Howard 255 Build

[counterpart7]

One add, the rear swim platform being so low to the water does take some getting used to in throttling down and beaching. I try and turn at least a full 90 if not more when coming off throttle with any real momentum, If we are either camping on the lake or on a house boat I tie it up with the nose out if we are somewhere near the open channel just so as not to worry about taking any big rollers up over the swim step?? Maybe overly cautious, don't know?????

Thanks for you input on how it handles! Hope to hear from @MeCasa16 !

Appreciate that as well! I doubt thats a huge issue with how deep the boat is and with the little bit of a wall at the transom. Being cautious is good though! A little water in there shouldn't hurt anything! My current boat has a somewhat lower molded step and I always come off plane somewhat slow or blip the throttle before the initial wave hits the back too hard.

 

[Riverrun]

I would love to hear from any 255vtx owner on how these handle in some chop!

We have had the boat on Havasu and Powell in some pretty rough waters. I will say it doesn’t handle the chop as well as the 288 but it still does pretty well. I primarily stay on the river and even on busy weekends I haven’t had any bad experiences with how the boat rides. I have almost 40 hours on the boat now and have learned to either back off the throttle completely for a roller or power right over it, which is my preferred choice. Learning the best angle to take on chop also helps. The boat eats it up pretty well at a 45degree angle allowing the V to cut through and then it catches on the sponsons. Coming from Howard 22’ offshore, which had a deep V, it’s a much better experience all around.

v6toy4x said it great, you have to be careful with the low swim step. Any time I back off the throttle I watch the water behind me, making sure it doesn’t come over the step.

Here’s a few more photos since it’s been a while.

 

[counterpart7]

We have had the boat on Havasu and Powell in some pretty rough waters. I will say it doesn’t handle the chop as well as the 288 but it still does pretty well. I primarily stay on the river and even on busy weekends I haven’t had any bad experiences with how the boat rides. I have almost 40 hours on the boat now and have learned to either back off the throttle completely for a roller or power right over it, which is my preferred choice. Learning the best angle to take on chop also helps. The boat eats it up pretty well at a 45degree angle allowing the V to cut through and then it catches on the sponsons. Coming from Howard 22’ offshore, which had a deep V, it’s a much better experience all around.

v6toy4x said it great, you have to be careful with the low swim step. Any time I back off the throttle I watch the water behind me, making sure it doesn’t come over the step.

Here’s a few more photos since it’s been a while.

Thanks for the response! I’ve been in a 22 offshore quite a bit and it does pretty good, so hearing that this does even better is a positive for sure!

I’m surprised the swim step is that big of a concern. Have you ever had water actually come up and over into the boat? Is that a concern on a 288 as well?

Whats speeds are you seeing with the 520 and what’s your take on the windshield?

 

[v6toy4x]

Thanks for the response! I’ve been in a 22 offshore quite a bit and it does pretty good, so hearing that this does even better is a positive for sure!

I’m surprised the swim step is that big of a concern. Have you ever had water actually come up and over into the boat? Is that a concern on a 288 as well?

Whats speeds are you seeing with the 520 and what’s your take on the windshield?

I will comment on the windshield, I initially did not want the windshield, I saw one with a clear windshield and my thought was the boat looked like it was wearing safety glasses. After delivery I saw another build with a smoked shield which looked much better IMO.

Gene said I should get one if I was going to consistently run much over 50-60, especially with my wife, I should have listened. I took the boat back after the first season and had the windshield added, should have done it in the beginning.

When I called Mike to schedule it he jokingly said "it would be cheaper to drive slower" I said then what the hell am I doing buying a Howard!!

 

[the510]

255s are perfect.

 

[stonehenge]

We have had the boat on Havasu and Powell in some pretty rough waters. I will say it doesn’t handle the chop as well as the 288 but it still does pretty well. I primarily stay on the river and even on busy weekends I haven’t had any bad experiences with how the boat rides. I have almost 40 hours on the boat now and have learned to either back off the throttle completely for a roller or power right over it, which is my preferred choice. Learning the best angle to take on chop also helps. The boat eats it up pretty well at a 45degree angle allowing the V to cut through and then it catches on the sponsons. Coming from Howard 22’ offshore, which had a deep V, it’s a much better experience all around.

v6toy4x said it great, you have to be careful with the low swim step. Any time I back off the throttle I watch the water behind me, making sure it doesn’t come over the step.

Here’s a few more photos since it’s been a while.

thx for all the first hand "owner Info"

I seldom see pics of Howards with bimini tops up, I know everyone has one, but just dont take pics with them up?
Anyways, how easy/hard is it to stow the top under the seat/engine cover? can it be done by yourself?

beautiful 255vts, btw

 

[adam909]

thx for all the first hand "owner Info"

I seldom see pics of Howards with bimini tops up, I know everyone has one, but just dont take pics with them up?
Anyways, how easy/hard is it to stow the top under the seat/engine cover? can it be done by yourself?

beautiful 255vts, btw

Do you see DCB's with there umbrella up? how about a new eliminator speedster with bimini up? Nope! cause it doesn't look cool!!! I think the cool people just leave them off due to not wanting to hassel with them as well as high speeds.

I think my bimini has been up for the past 7 years. I dont want to hassle taking it down.

 

[stonehenge]

Do you see DCB's with there umbrella up? how about a new eliminator speedster with bimini up? Nope! cause it doesn't look cool!!! I think the cool people just leave them off due to not wanting to hassel with them as well as high speeds.

I think my bimini has been up for the past 7 years. I dont want to hassle taking it down.

yea, i suppose that is sorta accurate, and thank you for your impute

Obviously the 100mph plus, baller speed guru's cant put it up, but I was merely inquiring to an actual Howard owner how difficult it is to put it up and can it be done solo. On the 255vtx specifically, it stows underneath, so was wondering about that.

I have an old deck boat that has a massive, custom, heavy, 11 foot, all tubular double wall metal frame, no straps, with a cross diagonal brace and it is a PIG to put up and take down, can't be done solo. But the only time it could do 100mph is if you threw it off a cliff.

 

[v6toy4x]

thx for all the first hand "owner Info"

I seldom see pics of Howards with bimini tops up, I know everyone has one, but just dont take pics with them up?
Anyways, how easy/hard is it to stow the top under the seat/engine cover? can it be done by yourself?

beautiful 255vts, btw

I put it up and down by myself, with a little help from a strap.

Lift rear seat hatch fully
Grab the 36" strap that is wrapped around the top when stowed
Lift bimini up with one hand while lowering the rear seat until bimini can rest against the rear hatch
This is right at head level, from here take off its cover and attach the front straps
Hold the rear hoop just up off hatch and lower the hatch
Extend the rear hoop and strap it down

You do have to remember to remove the port side rear strap if you want to raise the engine hatch more than 16" +/-

It does have an annoying howl at higher speed from the mesh, gene said no mesh, no bimini!! he wouldn't fix it when it tore off!!

There are the cool kids who don't run the bimini and there are the cool old dudes who sit in the shade!!
From this weekend, wind tested to 82!!

 

[stonehenge]

I put it up and down by myself, with a little help from a strap.

Lift rear seat hatch fully
Grab the 36" strap that is wrapped around the top when stowed
Lift bimini up with one hand while lowering the rear seat until bimini can rest against the rear hatch
This is right at head level, from here take off its cover and attach the front straps
Hold the rear hoop just up off hatch and lower the hatch
Extend the rear hoop and strap it down

You do have to remember to remove the port side rear strap if you want to raise the engine hatch more than 16" +/-

It does have an annoying howl at higher speed from the mesh, gene said no mesh, no bimini!! he wouldn't fix it when it tore off!!

There are the cool kids who don't run the bimini and there are the cool old dudes who sit in the shade!!
From this weekend, wind tested to 82!!
View attachment 1406388

Thank you so much for this reply and the picture.

My current Bimini and the last 3 boats prior were all 100% mesh. I love mesh Bimini's. They don't get to hot, they provide plenty of shade and the wind/air passes through them at any speed.

Does the center mounts always stay attached or do those come off when you stow it?

I'm the old guy in the shade

 

[counterpart7]

I put it up and down by myself, with a little help from a strap.

Lift rear seat hatch fully
Grab the 36" strap that is wrapped around the top when stowed
Lift bimini up with one hand while lowering the rear seat until bimini can rest against the rear hatch
This is right at head level, from here take off its cover and attach the front straps
Hold the rear hoop just up off hatch and lower the hatch
Extend the rear hoop and strap it down

You do have to remember to remove the port side rear strap if you want to raise the engine hatch more than 16" +/-

It does have an annoying howl at higher speed from the mesh, gene said no mesh, no bimini!! he wouldn't fix it when it tore off!!

There are the cool kids who don't run the bimini and there are the cool old dudes who sit in the shade!!
From this weekend, wind tested to 82!!
View attachment 1406388

Did you add the lights on the inside of the sponsons?

 

[v6toy4x]

Thank you so much for this reply and the picture.

My current Bimini and the last 3 boats prior were all 100% mesh. I love mesh Bimini's. They don't get to hot, they provide plenty of shade and the wind/air passes through them at any speed.

Does the center mounts always stay attached or do those come off when you stow it?

I'm the old guy in the shade

I think the intent is to drop them down, there is a second sets of mounts at the floor but I havent had any problem leaving them attached when it stows.

Did your all mesh biminis whistle at speed?

 

[v6toy4x]

Did you add the lights on the inside of the sponsons?

Nope they were an option, I believe "docking" lights, havent really used them so cant speak to how well they do or dont work??

 

[Riverrun]

Thanks for the response! I’ve been in a 22 offshore quite a bit and it does pretty good, so hearing that this does even better is a positive for sure!

I’m surprised the swim step is that big of a concern. Have you ever had water actually come up and over into the boat? Is that a concern on a 288 as well?

Whats speeds are you seeing with the 520 and what’s your take on the windshield?

It’s definitely not a BIG concern just something I am cautious of as I have had a small amount of water come over the back.

I cruise up and down the river all day between 55 to 60 and there’s usually 4 to 6 people on the boat. At 60mph it’s very comfortable and stable.

I personally believe the windshield is a must have. I haven’t rode in one without the windshield so I can’t speak on the difference in performance or comfort but I think it completes the look of the boat.

 

[Riverrun]

thx for all the first hand "owner Info"

I seldom see pics of Howards with bimini tops up, I know everyone has one, but just dont take pics with them up?
Anyways, how easy/hard is it to stow the top under the seat/engine cover? can it be done by yourself?

beautiful 255vts, btw

v6toy4x explained the Bimini perfectly but I will add to it. My Bimini is up 90 percent of the time cause my kids are usually on board. The Bimini is easy to put up and down but I’m lucky to be able to leave it up most of the time because it fits in storage without having to put it down.

 

[stonehenge]

I think the intent is to drop them down, there is a second sets of mounts at the floor but I havent had any problem leaving them attached when it stows.

Did your all mesh biminis whistle at speed?

My current set up isn't a baller 130mph boat, so I can't answer the "whistle" question accurately. I have been at moderate speeds in high wind conditions and it never whistled. It seems like the air/wind passes through it more than anything. Which is why it's never very hot underneath it. Truth be told the only draw back, if it even matters, if you get caught in some rain it does not provide much protection from that. But rain, come on, really. Lol