Tunnel hull V-Drives

[ShowDown]

I was just wondering why you rarely see v-drive tunnels? Do they not normally work well or something. I was out at the local lake several times last year where Eddie Hill shows up from time to time to play with his "lake boat" and I noticed that it is a tunnel, a SleekCraft tunnel to be exact with a 540ci chevy and what appears to be a powerglide tranny, and I can tell you that it hauls ass in a major way! I asked Eddie about it and he said that the SleekCraft was made for him a long time ago as a lake boat but he never put it all together until a few years ago because he already had his Sanger flatty that he has had for years to play with from time to time. He said that the SleekCraft was much more stable in the chop and that he liked the way it rode. It was so cool to see Eddie out there droppin the hammer in a boat, it always brings back cool memories from me. He spends most of his time playing with all of his RC airplanes and helicopters now days.
So what's the deal on v-drives in tunnels? I have always been a jet guy myself but I would like the idea of a 18-18ft v-drive that could handle other than glass water.

[MAXIMUS]

Ohhh INFO you are being paged!:)

[V-DRIVE VIDEO]

Eliminator, Brendella, Cougar have/do build tunnel v-drives. The ones I've seen work well.

[ShowDown]

I guess there isn't much interest in tunnel hull V-drives. Does anyone have any first hand experience with them as far as ride and handling?

[Hud]

1 thing for sure, they cost a lot of money!! C'mon!:)

[vdrivenman]

as Maxi recommended you need to pm Infomanic moderator in
the Central Spots he has a wickedly fast Cougar tunnel and can provide you with ton's of valuable information !

[LakesOnly]

I saw one of those boats for sale in on Ebay. The auction text stated that Sleekcraft made only 50 of those boats...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2480258896
LO

[Rusty Knutts]

There's a nice Tunnel V-drive that frequents CFW ..... if you got something to run against it.....Ask for "Uncle Roy"........:cool: :cool: :cool:

[Hud]

Bendover California, your fu*kin killin me! C'monnnn:rolleyes:

[Sangster]

Hud......When will we be meeting for a COLD FROSTY ONE .........:cool: :cool: :cool:

[Sangster]

Looks like a tunnel V-drive to me......:cool: :cool: :cool:
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/518/118DSCF0437-med.jpg

[Infomaniac]

You do not see many of them mainly because they are difficult to set up properly. They got a bad rap years back from folks trying to convert jet tunnels to v-drives. The keel was too deep on those boats to handle properly.
Most Die Hard lake/river v-drive people have flats or day cruisers.
Tunnel V-drives are set up more like a flat with engine/v-drive position and cav plates.
I went from a Di Marco "T" deck runner bottom to this Cougar. Mainly because I did not like to wait for good water to run it hard. The Cougar will take rollers at full speed and not even know they were there.
In my opinion they are best of both worlds. V-drive performance and the ride of a tunnel.
19' v-drive. Blown injected alcohol.
Mid 8 sec 1/4 mile and 134 MPH top end.
Still here to talk about it.
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/520/211Wheelie2-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/504/211Wednesday-med.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/506/211show_6.jpg
http://www.***boat.com/image_center/data/524/211feb_5.jpg

[Carnivalride]

Originally posted by Infomaniac
[B]I went from a Di Marco "T" deck runner bottom to this Cougar. Mainly because I did not like to wait for good water to run it hard.
Did you have the same motor in both boats? How would they perform if they had the same engine (drag racing)?
Did you buy the Cougar and then set it up as a v-drive or was it factory built as a v-drive?
Thanks, just curious.

[Infomaniac]

Did not have the same engine.
i suspect boats of equal weight would perform the same with the same engine.
This one was set up from the factory. Cougar will not build one unless they at least place the strut. They would not want any ill handling boats with their name on it.
They will build you one exactly like this one if you want it. they have not changed the mold. they love building V-drive boats but do not get requests for them.

[Infomaniac]

Originally posted by LakesOnly
I saw one of those boats for sale in on Ebay. The auction text stated that Sleekcraft made only 50 of those boats...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2480258896
LO
Looks like the rudder is dead center of the prop shaft. What a pain.

[DansBlown73Nordic]

I have seen this boat in person. He wanted $2000 minus motor. It needs lots of work. Some Dip-Shit sprayed the inside with Bed Liner....:yuk: It needs plenty of TLC....
http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/e1/5e/76_1.JPG

[HammerDown]

Originally posted by Dans66Stevens
It needs plenty of TLC....
http://i17.ebayimg.com/02/i/01/e1/5e/76_1.JPG
Bro, thats right up your alley...:p

[Mohavekid]

Originally posted by Infomaniac
Looks like the rudder is dead center of the prop shaft. What a pain.
Can you educate me on this statement?
Is handling compromised by placing the rudder in this location?

[Infomaniac]

Generally they are offset enough for the prop shaft to get by without removing the rudder.

[Sangster]

I don't think it would under 100mph... But it makes for it a bitch to get the prop off...:cool: :cool: :cool:

[Mohavekid]

Doh!!!:o
Makes sense now that you guys explained it.
Thanks

[DansBlown73Nordic]

http://i22.ebayimg.com/01/i/01/e1/88/34_1.JPG