Thread:

v drive tunnel

Anyone rig a new tunnel (Ultra, liberator, TPR) 19'-21' as a v drive or i/o? The 21' daytona v drives are amost non-existent but seem to run VERY well. Having a tough time embracing a jet boat, but want a 21' tunnel. Anyone converted a jet to i/o?

Cougar boats will still rig a brand new V-drive tunnel Hull. They have a 19' and 21' that they will rig as a v-drive. info@cougarboats.com Infomaniac here on the boards used/or still has a 19' with a blown injected motor that hauled Butt. I have also seen a 21 with a 500+" Hemi that ran really well too. Hope this helps

has a 21' Cougar V-drive...

I have a 19' Cougar inline seating 300xs.

Great boats. Built really well.

Heres one
http://www.powerboatlistings.com/view/6205
or the whole list
http://www.powerboatlistings.com/eliminator/

Warp Factor has a 21' Cougar, that's running in the upper 120's on mild blower motor. Unchained has an 21' Eliminator that's ungodly quick, getting them set-up is the trick, or they can be a hand full.

Thanks for the replies. Looks like liberator will rig a v drive also, but any reason they seem to be so rare? The ones that are done (unchained) seem to be pretty amazing, so I was wondering why more aren't done as v drives?

I have one that's been 136 with more power than I have in it not by much but everything seems to have changed with less power so now I have to either change gears or find a different prop,it's doing weird things coming up to speed problem is not many people know exactly what to do a lot of trial and error,
Joe Shellfo is going to help me he wants to find a 3 blade that will do what the 2 blade is did, stern drive would be much easier to drive but you'll never have the same ET or durability that a V drive has out drives aren't cheap either

Let me know if you are ready to sell that black daytona v-drive

I have a 19' cougar v drive and absolutely love it. My father owned smitt 19s boat and sold it to the guy he bought it from.. He purchased that boat after riding in mine, when a previous owner had mine. bought a kevlar 21' daytona jet after riding in this cougar. Sold it once I knew I could purchase the cougar. Smitt 19s bought hauls ass, and takes the rough water very well, while having lots of room for a boat this size..Great do all boat. I sure smitt 19 will get the prop he needs to set right..

After my dad sold the 21 v drive, he picked up a cougar v drive 19' twin to mine. Its in great shape, just needed some cosmetic detailing, seats, and trailer work. The boat was complete running w/ a fresh v-drive and new whirlaway form Bentley when purchased. The boat has been completely torn apart, gel in very good shape, I think only one small stress crack in the whole boat. floors in good shape. The boat can be purchased with a complete bbc merlin block, dual quad holleys, headers, etc. for $11,000.
NOTE The boat is disassembled, but totally complete with the exception of seats. The hull, and all parts to complete are available for $7,000. I do not have any pics, and will try to get some soon. Hell I dont even have any pics on the computer of my boat. any way, he is located in Minnnesota

There are some differences in the bottoms of cougars vs daytonas
The daytona was never intended to be v drive, so the center pod is taller than the the outer tunnels. I think its only 1", not a big deal, but the boat can rock a little back and forth.

These boats really work great, dont know why more people havent built these. I know some freak out, since Eliminator, and DCB wont build them, but liberator will. Thats where Smitt19s was rigged..

Good Luck, if you have anymore questions, please ask.

Steve

Originally Posted by smitt19

I have one that's been 136 with more power than I have in it not by much but everything seems to have changed with less power so now I have to either change gears or find a different prop,it's doing weird things coming up to speed problem is not many people know exactly what to do a lot of trial and error,
Joe Shellfo is going to help me he wants to find a 3 blade that will do what the 2 blade is did, stern drive would be much easier to drive but you'll never have the same ET or durability that a V drive has out drives aren't cheap either

Andy whats going on. what gears do you have in there know. I didnt even make it out with cougar once, not even to test the new motor. Fired it once in the driveway, and thats it. I had to get a little more busy on house stuff, as we had another kid Dec 30, so priorities changed a little. Looking forward to some seat time this year, if we get any rain... I hope everything else is well in your life. Maybe you should hit Roy, who built my boat, he has a lot of good theory on tunnels. Shelfo knows him well..
He tried 3 blades on my boat years ago, and didnt like it at all. He said it gave the back of the boat too much lift, lost the tunnel seal to water, therefore restricting the profit of the tunnel hull, and making the boat squirrly.. I have had a few people suggest trying a 3 blade, just dont want to buy props unless they are a for sure thing. We use a 11 1/4x 16 kinsvater flatbottom prop, and it works pretty well.

anyway, I hope all else is well in your life.

Steve