Our new toy.... a Zapcat

[Gray]

BenC and I have splashed out and bought a Zapcat. Some may recognise as it used to be raced on the circuit and was called Jaws.

Other than the when we trialled it we've taken it out twice in the Solent, yesterday Ben brought Intrepid along as well which gaves us the chance to get some video and photos.

It has got to be the most fun I have ever had on a boat! Unfortuantely both times we've taken it out its been flat calm despite the forecast being F5 for yesterday.

Video: http://www.gburgess.co.uk/gallery/ma...avId=xe540a7ee

and all the photos can be seen here: http://www.gburgess.co.uk/gallery/ma...avId=xe540a7ee

[Gray]

Some more...

[Gray]

We've also made some alterations to the trailer. It came as a standard Zapcat trailer but we've altered it so its combi trailer with a launch trolley. This took about 2 days and 3 nights to complete and cost less than £100 compared to £800 for a new one. It works quite well and it save the bearings on the road trailer.

The trailer came with the bunks indiviually bolted to the frame of the trailer. We simply welded in some cross sections and unbolted the bunks, they were then one unit. An axle was added at the back of this with some bearingless wheels and a handle at the front. The launching trolley was then hammerited black to protect if from the salt water.

To lock the launching trolley to the trailer we used steel rod that goes through some angle plate and the launching trolley with R clips at either end. The boat is also ratchet strapped down and the whole thing is surprisingly secure.

[PeterR]

Hi Gary,it looks great .I had a go in the thundercats boats at the London boat show and your right their great fun.Are you going to race it .

[Hightower]

Looks like you had excellent fun. I like what it says underneath .

So what's the fastest she'll do with two up?

[benc]

Yeah, we definately had a lot of fun! Will be going out again soon

I was in intrepid, and clocked the speed at about 35kts with two up and with the wind this weekend, but its not easy to measure from another boat, because they both move through the water differently.

When we go out again, we are going to take a handheld gps to get a more accurate reading

[ben5883]

well i was the lucky third person in this trip and a few things. 1st big thanks to gray and ben for asking me to be that third person, second i have never had so much fun on a powercraft and thirdly I WANT ONE. What a great day and a big thanks to u 2 guys really appreciated

[Gray]

Ben, no worries, thanks for coming along!

Ben has also taken some pictures which can be seen here:

http://www.gburgess.co.uk/gallery/ma...avId=xe540a7ee

[codprawn]

Zapcats are great - any chance of chucking the video on Youtube or Google videos - can't see it on that site!!!

[benc]

codders, try http://www.dogscogs.com/movies/zapcat%20feb10.wmv