Talk me in or out of strakes

[ToonGuy]

Those tubes were about 23' long. Six full length 6" strakes total. The center tube was 18" longer and it had a 6" jack plate on it. I don't recall the prop for sure but I think I started with a 13x15/ I sold the boat and the new owner was the one who actually dialed it in. I don't recall him mentioning a prop swap.

[DRock]

Those tubes were about 23' long. Six full length 6" strakes total. The center tube was 18" longer and it had a 6" jack plate on it. I don't recall the prop for sure but I think I started with a 13x15/ I sold the boat and the new owner was the one who actually dialed it in. I don't recall him mentioning a prop swap.

Thanks for all your info! With your experience, do you think my 2 tube(23" tubes) about 21' total length would get up on 6" strakes with my 90hp? I would do full length from the back of the nose cone all the way back.

[keosports]

have you looked into a center tube with strakes? the st.louis guy usually has them, unless you have someone to weld really cheap it may cost you less to go that route, i got a price to get strakes on my 20' 23" tubes for $1800, I was going to go with either a waterglide or a straked center tube with transom but i was able to pick up a tri toon fiberglass hull really cheap so i have been working on that for now.

[DRock]

have you looked into a center tube with strakes? the st.louis guy usually has them, unless you have someone to weld really cheap it may cost you less to go that route, i got a price to get strakes on my 20' 23" tubes for $1800, I was going to go with either a waterglide or a straked center tube with transom but i was able to pick up a tri toon fiberglass hull really cheap so i have been working on that for now.

From what I can tell I can get 4 full strakes welded on for $5-600. I'm afraid that with a full center tube that I would stay the same speed with my little 90.

[ToonGuy]

Those tubes were about 23' long. Six full length 6" strakes total. The center tube was 18" longer and it had a 6" jack plate on it. I don't recall the prop for sure but I think I started with a 13x15/ I sold the boat and the new owner was the one who actually dialed it in. I don't recall him mentioning a prop swap.

Thanks for all your info! With your experience, do you think my 2 tube(23" tubes) about 21' total length would get up on 6" strakes with my 90hp? I would do full length from the back of the nose cone all the way back.

I couldn't answer that. It sounds like you are getting amazing performance already from a 2 log/90HP toon. IMO I don't think you're going to hurt performance either way. With 6's you know you have plenty if you decide to upgrade HP later, but then again same with a 3rd log...

[DRock]

It is true that my combo is running great right now. My only fear is adding strakes and loosing speed, but i just don't see how that could happen with getting the nose cones out of the water.

Question for some of you: In the first pic i posted of the Sunchaser pontoon the strakes are high, much higher than any others that i have seen. Most i've seen are pretty low and on 2x4 bunks. I've got 2x6's that i would move inward slightly to help with strake placement, but i won't be able to go as low as some. What if i put them at about the same placement as the Sunchaser's? In theory, wouldn't that be more surface area to plane on as long as the strake angle was such to keep the water from "escaping" out the sides?

[ToonGuy]

FYI Both of my pics the trailers have 2x6 bunks...

[DRock]

FYI Both of my pics the trailers have 2x6 bunks...

10-4 i see that now. I was thinking about the nv strakes which are mounted so low that they need 2x4 bunks.

On your bennington, how thick were the strakes? 1/8" 3/16"? Thanks, you've been a great help.

[ToonGuy]

I used .063 for the add ons and I believe the originals were extruded but very close in thickness.

[pond tuuunes]

here ya go. JT

photo-3.JPG (130.13 KiB) Viewed 6001 times

photo-2.JPG (118 KiB) Viewed 6001 times

photo (21).JPG (143.81 KiB) Viewed 6001 times

[DRock]

Thanks JT i appreciate the pics! Every little bit of pics and info helps as i try to nail down what i want. I'm going to get my fabricator buddy to bend up some short pieces of different angles and dimensions to try to mock up what will work best. I'm hoping to get started on this project in the next month or so. I'll post up some pictures on here to get ya'lls opinions before we start welding. Then it's no turning back.

[ronb]

I haven't seen it mentioned on here, but adding strakes to the outside of the tubes will cause it to 'dig' if you try cornering when you are at running speed. Last year I had the opportunity to use a Bennington with strakes and I did not expect that when I made a sharp(ish) turn under full throttle. It dug so hard that it splashed water up and over the railing. My SouthBay does not have any strakes. I've been thinking that I'd add a larger diameter center tube before adding strakes.

I am running a 90hp, maxing out around 24MPH on a clear day with no wind and just the 4 of us (2 adults, 2 kids under 40lbs each). There is another guy on my lake with a SouthBay 925CR with a tri-toon and a 115HP Merc and he was claiming 35MPH. Could be fish stories, but after the experience with the Benny and strakes, I'm going to try the third tube first.

Just food for thought..

[ToonGuy]

I doubt it, sounds like a stretch. Remember that 925 I had for sale last year? It had an Evinrude 150HO and in normal conditions it ran 34-38 MPH. Yes, could have tweeked the prop a bit, and we did hit an even 40 on it but that was on smooth water, top down, 3 people.

[smoker62]

Just got a call from my dealer. Southbay will ship a pair of strakes for my boat using my hull id number , for 316.68 plus 120 freight .
436.68 plus 5.5% tax . I have not checked into a welding quote yet.

[DRock]

Just got a call from my dealer. Southbay will ship a pair of strakes for my boat using my hull id number , for 316.68 plus 120 freight .
436.68 plus 5.5% tax . I have not checked into a welding quote yet.

That's very reasonable. I would go for it.

My buddy is supposed to be bringing me some prototype strakes today, or in the next day or two. If all goes well i'll get him to put them on next weekend.