Port Erie Cats (Just Got back from a Sea Trial) This Cat is Something!!

[foulhook]

I took a little trip to Erie PA this weekend to sea trial the Port Erie 20 Offshore 20. I towed along my Twin Vee Baycat for a comparison ride. I arrived Friday evening. When I awoke Saturday morning I could here the wind howling on my hotel window and thought "I hope I didn’t drive 7 hours for nothing" Since the hotel had satellite TV I couldn’t get a local forecast. So, I went out to the boat and turned on my Icom to get the skinny on the wind. Forecast was for winds around 30kts out of the southwest shifting to the west and decreasing to 20-25kts waves 5-8ft (This was also confirmed by a friend I called at home to check NOAA's website). I met up with Terry Olsen (Director of sales) around 8am who was fine with the weather forecast to my surprise. We went over to the factory so that I could see a boat that was in the mold along with a few of the prototypes they were fiddling with. There we met Ken (owner and designer) and Craig (designer). They went over the construction of the hull step by step which is a little to long to post (not to mention a little technical) They are built like a tank. There was one of their poured transoms on the floor, that I couldn’t even pick up.

After the factory tour we hooked up to a 20ft offshore with a 115Etec and headed for the launch on Presque isle bay. I followed behind with my Baycat.

Terry and I launched in the Port Erie and Kenny and Craig in my Baycat. We started headway speed to toward the inlet. I noticed looking over at my boat that even at a slow headway speed with a little 1 foot chop my tunnel was sneezing a little. As we approached the inlet you could see 3-4 frt.’s between the seawalls. Well, right in the middle of the inlet the Etec stopped running. It was a oh $#!+ situation as we were quickly headed for the seawall in the slop. I grabbed a rope off the deck, ran it through the bow cleat and tossed the rope to Kenny. Kenny was able to tow us back into the protected bay water. After a quick check we found that one of the guys in the shop had shut of the fuel line for some reason. Priming the fuel line was a little difficult so we put the boat back on the trailer for a little better work environment. While we were waiting Terry and I took my boat for a spin. It was Terry's first time on a Baycat. As we approached the inlet at about 5knts she started to sneeze a bit. As we rounded the corner to the outside I started to bring up the trim and push her toward plane. As the waves became more like 4-5+ we started to bottom out and the wing pounding (tunnel slap) felt like a jackhammer. This was at 9knts on the GPS. Terry, going in for surgery on his back on Monday (today) had quickly seen enough. So we went back in the bay. On the way in the cavitation was a big surprise to Terry. He had heard about it but didn’t think it would be as pronounced as it is. His comment about the ride was. Twin vee has no business claiming the smoothest ride on the water. At this point I still didn’t know what he was comparing it to but couldn’t wait to find out. We put my cat back on the trailer and after some fiddling with the fuel line we were ready to put the Port Erie back on the water. This time the guys launched Kenny and myself. As soon as we launched Ken looked at me and said "HOLD ON" He then proceeds to bury the throttle and we are on plane in an instant and doing 41-43mph. He shouts "HOLD ON TIGHT" and then rips the wheel as far as she will go at full throttle. The boat just cuts...not even the slightest hint of cavitation! As soon as we finish the second donut Ken heads for the inlet still at wide open (I admit to being a little worried at this point). Straight through the inlet, and around the corner. Keep in mind my boat started banging at 9knts. We are now heading directly into 4-6+ ft waves at 41mph. No bull$#!+. This boat will not bottom out, will not sneeze, and simply refuses to even make a bump be known. I took over the controls and couldn’t believe that I could launch completely air born off of a 6ft wave and not feel a bang. I looked at Ken who was smiling at me and said to him "I can't get enough of this!” He just smiled and said “I know” I said “this is F-ing unbelievable” Ken said again “ I know” The best way I could describe it is that the stern seems to land first with a quick/smooth transition to midship. But it didn’t matter if it were, following, beam, or head. The boat simply would not pound.
This is without question the most impressive boat that I have taken a ride on yet!! For the record, I am being conservative with the wave height as well. I know the guys on here well at this point. I know they like to claim “Liar” on a persons wave size assessment The spacing was varied, tight then loose. You would see 30 yards of 4 ftrs then all of a sudden 40 yards of 6's would show up. I guess the wind blowing over depth changes was creating the same effect that you get in a good size rip. Anyone want to buy a Baycat? I found my next boat!!! Didn’t get any on water pics because of the rain and the roaring wind but here are some pics on land. The PE in these pics is a no liner model (their prototype) It only comes in liner now but you'll get the idea:

Before the Etec guys jump on me here I should say that I ordered mine with a Zuke.

I am excited to hear from Bolton and the others on this post who have backed the ride of Twin Vee, Caracal, Prokat, and other 20 something single engine cats. My only answer to those who doubt the Port Erie will simply be “Where would you like to meet” I have owned a Baycat for three years now and it compares to this Port Erie like a grape to a watermelon. I mean it’s not even close. I wouldn’t be surprised if the competing 20 something foot, single engine cat manufacturers get an invite for a showdown on Lake Erie on a 30knt day with a G-meter in each boat very soon…..hmmm


Tight lines, FH

[ESfishdoc]

How does a boat like that go 40+ miles an hour in 4-6? I guess it just runs on the tops of the waves?

[MakoMyDay]

que the "I call B.S." in 3....2......1......


You may start a war here

[foulhook]

ESfishdoc - 1/7/2007 10:49 PM

How does a boat like that go 40+ miles an hour in 4-6? I guess it just runs on the tops of the waves?

It was between 40-43 mph GPS speed on my very quick glances. I don't know how they did it. I just know it works. It was not what I was expecting at all. It was un-friggin-believable....As Forest said "That all I have to say about that"

TL's FH

[foulhook]

MakoMyDay - 1/7/2007 11:04 PM

que the "I call B.S." in 3....2......1......


You may start a war here

I addressed the BS call in the original post and fully expected it. I am sure there must be a way to get the NOAA forecast for Saturday January 6th (8:00 am) on the outside of Presque Isle-lake Erie. Unfortunatley by the time I got home (7 hour drive) they had updated the forecast to saturday night and sunday. I expect the guys here to claim BS as always. When I get my boat ...pick the day...

FH

[passman]

Sounds like you had a good time. Your Bay Cat will sell fast just don't tell anybody about the PE.

Passman

[foulhook]

Here is todays weather forecast for the waters just off Presque Isle PA. I thought the same thing. Its a lake, how bad can it get right. I was skeptical about going out. It was that bad. Thought I just drove 7 hours for nothing....I am sure I will be called BS still. I can handle it. I was there. I've been around for a while in the suds. I know my water well. Call BS if you must



Forecast as of 9:17 PM EST on January 7, 2007
Maumee Bay To Reno Beach Oh-Reno Beach To The Islands Oh-
The Islands To Vermilion Oh-Vermilion To Avon Point Oh-
Avon Point To Willowick Oh-Willowick To Geneva-On-The Lake Oh-Geneva-
On-The-Lake To Conneaut Oh-Conneaut Oh To Ripley Ny-
Overnight
Northeast winds 10 to 20 knots becoming west. Periods of rain early...mixing with and changing to snow late. Waves 1 to 3 feet.
Monday
West winds 15 to 25 knots increasing to gales to 35 knots. Occasional snow showers in the morning...then a chance of snow showers in the afternoon. Waves 3 to 5 feet building to 8 to 12 feet.
Monday Night
West winds to 35 knots diminishing to 10 to 20 knots and then becoming southwest. Snow showers likely. Waves subsiding to 5 to 7 feet.
Tuesday
Southwest winds 10 to 20 knots becoming northwest 15 to 25 knots. Snow likely. Waves 4 to 6 feet. See Lake Erie Open Lakes forecast for Wednesday through Friday. The water temperature off Toledo is 40 degrees...off Cleveland 46 degrees and off Erie 41 degrees.

[Brad1]

foulhook, I certainly believe you regarding the conditions. I spend my time on the waters North of Presque Isle. Since Lake Erie is so shallow for it's area, it is greatly affected by the wind. That forecast you printed is actually the near shore forecast and it is typical. Not that I would go out in it with those high west winds, but it's typical.

Good to hear the boat tested out well.

How fast were you going through the inlet?

[foulhook]

Brad1 - 1/8/2007 3:14 AM

foulhook, I certainly believe you regarding the conditions. I spend my time on the waters North of Presque Isle. Since Lake Erie is so shallow for it's area, it is greatly affected by the wind. That forecast you printed is actually the near shore forecast and it is typical. Not that I would go out in it with those high west winds, but it's typical.

Good to hear the boat tested out well.

How fast were you going through the inlet?

Thanks Brad, I expected the doubter on THT. Like I said I am being conservative on the wave heights.

We went through the inlet at Wide Open Throttle!

[SIM]

Thanks for the info Foulhook. I have been looking at the Port Erie's with some interest. It looks like a drive out there would not be a waste. We have in Lake Michiganreal similar sea conditions as Erie(short choppy nasty crap).

I read your post a few times. Unless I missed it (most likely) you do not mention beam sea or following sea handling. Is there any sponson dipping in either condition. Catamarans ride seem to shine in a head sea, but the beam and following seas is where you differentiate a "good" cat from a "great" cat. imho. Thanks.

Andy

[Bolton]

FH,
Nice report!! Sounds like I need to give them a look. Your report is the first hands on I've read. Have they set up a dealer network?? Why the spray rails?? Was it dry?? Thanks for good info!

Bolton

[Gmack]

Did you snap any interior shots? I would like to see how the interior is setup.

Thanks,
Gary

[foulhook]

SIM - 1/8/2007 9:16 AM



Thanks for the info Foulhook. I have been looking at the Port Erie's with some interest. It looks like a drive out there would not be a waste. We have in Lake Michigan*real similar sea conditions as Erie(short choppy nasty crap).

I read your post a few times. Unless I missed it (most likely) you do not mention beam sea or following sea handling. Is there any sponson dipping in either condition. Catamarans ride seem to shine in a head sea, but the beam and following seas is where you differentiate a "good" cat from a "great" cat. imho. Thanks.

Andy

Hey SIM,

I mention the beam, quarter, and following in the original post but didn't elabotate. Personally with my Baycat a head sea has been the worst ride. I always prefered a beam sea. The Port Erie took the beam just like my Baycat. Just a tiny wiggle like they aren't even there. The following at high speed was pretty much as fantastic as the head in this boat. Slowing down to 3000rpms the bow would come down a slightly more than the Baycat but the bow on the Port Erie is so much higher to begin with that it was a non issue. I tried to bury the bow for about 10 minutes out there to no avail. Seems that you can't get it to because of the steepness of the wing at the bow. once the wing touches it lifts right up. Ken also told me that they had taken the boat to several different locations and couldn't bury the bow while trying to do so. I should also mention that I turned her off out there to see how the drift would be (I drift alot of big rips up in the NE) She floats like a dock. No pitch and roll what so ever. This is one thing that sold me on my Baycat 4 years ago.

If there was one negative thing to say it would be that because of the extreme deadrise to bow half of the pontoons the boat on occasion while turning from head to beam you could hit a wave just a little wrong and spray would come up the side and blow back at you. However I expect that from just about any boat in those conditions. Also the boat that we were on had the first generation spraystrakes. They have since redesigned it two times to knock that spray down. To me it was a non issue.

Hope that helps, Fire away if you think of any other questions....

Tight lines, FH

[foulhook]

Bolton - 1/8/2007 9:33 AM

FH,
Nice report!! Sounds like I need to give them a look. Your report is the first hands on I've read. Have they set up a dealer network?? Why the spray rails?? Was it dry?? Thanks for good info!

Bolton

Hey Bolton,

You gotta get on this boat man. You are not going to believe it. They just delivered a boat factory direct to a gentleman in the Florida Keys. So there is one down there near you somewhere. I do not believe that they have a dealer in FL yet but are looking. They just started to go the path of dealers. I know that there is one in Maryland, and one in Harkers Island NC.

I tried to explain the spray strakes in my last post. Because of the deadrise of the bow it can kick a wave up that will blow back at you if you hit it just right. As I said in my last post Kenny made very clear that the boat I was on had the first generation strakes and that it have been greatly improved. The reason they are attached to the hull after the molding process is because there would be no way to pop the hull out of the mold. As I said before everything else about this boat out weighed some spray , on a 30knt day I expect a little spray...I gotta tell you Bolton, I'm thinking dealership myself. This thing was nuts. I am hoping to have my boat by mid Feb. I am going to make a trip to Sebastian/Indian River to see family and fish. You are more than welcome to come up and jump on for the day.

I'm still smiling today thinking about that test run!

Tight lines, FH

[itwonder]

I wonder if the production boats with the added weight of the liner will perform as well?

It would be great to know if these guys will be attending and giving rides at any of the east coast in-water boat shows.

[foulhook]

Gmack - 1/8/2007 9:48 AM

Did you snap any interior shots? I would like to see how the interior is setup.

Thanks,
Gary

This is all I have for interior shots. It was me that got up on this boat with dirty boots. My apologies to PE for that. This is the interior of a PE still being assembled..

[foulhook]

itwonder - 1/8/2007 10:05 AM

I wonder if the production boats with the added weight of the liner will perform as well?

It would be great to know if these guys will be attending and giving rides at any of the east coast in-water boat shows.

I asked that question and the answer is.........The liner version is slightly lighter than the rolled edge!

[abfish]

Foulhook- that's a great looking cat. I have a TV Baycat, and I've really been impressed with it. To me, the tunnel slap with the Baycat has been almost non-existent. The only time I've experienced tunnel slap in the Baycat was in no-wake areas in very steep chop. As long as I can get the bow up a little (approx 12 mph), I don't experience any tunnel slap. I've had the boat for three years, and I've never been in conditions that I couldn't use enough throttle to get the bow up a little. This includes a fair amount of time in Pamlico Sound- that body of water is 20 miles wide and 16 ft. deep, so you can imagine the chop it produces.

Also, I have an 18" pitch 4-blade on my Baycat and don't have much problem with cavitation. It's more of an annoyance in a steep following see than anything else. To me it's just a trade off for a great ride and great stability in a beam sea. In fact, I can turn the wheel hard over at 25 mph, and the Baycat will turn so sharply that you need to be holding on to stay in the boat. It does bleed off a lot of speed, but the turn is level with no cavitation.

What really surprises me is that you are not impressed with the head-sea ride of the Baycat. Everyone who has been on my boat (all monohull owners) has commented favorably on the headsea ride.

I think of my Baycat as a Carolina skiff with a really good ride. That Port Erie cat must be unreal if it is that much superior to the Baycat.

[AdamT]

Sounds like a very impressive ride! I'm *not* calling BS, but it is hard to envision 40+ mph in 5-7'ers in *any* 20' boat. He11, any 30'er for that matter. Would love to see it some time. Too bad they don't seem to be coming to the Miami Boat Show.

[foulhook]

abfish - 1/8/2007 10:17 AM

Foulhook- that's a great looking cat. I have a TV Baycat, and I've really been impressed with it. To me, the tunnel slap with the Baycat has been almost non-existent. The only time I've experienced tunnel slap in the Baycat was in no-wake areas in very steep chop. As long as I can get the bow up a little (approx 12 mph), I don't experience any tunnel slap. I've had the boat for three years, and I've never been in conditions that I couldn't use enough throttle to get the bow up a little. This includes a fair amount of time in Pamlico Sound- that body of water is 20 miles wide and 16 ft. deep, so you can imagine the chop it produces.

Also, I have an 18" pitch 4-blade on my Baycat and don't have much problem with cavitation. It's more of an annoyance in a steep following see than anything else. To me it's just a trade off for a great ride and great stability in a beam sea. In fact, I can turn the wheel hard over at 25 mph, and the Baycat will turn so sharply that you need to be holding on to stay in the boat. It does bleed off a lot of speed, but the turn is level with no cavitation.

What really surprises me is that you are not impressed with the head-sea ride of the Baycat. Everyone who has been on my boat (all monohull owners) has commented favorably on the headsea ride.

I think of my Baycat as a Carolina skiff with a really good ride. That Port Erie cat must be unreal if it is that much superior to the Baycat.

I have the 4 blade on my Baycat as well. You can't honestly tell me that it does'nt bang in three foot head sea when moving over 20knts. Come on man. I own the same boat and run it from NC-ME. When it gets rough you have to run the baycat bow high at a low speed to avoid bottoming out. The cavitation is there. I hear it more prodominantly during a following as well. But it does it in alot of different conditions. Atleast mine does. I can run pretty opened up in a beam sea in the baycat but you can't do it into a head with a tight period. If you do all your gear will bounce to the back of the boat.

There has to be a baycat owner that will fess up to this besides myself....Bolton???

Tight lines, FH