Out in the Waveline V and the 20hp Thunderbolt

[Lee1]

Bank holiday fun in the Waveline V and Mercury 20hp Thunderbolt, weather was kind most of the weekend, water had a light chop on the speed test (the wind was 10 mph gusting 17) I got 26.8 Mph against the wind with 2 adults and a 40kg of fuel, kit etc. . . .

Happy with the A frame now it's shorter, Transom storage bag solution works well

Videos won't load and play so I've posted a video still of the 20hp wash with the pics

The 20hp 18inch shaft engine cavitated a lot especially in the chop, I managed to look over the transom at full power the cavitation plate was actually skimming on the top of the water, so if I want to use standard shafts with the Waveline V floor I will have to cut a good few inches off the transom middle. Not sure what to do with this issue. . . use long shafts only. . . I would rather not as I have 3 standard shaft Thunderbolts I would like to keep, sell my 3 Thunderbolt standard shafts engines and get a 8hp long shaft to pair up with my Mercury 25hp long shaft as my back up/no passenger use engine, or sell the Waveline V floor (thus I can keep my 4.5 7.5 and 20hp thunderbolts) and go back to a Excell SD290 that will fit the 3 Thunderbolts 18 inch shafts nicely?
The boys and I don't like the V floor as it's not a flat base inside the boat and we all preferred the Excell flat air deck plus they want a red boat and the Excell SD290 is now available in red. . . .
If I keep the Waveline V i will have to make a flat floor for it.

I think I will regret selling the Waveline V when I think about the long rear tubes and huge rear planning tabs, will the Excell SD290 take the 20hp Thunderbolt?? I'm not sure. . . . Maybe the solution is to buy a red Excell SD anyway for the boys to use with the 7.5hp Thunderbolt,
And I will be in Waveline V with the Mercury blackmax 25hp long shaft

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[MCL]

Looks like you having a great time. We are at lake Garda in Italy at the moment
Having a great time too. What is the maximum hp your boat is rated for?

[Lee1]

No comment lol.

I advise anyone to sick within the outboard weight and HP engine rating for their boat, however many people do not, for people who choose to over power their boat I feel is more important to stick close to the maximum engine weight than the maximum HP rating as you don't have to use all the HP!
I personally feel it's better to have my engine running half power all day than at full power all day
My 20hp thunderbolt weighs 45kg and the Waveline sits level on the water.



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[MCL]

So max rated at 10hp then. Lol.

You won't get a speach from me, I'm a firm believer in people having the freedom to make there own choices .

Would love to see a video of the he boat in action.

[Lee1]

I've posted videos in the past but they don't seem to load in playable format. . .
Here's a video still from on the river


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[Big Al C]

According to the waveline spec, the boat is rated for 6hp!!!!!
How have you managed to get insurance running a 25hp and still tow a ringo?

I've tried to keep quiet and ignore your over powering and other things.
At least I know now what to look out for when your pulling wheelies and towing a ringo at the same time,,,, and I can go in a different direction.

[Poly]

Did I spot an extended kill cord in one of those pictures?

I’m not sure why you’d want to cut inches off the transom - sounds like it’s just about perfect.

[willk]

For those sibbers who find this thread in the future and think "I'll try that!"

1. Lee1 has overpowered his boat. By at least 150%. This is very exciting until the transom cracks or parts company from the tube mounts or a sudden burst of power flips the boat. I've heard a first-hand account of another RIBnetter having just such a failure - curiously they failed to share the story on here!
2. Lee1 appears to think that he requires a "long shaft" engine for his decidedly short shaft SIB. Lee1 is alone in this position.
3. Lee1 appears to believe that when a 9 foot boat with a 25hp engine skips over the water in a chop and catches air, this would be "solved" by having a longer shaft.
4. Lee1 does not state how much of his boat's keel was in the water when his prop ventilated. At 26mph in a 9' tender, personal experience suggests not very much at all.
5. Tip to Lee1 - your SIB is not a hydrofoil - some boat in the water is required!
6. Lee1 is a little vague on shaft lengths and names. Short shafts are designed to FIT a boat with a 15" deep transom. In low powered engines, short shaft lengths can be over 18". Short shaft is referred to as "Standard Shaft". Long shaft engines are designed for transoms of 20". They will have a shaft length of at least 20", generally a little more.
7. Read this: Lee1's long shaft confusion Note lack of reply or clarification at end.
8. Lee1 is relatively new to SIBing and is feeling his way. He is experimenting with new-to-him ideas and trialling new equipment uses. This is a learning time and some of his experiments will be well worth paying attention to, others possibly not repeated. Use your own critical powers to assess before blindly following.

[Lee1]

Are we including the 2 inch planing tabs that sit underneath the transom in the transom length or not. . . I'm confused? as for learning I've been boating and SIBing for over 25years! As for the 6hp rating I would love to see the link for that! The boat is Waveline V floor 2.7mtr not to be confused with the air deck and air keel model, nor the slat floor version
As for cavitation all of the keel was in the water with 2 adults sitting inside directly on the floor

The point of the huge rear tabs giving huge stern floatation seems to have be missed, I have used a 25hp long shaft on this boat and it does not cavitate with that engine!

I have in past stated that I do as I please with my boats and engines and don't advise anyone to copy me I make my decisions in my past experience and knowledge, and with owning over 20 inflatable boats and as many engines used over the years I do so with such knowledge !

[Nos4r2]

I have a theory about car drivers that some are only still alive because everyone else manages to avoid them.

I may extend it.

[Lee1]

You extend your theory of car drivers to what?

[The Black Pig]

Extend it to boats I presume

Most of us try to have fun on the water, some experiment and push boundaries then improve and reinvent and maybe evolve and design and maybe earn a living by doing so

Keep safe and extend that to others

Also, if you were coming towards me you would get a wide berth

[Lee1]

I would need a wide berth if we're beyond the bouys lol strange that I don't get any complaints from the many people ive towed in because they don't even know the basics of an outboard, they have no VHF and time and time again no life jackets they shouldn't really even be out considering. My never ending free repairs on the beach and slip to keep people out having fun has me in good standing, shame not all boaters are not so friendly and helpful to others.

[Xk59D]

.......

[Lee1]

Boom. . . . can you clean my centre rubbing streak for me

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[Xk59D]

Get the queue of people in your good standing to do it. I'm sure you won't be short of people with all the good you do.