Manufacturer recommendations for new 22' to 24' tunnel

[Robbie Racer]

I have a buddy that is thinking of selling his 21' tunnel jet and getting a new stern drive tunnel hull in the 22' to 24' range. He's still checking to see if a 24' stern drive would fit in his garage. If not, he is pretty sure a 22' tunnel will fit. He would pull his 540" Merlin (normally aspirated with about 580 hp) out of the jet and put it in the new boat. One manufacturer has told him to expect triple digit speeds in their boat with 580 hp. I doubt this claim and would guess that 85 or so would be a more realistic number. What do you guys think? I suggested he take a look at Eliminator and DCB's 22' models and maybe the HTM 24' (if it will fit). What other manufacturers would you guys recommend that he take a good look at? Thank you, R/R

[Boatmaster]

RR tell him to call me, I could set him up with a good price on a Mach 22 DCB. Drew 925-828-5775!!

[Stoked]

Robbie Racer:
I went for demos in all of them, I bought a Stoker 224. I couldn't be happier. Al built one for one of the guys at IMCO, with about 600HP if I remember correctly it ran 106mph. The Stoker is the fastest boat in it's class with comperable power. It turns hard, handles rough water well, and is very forgiving. Mine fits in my garage but I extended it 6 feet and have a swing away tongue. I would call all the builders and set up demo rides, you are going to be dropping some serious coin. After the demos the only choice left is picking colors.
Godd Luck Steve

[mike37]

with the HTM SS24 you may see trips
but not with the SR24

[Jrocket]

DCB!! :D

[bigq]

I'm with Stoked! Go get the Stoker 224. :D

[Robbie Racer]

Thanks for the feedback guys.
Boatmaster, I will give my buddy your number and suggest that he give you a call for a quote on the DCB. You will probably remember him, he was with us at Shasta over the 4th weekend.
Stoked and bigq, thanks for the additional recommendation on the Stoker 224. I forgot about that boat. 106 mph with 600 hp is damn impressive.
Mike, why is the SR 24 slower than the SS 24? I know the SR is "taller" for more cabin room. Is it also heavier?
Thanks again, R/R

[Duck]

I agree with the others on the Stoker or HTM if he goes to 24'. With 580hp I don't think more than 85-90 is possible. If you need more garage room get a swingaway tongue and save two feet.

[TOBTEK]

I know of two nice MACH22's forsale. One with single outboard one with twin's.....sure he doesnt want a stap-on :D

[mbrown2]

There is also a nice Mach 26 (Teague 800hp) in DCB's showroom if you want to step up...

[Robbie Racer]

Yeah, I'm sure he wouldn't be interested in a strap on. He loves his 540 Merlin. Besides he wouldn't know what to do with his spare time during the week if he didn't have to work on it. :D
I would like to see him step up to a bigger 24-26' tunnel but they wouldn't fit in his garage and he doesn't want to pay for storage space.
Thanks, R/R

[dorC]

With my 26' cat and 600 hp I'm seeing an easy 90mph. There is still another 5+ mph in the props. A 22-24' will do 100 without trying.
I'd also highly recommend the stoker 224. Just be sure to get the shortened lower unit.

[Havasu Cig]

dorC:
With my 26' cat and 600 hp I'm seeing an easy 90mph. There is still another 5+ mph in the props. A 22-24' will do 100 without trying.
I'd also highly recommend the stoker 224. Just be sure to get the shortened lower unit. What kind of 26' cat do you have that will run 95 with only 600 hp?

[XTRM22]

Havasu Cig:
dorC:
With my 26' cat and 600 hp I'm seeing an easy 90mph. There is still another 5+ mph in the props. A 22-24' will do 100 without trying.
I'd also highly recommend the stoker 224. Just be sure to get the shortened lower unit. What kind of 26' cat do you have that will run 95 with only 600 hp? I'm curious about this too, I know Charley's 26 Mach w/ the 650hp Teague (that went on to be reincarnated as SandBar Junkies Mach W/496 mag HO) ran right at 90-91 in December w/ just him and Jen in it. Not by any means callin BS, but easy 90mph on a 26' cat w/600 hp is serious efficient! I'd bet a 22' Mach w/580 hp would come damn close to cracking triple digits.
Chuck

[roln 20s]

From the Pfaff crew and Howard crew, the openbow 26 Cat at the LA Show with the Pfaff 600 ran low 90s with one person, and was tested at 88-89mph by ***boat--it should be out soon.
And if we want to talk efficiency--I think the winner has to be the Lavey 27 Sabre. Lets think- with a 575SCi and open bow, 90 + GPS and radar. I doesn't get any better than that.
Roln 20s

[Stoked]

roln 20s:
Haulin 270 has a 27 Hallett, SC575 with a pulley kit and intercooler from Pfaff that on GPS ran 94mph. The boat is for sale. It's the one in Halletts brochure. He is upgrading to a Hustler 338 with twin GT 540 800HP.

[Tom Slick]

Bang for your buck, quality, performance, storage, cabin, etc. HTM can't be matched in a 24ft boat. 580hp should push an SS24 to mid 90's under perfect conditions. HTM's standard 565cu package with 625hp runs right around 100mph depending on conditions. With 700hp it will run 105-107mph. At least tell your buddy to consider them and take a ride. Customer service and a great product are a hard combo to find.

[Havasu Cig]

roln 20s:
From the Pfaff crew and Howard crew, the openbow 26 Cat at the LA Show with the Pfaff 600 ran low 90s with one person, and was tested at 88-89mph by ***boat--it should be out soon.
And if we want to talk efficiency--I think the winner has to be the Lavey 27 Sabre. Lets think- with a 575SCi and open bow, 90 + GPS and radar. I doesn't get any better than that.
Roln 20s The 88-89 number sounds about right to me. I think Charley told me that Bob Teague got 92 out of his Mach 26 with the above motor Charley was talking about.

[Robbie Racer]

Thanks for the additional info guys. We did go see a HTM SS-24 today with a swing away tongue on the trailer. It swung away right at the sponson tips so will save a lot of space and it looks like it actually might fit in his garage. It sure was a nice looking boat. I suggested that he take a ride in all the ones that would fit in his garage and then make his decision. Seems to me that the HTM 24' would ride nicer than a 22' DCB or Daytona in rougher water. Unfortunately DCB and Eliminator don't make a 23' or 24' boat that will fit in his garage so he will have to compare the HTM 24' to their 22' boats. It seems the price is about the same. Thanks again, R/R

[DogHouse]

All this talk of published HP and speed numbers reminds me of a story I heard once... An unnamed engine builder was contracted by an unnamed (but familiar) boat company to build a small block that looked just like a Merc 350 Mag except made substantially more HP... I'll be darned if that thing wasn't headed for a magazine test of said builder's boat! :D

[mike37]

Robbie Racer:
Thanks for the additional info guys. We did go see a HTM SS-24 today with a swing away tongue on the trailer. It swung away right at the sponson tips so will save a lot of space and it looks like it actually might fit in his garage. It sure was a nice looking boat. I suggested that he take a ride in all the ones that would fit in his garage and then make his decision. Seems to me that the HTM 24' would ride nicer than a 22' DCB or Daytona in rougher water. Unfortunately DCB and Eliminator don't make a 23' or 24' boat that will fit in his garage so he will have to compare the HTM 24' to their 22' boats. It seems the price is about the same. Thanks again, R/R have fun on the test rides tell your friend to buy
what he likes you can always get a biger garage

[Charley]

Havasu Cig:
roln 20s:
From the Pfaff crew and Howard crew, the openbow 26 Cat at the LA Show with the Pfaff 600 ran low 90s with one person, and was tested at 88-89mph by ***boat--it should be out soon.
And if we want to talk efficiency--I think the winner has to be the Lavey 27 Sabre. Lets think- with a 575SCi and open bow, 90 + GPS and radar. I doesn't get any better than that.
Roln 20s The 88-89 number sounds about right to me. I think Charley told me that Bob Teague got 92 out of his Mach 26 with the above motor Charley was talking about. Actually I was the one who got 92mph out of my boat with a Teague 620...take 50hp away to get to the prop and thats about the same HP as the 575sc....I'll tell ya right now the Lavey sabre is a very respectable performer I ran against one wit a 575 in it at elsinore one day it I was barely pulling him with my 620...Very respectable!

[Dave C]

bigger garage, how about a sawzall for the back wall, just cut a small hole for the outdrive.
I was thinking about hooking my blender up to mine since it may pass through to the kitchen. wink

[Rocket-J]

I am "THE FRIEND". Thank you Robbie Racer. Thanks for the info on the Stoker but I am hooked on cats and will buy another.
I will not store off site or outside so I am limited to 25'6" long amd 79" high storage area. I also can't afford a $100k boat. The SS24 on a Inter Tech trailer type HTM#83 will fit with a small adjustment to drywall.
If anyone thinks that the hard part of buying a boat is paying for it, there is another big issue.
Getting a dealer/manufacturer to call you back? In two weeks of contacts with six different companies I have one estimate. That was $57K+ for a 22' boat with no motor or trailer. I won't name him at this point, lets give him another chance.
I sure appreciate the help guys. Thanks. Al

[bigq]

There is also Placecraft 22'. it comes in open deck type or close, fast hull from what I understand it will do low 70's with 385HP...uh as tested by ***boat. :D

[DogHouse]

Another boat I didn't see mentioned yet is the Cougar 23 MTR (cat). That's a pretty sweet lake boat and last I knew, they were offering some good deals up there in the great white north.
-brian

[Tom Slick]

Rocket-J,
Have you called Dorian at HTM yet? He is super cool and should be able to take care of what ever you need. If he is unavailable leave a message and he should get right back to you. You may also try Lia. She is the owner, but at times is very busy. Either one of them will dial you in.

[Rocket-J]

I looked into the Cougar. Price is right but some things come up short on quality. 20oz. carpet rather than 40oz. Painted trailer rather than powder coating. Might be okay if that is all you can afford. Better than a worn out used boat. Al

[Rocket-J]

Thanks Tom. I am in contact with Lia. No info yet.She does seem helpful but busy. Al

[Goodtime$]

HTM is worth making room for, beautiful boat. Wish the water in front of my river house was deep enough for that sized boat.
22 placecraft, nice boat with a merc drive, no jet
DCB 22 is a cool lookin boat with outboards

[dorC]

Ok, fyi...it's a 26' Firehawk. A sister to the American Offshore. 580hp on the dyno. Ok, I admit to rounding up to 600 'cause 580 sounds wimpy, but it was really, really hot in there so it could make 600. I did the rigging on the boat myself and I'm still trying to find the right prop. A 30" Bravo 1 only gets me to mid 80's, but a 32" got me to 89.x mph. Now if we calculate the slip, it works out to be around 15% which is nearly twice what the number should be. Hopefully the right prop will hook up and give me 95. Maybe, just maybe I'll get lucky and hit 100.
Don't believe me? Hot Boat just tested a 25 Talon with a HP575 and got 104! Step down to a 22' or 24' tunnel and 100 is very easy! :cool:

[dorC]

Not to get into a debate...but a Stoker is actually a ModVp hull. It would reside under the tunnel hull family, it's just a different cut of cloth.

[bigq]

dorC:
Not to get into a debate...but a Stoker is actually a ModVp hull. It would reside under the tunnel hull family, it's just a different cut of cloth. true and since he asked about a tunnel Hull and not a catameran hull he should stay away from the HTM, Firehawk, DCB and choose a Stoker, Cougar or Cheetah and placecraft if he wanted to have a true "tunnel hull" and not a cat hull.
:D :D

[dorC]

True point. My line of thinking was that a person could mistaken the Stoker for being a v-bottom when it's really not.

[jackpunx]

Rocket-J:
I am "THE FRIEND". Thank you Robbie Racer. Thanks for the info on the Stoker but I am hooked on cats and will buy another.
I will not store off site or outside so I am limited to 25'6" long amd 79" high storage area. I also can't afford a $100k boat. The SS24 on a Inter Tech trailer type HTM#83 will fit with a small adjustment to drywall.
If anyone thinks that the hard part of buying a boat is paying for it, there is another big issue.
Getting a dealer/manufacturer to call you back? In two weeks of contacts with six different companies I have one estimate. That was $57K+ for a 22' boat with no motor or trailer. I won't name him at this point, lets give him another chance.
I sure appreciate the help guys. Thanks. Al I got the stoker 224.. I am totally happy w it.. if you want to go for a ride before making the purchase, I will be in Naci this weekend. Good luck

[HavasuBarney]

BS sure is deep in this thread! :confused:

[Charley]

dont be so vague Barney...who is FOS? :D IYHO

[DogHouse]

Charley:
...who is FOS? :D IYHO All y'all!!! :D

[Rocket-J]

When I first seen the ads for a Stoker it looked like a v-bottom and the ad said "modified VB". Then I looked at the picture of the transom. So it is a tunnel. Similar to South wind or CP. This type hull does well at the drags. I can't see it doing that well in big water but I can't really say that without a ride. Bottom line is I own a CAT and want another CAT. There are so many people pushing the Stoker here it sounds like an infomercial. I am sure you guys love your Stoker as some of us love Cats. At 70+mph Cat's walk over waves that other boats go around. Thanks. Al.

[boat030]

Rocket-J:
At 70+mph Cat's walk over waves that other boats go around. Thanks. Al. Look at rocket-j throwin' it on only his 7th post. I'm impressed.