are killing it. The console on mine is custom, modeled after a Fridgidaire then there is the t-top out there catchin wind. She was never made for the speed I am seeing now, but the hull has always been capable of speed. The wetted surface of this boat is not that different from the boats you mentioned. You probably already know this but, the steplift design as introduced by Ray Hunt on the Bertrams held quite a few records of endurance and speed. I am just proud to have what I have.

Fellas, Fellas, the fish don't swim that fast. I like to get there in good time too but it's a V20 not a bass boat. Once you reach 60 mph windage issues become a much larger part of the equation. The company I work for put Gas Turbine engines in go fast boats back in the years. One hull I can remember was a 43' Black Thunder. We put (2) 1400 hp turbines on surface drives, she ran 108 mph and would start trying to swap ends (turn around) after 95. The boat builder claimed the bottom was engineered for 75 mph. The person that pointed out, in the above post, that deep vee hulls will continue to climb out the water the faster you go is correct. Couple that with the windshield, height above the water, load and ever changing natural wind conditions could provide a recipe for a crash. The good thing is the stability issues will probably scare the crap out of the driver way before the hull loses its grip on the water. Remember fear and respect are still the best throttle. I have been 142mph in a Nortech 50' supercat with twin 1400 hp turbines, great ride, rock solid. But it demanded respect at that speed, I would be very careful and creep up on that 60 mph mark for a V20.
Calm winds, little other boat traffic and light on fuel is what I would look for. As a general rule for every 140 pounds of weight added to the boat you will lose 1 mph. That number is a little askew for a V20, it was part of a formula for much higher speed boats but brings attention to the weight vs. speed issue.

It's me again, my above reply may seem a bit out of place. I only read the first page of the thread then posted, not realizing there was ten pages more. (forum rookie mistake). I am glad to see the goals were achieved and no ill handling was had.

There is a gofast cat with turbines running around Barnegat Bay where I live. That thing is blazing fast. I got a few pics of it bafore it took off one day. I have been told it does 140+ mph

3 things
 

1. That guy is ready to roast some marshmellows.

2. I wonder what the insurance carrier would say to that one.

3. What does a gallon of Jet-A run these days.:hide:

That fuel must not cost too much for that guy. He runs around in that thing almost every weekend during the summer

The heat that comes off the back of him is unreal. I was right behind him coming under the Mantoloking bridge by my house, smelled like i was at the airport. Even in my whaler which would do 60ish I wasn't going to attempt to keep up. Cool boat but glad I don't pay for the fuel!

Ok, finally with a couple running pictures. They were taken on the Suwannee, Sat. 3/12/11 Big thanks to Baja and Beefy.
Attachment 2786

Attachment 2787

It was running about 60MPH in the pictures. Saw 63MPH light on fuel and cool weather late in the day. Ran 70 miles round trip, fuel burn 1.5 MPG, average speed 45MPH. The Wellcraft ain't got nothing for the crowd I was with but she got lots of comments, I am still proud of her. See what I mean here. http://www.screamandfly.com/showthre...13-2011/page16

RIdge, you hanging with Beefy? Rough crowd there. We need to put another 3.0L on the back to give them some grief

Ridge , I can truly now say I have see a V Fly!! Good job I bet you were smiling ear to ear!

You know Beefy?
Met Beefy and his brother last year at another meet. They are students here in FL and card carrying members of the OMC Club. They give the Merc guys all they want now. If they were properly funded, well lookout. Pretty tame bunch really, a bunch of go fast gearhead types. BTW we could strap 3 - 3.0L Mercs on the back and we wouldn't raise an eyebrow with that crowd.

Thanks NYMACK, the boat has been done for several years. I smile every time someone takes notice. The novelty hasn't wore off yet.

Is that the one you draggin to C'town??...:party:

Thats the one. You gonna join Melissa and me or you riding with someone else? We snagging, or just a cruising?

In that baby??...dang right I ridin w/you!!...Glad to hear you bringin Melissa...I told my girls you were thinkin about bringin her!!...they'll spoil her for you!!...Snaggin one day, cruisin' one day...whatever you wanna do...:party:

Well done Runner! :party:

Not to revive an old post.....lol

We hit 60mph GPS on saturday with the steplift v20. Lots more room to go.

best ive done is 56. that was on a smooth as glass lake, alone, and light on fuel. the boat didnt feel bad but i wasnt about to attempt any high speed turning moves

Now that is what I am talking about. Lots more room to go. I must have missed the other threads about a stroker chevy powered V. Congratulations, be careful and let me know if you find terminal velocity..:clap::sun::beer:

maximum speed
 

We Americans are not very good on our KM per hour to Miles per hour conversions. 80km/hr = ? miles/hr. I am guessing about 50 mph. Whether 80 km/hr or 50 mph, that is pretty fast. My 1991 V20 cuddy with a 190 h.p. Mercruiser sterndrive only hits about 44 mph.

yes, conversion is roughly 50mph (49.7097 actual)

Thanks, Hedge. I used to know it. What is that km/h mph conversion formula?

I think a top end of 50mph or so is fine for these boats.

When it's flat, you can back down to 40 or so. Nice.