Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

How much water do you take in? Is that is why you have an open transom.Should I take off the 2 plugs in the rear off my cat and leave it off. it has a one way valve inside the hole. I can't wait until the weekend to try it I got the Yamaha outboard fixed today and I am ready to test it I,ll post the out come but I am saving for the big one 25HP and by the way do you think I could cut out in the front nose piece the whit one and install cages or even a CD player? vhf radio light? I mean headlights in the front!!thanks for your input and by the way what do you think off the Dingy Mate gas tank are they any good for the cat

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

I take alot of water in my boat jumping waves etc, so the water needs to run out as fast as possible, you should run your with the one way valve open .... I would not cut the nose cone at all as it will weaken the boat ..... wow, this is the first time i see the dingy mate fuel tank ... it is awesome and perfect for your boat, maybe getting one myself now ....

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hi deejaycee_2000 thank you very much for your advice I think you should conceder how this tank well affect the water flow since it well block most off your transom maybe the Small one is better but I am getting the 6 gal or do you think it is to big? what size tank do you use?have a nice weekend

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Anyone know the story on Saturn Cats. Didnt know they made these and have never seen one until now. How much, will they hold up, what HP can they handle?

Hi you can check it out her http://www.boatstogo.com/inflatable_boat_X420.asp

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hi deejaycee_2000 I went to the Potomac today and I had a blast jumping barges wave this cat can fly my hole body is hurting now I see why you don't need a seat WAW I love my cat BUT I need more Horse power do you think with more hp it well Handel better? because some times if we are not at the right spot on the boat it kind feel like a car with bad clutch and I loss traction and if my wife move forward I get it back but with lots of spray from the front but after the cat plane and she move back the spray stops other wise the rear goes down!!! and the other issue is I have to set back close to the transom and my back getting wet from the propeller spraying up and over the transom into my back and into the boat do you think dolphin fin would help any or the bigger outboard would take care of this issue?my last question is how long is the shaft you use? the one I have is a short shaft. and that what saturn recommends however not 8HP thanks for all your advice.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

the small tank is better to allow wash through of water out the back .... I use alot of different tanks for different racing for circuit racing I use a small 3 gallon tank and for longhaul racing I use a 70 litre fuel bladder .....

I am glad to hear you having fun, you will eventually figure out all the seating positions for best performance of the cat .... with more HP it will eliminate all the issues you are having, your next move should be a 3 cyl 30hp 2-stroke like the 30hp suzuki or 30hp yamaha, short shafts, I run short shafts only, as long shafts do not work for a cat ..... height wise for the motor - rule of thumb for cats is the centre of the prop should be in line with the centre of the high jackers (the small bottom pontoons) ....

 

[jnewtonsem]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

DJC- Can you expand on "long shafts do not work on a cat". For racing, where you want a semi-surfacing prop shaft length would make a big difference. But for the average user wouldn't a decent LS motor (30-40) perform adequately? A long shaft obviously would not be optimal and would slow the boat down several miles an hour because you are dragging an extra 5 inches of lower unit. But if its your only choice. Thanks

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Well I traded the 8HP Yamaha for a Tohatsu 25HP 1994 2 strokes and paid $600 it runs good and looks clean but kind of load compare to the 8 tested with muffs I hope that it is a good deal when cold it takes 3 pulls to start but after it is easy to start is this normal? I'll test in the water tomorrow and report back

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Well the long shaft will move the boat forward if that is what you mean ... I am just saying if you own a cat, obviously you want speed, and with a long shaft dragging along you will not get speed at all .....

The tohatsu will do just fine, sound like it is mechanically sound ..... enjoy ... it is a matter of time before you upgrade to more HP .....

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

deejaycee how are you I think I miss my Yamaha the Tohatsu is giving me sh**t before I take it to the water!!!I have been reading and I see you have 25 Tohatsu behind repair you said that in some other HOT post that I enjoyed reading very much about crank upgrades and the argument with Tohatsu-guru this is funny any way when a boat say max is 40HP do they mean 4 strokes or 2 strokes or it mean the out put from the motor? thanks for all your help
Kandil

 

[Lakeside_Cruise]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

When the say max 40 HP, it means 40 hp, doesn't matter if it's 2 or 4 stroke, but I think you should go for a 2 stroke, because it's much lighter than the 4 and it's also louder than the 4 stroke. You can't get everything in life lol.

Good Luck

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

DJC- Can you expand on "long shafts do not work on a cat". For racing, where you want a semi-surfacing prop shaft length would make a big difference. But for the average user wouldn't a decent LS motor (30-40) perform adequately? A long shaft obviously would not be optimal and would slow the boat down several miles an hour because you are dragging an extra 5 inches of lower unit. But if its your only choice. Thanks

If it is your only choice I think you need a jack plate to raise the motor up

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hahahaha, yes I raced tohatsu motors and had alot of problems, the dealer her in SA gave me alot of issues, (that is why I liked to give tohatsuguru so much $h!t) then I got a sponsor from yamaha, but I went back to tohatsu when the dealer here closed and a new one opened somewhere else, as the 50hp tohatsu is a little faster than the yamaha. But for the average user I would recommend yamaha, it is definitely much more reliable .... even though I now race tohatsu again, but I get sponsored so my parts are free .... anyway ... you can add any 40hp motor on there, get a 40hp yamaha 2-stroke, they are awesome ....

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hi deejaycee when the boat is airborne and the throttle is WOT do you let the outboard Rev or do you reduce the throttle? and I am getting lots of water splashing back on my back from the prop would a smart taps help with this issue? or do I need a wet suit?Thanks

 

[jnewtonsem]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Kandil: From your post I assume you've gotten most of the engine kinks worked out. Give us an update. Ride, handling, speed, fun factor etc. You were looking for a fishing trolling boat, ended up with a go-kart. How does the boat meet your expectations, are you still going to use it for its original purpose?

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hi jnewtonsem I did start out looking for a fishing boat to go with my son on the weekend and I did this boat works great and I would say it is a dull purpose with the trolling motor 50 pound and 2 seats it is a fishing boats and it also works as a go cart if you have the right HP right now I have 3 outboard that I was able to get on craigslist for good deals a 25HP Tohatsu 2 strokes that worked in the water tank but did not work in the water it needs a powerhead gasket that I am waiting for the dealer to call me to pick it up so I got a 9.9 mercury 2 strokes that looks and run like new!! and this one is what I am using now until I fix the 25HP and it planes in 2 seconds and if you hit any good wave it will get airborne it turn very nice at high speed It is relay a blast but at the end of the day you are beat up the last one is a Honda 8hp 4 strokes that I spun the prop hub on the first outing I figured it will be quit and it has a battrey charger!! at the end I am planing to sell them all and get a 25HP or a 40HP Yamaha 2 strokes.
PS when you are going about 20 mph and some one coming by and passing you at 70mph you want to have a bigger motor!!

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

hahaha you need a wetsuit, a cat is always a wet ride, nothing you can do about that hehe, you do need to ease off the throttle when airborn otherwise you might twist the crank .....

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

Hi deejaycee I want to ask you what you think of where my Prop is in relation to the bottom skiges the cavitation plate is about 5.5" from the bottom of the haul is this OK and I want to ask another question about this Tohatsu motor I got it used and the x owner told me it was a short shaft but it looks bigger it is about 17" from the top of the transom to the cavitation plate and 23" to the center of the prop which is lettel lower than the center of the skige what you think? thanks in advance

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

it looks like a short shaft to me, but lose the prop guard, it slows you down .... but you need to lift the motor a little the centre of the prop must be in line with the centre of the high jackers .....

 

[kandil]

Re: Saturn tunnel X-cat speed boat VS Mercury Inflatable

the problem with adding a shim under the transom bracket is that the thump screws are just about 1.5" down from the transom top if I raise it up there is not enough space to clam it safely I can go up 3/4" I well try on the next outing thanks again