GL: Loop Boat Express type

[bob Austin]

I owned a Rinker 270 (Express cruiser--sort of trailerable--9'6" beam, draft
about 2 feet plus outdrive)--Greg has hit one of the major issues with express
cruisers for the Loop (Certainly express cruisers, including a Rinker, have
done the loop).  The "cave" for the living space.  The Rosborough 246 and C
Dory boats all are pilot house boats with galley, dinette and helm/navigator
seats in the pilot house, where all of the world is visiable.  The pilot house
can easily be heated or airconditioned--this is not as easy in the canvas
covered express cruiser.  There is no water leakage into the cabin--yet
ventillation is excellent, with opening side and front windows.
The R 246 and C Dory boats/Ranger tugs are all truely trailerable with 8'6"
beam, and relitatively light weight.

I have owned 4 I/O's during my life.  I will never own another one.  There are
just too many issues with the I/O--mostly with the drive units.  Outboards can
be run trimmed up--the I/O should not be run trimmed up, because of the
"gimble" joints.Todays outboards in commercial service are getting very good
longivity.

I can compare the Rinker 270 with the Tom Cat directly--both had 300 hp, &
similar weight.  The Rinker was beamer and a moderate V.  The Rinker got 1.6
miles a gallon at 22 knots and was very slow to get on a plane.  The TC 255
gets 2.3 miles a gallon (50% more) and from idle to 25 knots is less than 6
seconds--no shifting passengers foreward to get the boat on a plane.  Top
Speed Rinker: about 35 knots--TC 255 49 knots. Range Rinker: 150 miles--Tom
Cat 255: 300 miles.  Ride--the Tom Cat is a much smoother ride in chop than
the Rinker.  The Rinker has to be at 18 knots before it is on a plane.  The
Tom Cat (a true planing cat) will come up on a plane (with Permatrims) at 10
to 11 knots--

I cannot comment on the speed of the Regal on one engine--but based on my
experience with the Rinker, I suspect that you will only be at displacement or
semidisplacement speeds when running on one engine, and not on a plane.  The
TC is similar--you cannot plane on one engine--and about 9 knots is top speed
without lugging the engine on a single.  There are several reasons for
this--but part is the asymetrical effect of widely spaced engines.   It runs
fine at 6 to 7 knots, but as you come up on in speed, it pulls to one side.

The bunk on the Tom Cat is longer than a queen, and I believe a little more
than queen width--we use cal King Sheets on the Tom cat 255 forward
bunk...Also the Tom Cat has a self bailing cockpit--most express cruisers do
not have self bailing cockpits.  But I am predjudiced--I gave up an Express
for the Cat.

Again--for fuel effeciency--the diesel is the way to go--and there are a
number of other small diesel boats.  Definately the cost of gas is high on the
faster boats--but there are lots of trawlers or gas powered displacement speed
MY which are getting only 2 miles a gallon.  Lets say 6,000 miles--30 days at
200 miles a day (assuming that you want to go that fast in the cat)--and 90
gallons a day and at $3.50 a gallon that would be $315 for fuel a day or
$9,500 for 6,000 miles (all rough numbers) At displacement speeds, the Tom Cat
will get better mileage.--probably in the 4 to 5 miles a gallon category, but
I don't have enough long term running at that lower speed to be absolutely
certain--and these numbers are extrapulated from relitatively few miles at
lower speeds--not multiple fillups--which were used to calibrate the flow
meters at 25 knots. The flow meters are probably less accurate at the lower
flow rates.

Bob Austin