Hydro's SAW capibility?

[nate]

As title stated, Can someone please chime in on a comparison in the Pro's and Cons to a Hydroplane vs Cat and outrigger compared. I have ordered a PTSS45 and looking to break 90mph, that said, Is it any harder to get a hydro hull past a new age twin cat setup? I know the record if Im not mistaken belongs to an Outrigger design.

[kfxguy]

I'm no expert on this by any means (actually still a newb lol) but I think a rigger can go much faster because it doesn't pack air under the hull like a hydro and cat do. I really like the look of a hydro, but I think (and this is my opinion) the way it packs air make the air harder to flow under it without lifting it. I know there are a few guys on here that have their sh!t together on hydros and make them very fast too so hopefully they Will chime in.

[nate]

Well Hydros and cats ect. pocket that air, seems better than the outrigger design, but some how, the rigger's are insane fast on less power. Makes you wonder, wait..I am. Maybe the lower COG.

[Doug Smock]

The less wetted surface you have the faster you'll go.

[nate]

Whats a good hydro around 33-40" that would be a good saw hydro? Anyone seen some of the h&m lobster hulls, never can find a good build thread or pics of that hull, but looks neat for sure.

[Fluid]

Outriggers are faster for a number of reasons, one being the low aerolift/drag from the hull. Riggers can be compared to Formula One cars - light weight, high power. If you want to go the fastest, oval or SAW, a well designed rigger is the best choice.

Too much lift will make setting up the boat very difficult, this is the main reason that full-bodied hydros are slower than cats and riggers. The fastest hydros look more like riggers than hydroplanes, examples are the Whiplash and Insane hydros. These boats have minimal wetted area - similar to a rigger - but will blow over more easily at truly high speeds. The fastest cats have narrow tunnels which pack less air and they are designed to place the center of lift well aft - near the CG. Still, they blow over often - I watched several of the fastest run at the LA SAWs last year, and while some reached the 120s and 130s they were a handful to drive. Crashes sidelined more than one fast cat.

All that said, hydros like the Whiplash and even the PT SS45 can be built to run into the 90s - if you don't mind repairing the hull after crashes. You'll need flat water and near-zero wind for successful runs, but it can be fun trying.


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[larryrose11]

Riggers do seem to have the advantage odf less wetted area. Lighter hull means less to lift out of the water, more energy goes into forward motion.
here is an extreme example, to book end things

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wLfu0m7l0U

You CAN have a cat that can go nearly as fast, but using probably close to 1.8X more power.
From the sounds, it is not being pushed as hard, probably a more reliable setup than the chris harris rigger

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP99sBWS8Lw