Eliminator Speedster 255 True Tunnel

[lavey jr]

But those Porta’s hang that weight waaayyy out there. I’d be curious to see the performance differences of just switching to like the 4.5 inch sea star jack plates.. and how it affects it putting the motors closer to the transom. Cool thing about the sea star is you can get different plates to vary the setback.. on top of programmable heights etc. (Cruising / top speed etc)

RD

That would make a perfect RDP test and tune article

 

[RiverDave]

That would make a perfect RDP test and tune article

I have a single brand new sea star with 4.5 setback in the box.. I plan on using it on my little 16’ Daytona.

If you guys want to run some experiments with it though I’m down.

That vs a porta with a single.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

How wide is the tunnel? How deep is it at transom? How does it turn at speed & under 50? I'm sure with 300s you can drive straight thru any porpoise zone.
Congrats on a great looking boat. Very nice to see a west coast builder making a true "small" tunnel.

 

[done]

So quicker to plane with the big single? Not....About 10 seconds as it struggles with more weight to get on plane.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

But those Porta’s hang that weight waaayyy out there. I’d be curious to see the performance differences of just switching to like the 4.5 inch sea star jack plates.. and how it affects it putting the motors closer to the transom. Cool thing about the sea star is you can get different plates to vary the setback.. on top of programmable heights etc. (Cruising / top speed etc)

RD

I said this exact same thing when they started putting the porta's on these bigger cats. Swinging those big ol' motors in an arc like that moves that CG a descent amount. Not sure how much difference it makes but would be cool to see that tested. Specially cause for Top speed you likely want that CG a little further back and the motor higher, but with a porta the higher the motor goes past straight out, the closer it gets to the transom. I guess if you don't need the full radius and essentially set the bracket mounting height to be almost dead level with the prop shaft right at or slightly above water line then it likely doesn't make much CG difference for top speed?

I know when I cut 5" off my static set-back bracket the boat rode 1000x better. But dunno if thats more-so a small boat/motor thing or what.

 

[counterpart7]

View attachment 1374107

That doesn't look like a 27 Speedster to me...

 

[Icky]

That doesn't look like a 27 Speedster to me...

It looks like it's trimmed up in that picture or maybe it's just me

 

[HCP3]

That doesn't look like a 27 Speedster to me...

It's not. It is a 22' Talon.

 

[Gelcoater]

That doesn't look like a 27 Speedster to me...

It isn’t.
Look at the posters screen name.
Is it just me?
He’s always starting something

 

[counterpart7]

It isn’t.
Look at the posters screen name.
Is it just me?
He’s always starting something

Haha I know. Figured I would give it back to him

 

[2008_25daytona]

Nice, but I can't believe the boat sits on a (2) axle trailer

Got to have triples on a 25’

 

[lavey jr]

Do you think that might change if you used a traditional style jack plate that put the motors closer to the transom? The porta products change setback (by a pretty large margin) as they raise and lower.

Although I could see the argument for more setback and lower x helping to push the bow over?


RD

But those Porta’s hang that weight waaayyy out there. I’d be curious to see the performance differences of just switching to like the 4.5 inch sea star jack plates.. and how it affects it putting the motors closer to the transom. Cool thing about the sea star is you can get different plates to vary the setback.. on top of programmable heights etc. (Cruising / top speed etc)

RD

For whatever it’s worth, I did this just for you Dave. I walked around the shop on my break and I went and measured an 8” Porta. Here’s the arching measurement differences of setback in 3 different settings; down 8”, 1/2 way 7 1/2”, max up 6 3/4”.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

I'd sure like to hear what @jperog has to say about the Porta brackets. I believe thats what he runs on his 36 Wright Performance that has won the Shootout outboard class the last 2 years.

 

[lavey jr]

I'd sure like to hear what @jperog has to say about the Porta brackets. I believe thats what he runs on his 36 Wright Performance that has won the Shootout outboard class the last 2 years.

What would you like to know?
I have driving experience in 15+ boats with Porta setups, twins and singles.

 

[lake p.a.l.]

What would you like to know?
I have driving experience in 15+ boats with Porta setups, twins and singles.

I assume you bury it as low as you can to get on plane. How much total travel is there? Do you raise it til you run outta water pressure? I realize every boat is different.

 

[lavey jr]

I assume you bury it as low as you can to get on plane. How much total travel is there? Do you raise it til you run outta water pressure? I realize every boat is different.

Typically speaking, yes burry the jack plate getting on plane, raise it up to cruising all around setting, start to bump it up on speed runs until you get close on water psi trying to maintain 18-20 psi on the low side.

Normal setup we utilize a Livorsi LED indicator for the jack plate trim, but it can be put into the screen. We’ve done most of the testing and have the setting and all that figured out but some boats end up different than others at the end of the day.
With the LED indicator we set it up as follows; full down, middle (green light) is all around cruising but still can run it all the way up to max speed, pure top speed setting changes pending conditions but typically speaking for the 8” bracket max up is for top speed and for the 10-12” bracket it usually ends up 2 lights above green on the indicator and anything after that you lose water psi.

When a new boat hits the rigging line I reach out to the customer to get a feel for what their end goal is with the boat for performance and how they will be using it majority of the time. This helps determine what setup the boat gets but 99% of the time all setups are the same across the board for per model

8” setback gives a bit over 2” vertical lift
10” is 3.5”
12” is 6.5”

 

[lake p.a.l.]

Typically speaking, yes burry the jack plate getting on plane, raise it up to cruising all around setting, start to bump it up on speed runs until you get close on water psi trying to maintain 18-20 psi on the low side.

Normal setup we utilize a Livorsi LED indicator for the jack plate trim, but it can be put into the screen. We’ve done most of the testing and have the setting and all that figured out but some boats end up different than others at the end of the day.
With the LED indicator we set it up as follows; full down, middle (green light) is all around cruising but still can run it all the way up to max speed, pure top speed setting changes pending conditions but typically speaking for the 8” bracket max up is for top speed and for the 10-12” bracket it usually ends up 2 lights above green on the indicator and anything after that you lose water psi.

When a new boat hits the rigging line I reach out to the customer to get a feel for what their end goal is with the boat for performance and how they will be using it majority of the time. This helps determine what setup the boat gets but 99% of the time all setups are the same across the board for per model

8” setback gives a bit over 2” vertical lift
10” is 3.5”
12” is 6.5”

Very cool
I know some of the guys are cutting ramps into transom & water pickups to increase top speed by raising the height. I'm not into getting every last mph but it's very cool to learn.
Thanks for your info

 

[Ruzi]

Jacob Fraleigh on Instagram

19 likes, 1 comments - jakefraleigh on May 16, 2024

www.instagram.com

 

[attitude]

Looks like it runs good, even leans in while turning. Too bad Elsinore isn’t longer, it’s perfect weather for a speed run.

 

[lavey jr]

I don’t have much but here’s the cell phone stuff I have stitched together in one clip. And before one of you pros calls me out, yes I had my hand off the wheel at speed. I was testing how well the boat tracked all on its own at speed and in parts to see how it would react but still track straight

 

[Bpracing1127]

Unfortunately 'small' is out of most people's budget.
Guesses on OTD? Say with 300s.

All out with 500’s, and every option out there 425

 

[CSmith]

Can I ask what line of work I need to get myself into to afford these boats ?
Is everyone ballin except me or are more people financing to be able to afford the prices coupled with every day expenses?


PS. I'll go be poor somewhere else..

 

[JFMFG]

Can I ask what line of work I need to get myself into to afford these boats ?
Is everyone ballin except me or are more people financing to be able to afford the prices coupled with every day expenses?


PS. I'll go be poor somewhere else..

This is RDP we pay cash. River whips is the financing page . No doubt I wonder to myself what so many people in havasu do for a living to have 500+k in a boat like it’s nothing. Seems like a solid 70% of boats are 200k+ out there now

 

[attitude]

I don’t have much but here’s the cell phone stuff I have stitched together in one clip. And before one of you pros calls me out, yes I had my hand off the wheel at speed. I was testing how well the boat tracked all on its own at speed and in parts to see how it would react but still track straight


View attachment 1375744

Just curious, what is the reason for wanting to go true tunnel on this? The new outboard bottom seems to work well and the center pod is small.

 

[n2otoofast4u]

Just curious, what is the reason for wanting to go true tunnel on this? The new outboard bottom seems to work well and the center pod is small.

Because there is LOTS of other places to boat besides Havapuddle that could really use the advantages of true tunnel. I’m not sure I’ll own a center pod boat again after having a true tunnel. (In the interest of fair reporting, I drove a very nice 27 Daytona today)

 

[attitude]

Because there is LOTS of other places to boat besides Havapuddle that could really use the advantages of true tunnel. I’m not sure I’ll own a center pod boat again after having a true tunnel. (In the interest of fair reporting, I drove a very nice 27 Daytona today)

Without additional tunnel depth how much of a difference would deleting the already small center pod make?

I always understood true tunnels handled rough water better because they were bigger tunnels in general.

 

[Gelcoater]

Can I ask what line of work I need to get myself into to afford these boats ?
Is everyone ballin except me or are more people financing to be able to afford the prices coupled with every day expenses?


PS. I'll go be poor somewhere else..

Lol!

They really run the entire spectrum from Fortune 500 types, casino moguls, pro ball players and race car drivers, all the way down through the various trades, LE and hose draggers, to guys that wear fluorescent vests outside to simple mom and pop who have ran their used when they got it old boat for 10 seasons while they scrimp and save every dime so that one day....

Many have side gigs, I know a fireman who does some cool wood working out of his small shop in the side yard.
Where there’s a will there is a way.

 

[lavey jr]

Without additional tunnel depth how much of a difference would deleting the already small center pod make?

I always understood true tunnels handled rough water better because they were bigger tunnels in general.

In simple explanation; removing the pod technically does add tunnel depth. You’re removing the area that was once taken up by a pod. If the pod is let’s say 6” deep, without the pod the rough water can travel 6” higher into the boat before it makes contact with a surface.

 

[attitude]

In simple explanation; removing the pod technically does add tunnel depth. You’re removing the area that was once taken up by a pod. If the pod is let’s say 6” deep, without the pod the rough water can travel 6” higher into the boat before it makes contact with a surface.

I get that, I just didn’t see that making a huge difference. I have no true tunnel experience, just going off what I’ve read in the internet.

If had to guess I’d say you guys were doing some R&D for a larger true tunnel hull

 

[rivrrts429]

I get that, I just didn’t see that making a huge difference. I have no true tunnel experience, just going off what I’ve read in the internet.

If had to guess I’d say you guys were doing some R&D for a larger true tunnel hull

The fastest rough water boats in the world are true tunnels, Skater comes to mind.

 

[attitude]

The fastest rough water boats in the world are true tunnels, Skater comes to mind.

I know, I was talking about removing the center pod off the 25 speedster. There is a big difference in size of the tunnel on the 25 speedster even compared to the 24 Skater. I’m genuinely curious if it makes that big of a difference or it’s as simple as the owner wanted something different.

However, be careful with that statement. The Cig and Apache guys will be coming for you lol.

 

[adam909]

Lol!

They really run the entire spectrum from Fortune 500 types, casino moguls, pro ball players and race car drivers, all the way down through the various trades, LE and hose draggers, to guys that wear fluorescent vests outside to simple mom and pop who have ran their used when they got it old boat for 10 seasons while they scrimp and save every dime so that one day....

Many have side gigs, I know a fireman who does some cool wood working out of his small shop in the side yard.
Where there’s a will there is a way.

This is RDP we pay cash. River whips is the financing page . No doubt I wonder to myself what so many people in havasu do for a living to have 500+k in a boat like it’s nothing. Seems like a solid 70% of boats are 200k+ out there now

Well your in that 70% crowd now. How does it feel?

If the boat floats and holds my beer chest its my kinda boat. Trolling motor? Even better, more time to enjoy the beers. The best kinda boat is the one that goes back on the trailer.

 

[Andy B.]

Well your in that 70% crowd now. How does it feel?

If the boat floats and holds my beer chest its my kinda boat. Trolling motor? Even better, more time to enjoy the beers. The best kinda boat is the one that goes back on the trailer.

Exactly!

 

[JFMFG]

Well your in that 70% crowd now. How does it feel?

If the boat floats and holds my beer chest its my kinda boat. Trolling motor? Even better, more time to enjoy the beers. The best kinda boat is the one that goes back on the trailer.

I’m with you. If it drives on the trailer that’s what matters. Experience, time with the family is what I was after.

 

[lavey jr]

I’m with you. If it drives on the trailer that’s what matters. Experience, time with the family is what I was after.

You’re on the same lake as the guy with the million dollar boat. Different experience and different memories but at least you’re on the water making great memories in a boat having fun!

 

[Outlaw Boat Transport]

Nice, but I can't believe the boat sits on a (2) axle trailer

depends on the axel size. they tow 39 MTI cats on two axel trailers. Nothing wrong. on a small boat 3 axel really is just for looks

 

[WavetoWave]

Just curious, what is the reason for wanting to go true tunnel on this? The new outboard bottom seems to work well and the center pod is small.

True Tunnels get more lift and can clear more water underneath. Center pods can trap water between the tunnels with a wave, creating a hydraulic effect, popping it up in rough water.

 

[attitude]

True Tunnels get more lift and can clear more water underneath. Center pods can trap water between the tunnels with a wave, creating a hydraulic effect, popping it up in rough water.

Wouldn’t taking the center pod out of the tunnel create less lift because of less compression?

 

[DWC]

Wouldn’t taking the center pod out of the tunnel create less lift because of less compression?

Guessing less lift at lower speeds. More lift at WOT once you get through the transition. .
The art/science behind it is pretty cool.

 

[rivrrts429]

Wouldn’t taking the center pod out of the tunnel create less lift because of less compression?

I don’t know the science behind it but after riding in both a center pod boat (DCB) and a true tunnel boat (Skater) it’s a completely different ride between the two when they begin packing air. The true tunnel just glides and feels like it’s much more comfortable trying to be an airplane than a boat.

 

[attitude]

Guessing less lift at lower speeds. More lift at WOT once you get through the transition. .
The art/science behind it is pretty cool.

Well I had a full essay response but my phone crashed and I lost it all… lol

 

[HST4ME]

Reasons for a true tunnel, and this is an inland puddle.

 

[rivrrts429]

View attachment 1378095
Reasons for a true tunnel, and this is an inland puddle.

Nobody wants a center pod boat in that snot

 

[lavey jr]

View attachment 1378095
Reasons for a true tunnel, and this is an inland puddle.

I watched this 255 Speedster come in on plane about 200’ short of the no wake zone under its own power. Zoom in dead center on the picture, you can see it.

 

[WavetoWave]

Wouldn’t taking the center pod out of the tunnel create less lift because of less compression?

More air, more lift and less drag.

Here's an illustration of different tunnel designs.

 

[attitude]

More air, more lift and less drag.

Here's an illustration of different tunnel designs.
View attachment 1378341

My comment was in reference to the same hull with and without a center pod.

 

[E4L]

My customer will be on the water this weekend make sure to give him a thumbs up on a super cool boat.

 

[Icky]

Throwback Thursday:
View attachment 1378508

Where do we sign up for that?

 

[Buddy]

Throwback Thursday:
View attachment 1378508

What power ?

 

[HCP3]

What power ?

It was a single 300r.