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I have enjoyed reading the many flame threads on THT the past couple of years. Mean that seriously not sarcastic. Twin vee has received at least its fair share, I suspect deservedly so.
My question is very specific. Quality and long term value aside how well do the 26' express and/or pilothouse models handle chop, swells etc.. OK will put my cards on the table. This is my current first choice as a 1 or 2 year boat while I build a slightly larger custom cat. The pounding in my current boat is killing me. IMHO the TV gave a better all around performance during sea trials than similar models from GB and worldcat. Picked snotty days to test. Quick, smooth, nimble, very easy on and off trailer. Gives better fuel economy too. Have no delusions that it competes in fit, finish, looks or warranty issues.
Please flame away it you have first hand knowledge of negative seakeeping features unique to this model or heap praise if you share my opinion that the ride characteristics are superior to much of the higher brow competition.
PM Capt Gene, has one and will give you the skinny. I've got the 26 Extreme and love it, wanted a work boat for diving and got just what I wanted. Don't listen to the naysayers that either haven't owned one and haven't ridden on one.
I have the 26 center console. Never have been in a glacier bay, but I did sea trial the World Cat. I felt the ride was better in the TV. I have not been disappointed with the ride of this boat.
My only experience is with a custom 28' built for the fire department to their specs. I have to say I was impressed. While every other TV I've seen looks like they didn't spent 10$ on tooling, this thing is arrow straight and tight. The production boats will make you sea sick looking down the sheer or chine. The driver is a bit of cowboy doesn't baby it by any stretch. She is handling it well. Get what you pay for I reckon.
__________________ Baitkiller= Accredited Marine Surveyor
Bait fear me, fish just laugh.....
The little Dutch boy was just buying time...
My problem with TV's isn't the ride, it's the low free board and very low bow compared to PK, WC and GB.
And plywood floors with no backing plates to hold bolts for the ttops. Be carefull to seal everything up with caulk, and do not believe the performace reports that overstate the full economy by 40%. Low tunnel, no storage.
But, if you can find a good used one at a good price, seal it up with $25 worth of caulk, and buy some slickers for when it gets snotty, these are a pretty good cheap hull.
The TV 26' I got to play with was the pilothouse model. Close 6-8' seas with a secondary 2' windchop nearly 90 degrees to the swell. It indeed got wet but no worse than the GB or WC in similar but not quite as snotty conditions. Was very surprised that the TV didn't bury her low nose at a steady 18 knots up or down swell. GB was smoother into headsea but really required my full attention downswell to compensate for bow steer. WC ride was similar to the TV but wanted to go 20 knots to stay on plane. Burried her nose good a couple of times. Never had a chance to sea trial a pro Kat. Did not realize that the TV deck is just plywood. Currently there are some bargains out there in TV cats, used and NEW. A few GBs for about 20K more in the used market. Have yet to see a "bargain" in a 27' WC.
We have a few running around here. In smooth Kona waters they are awesome. It'll eat up short chops. Now the guy on the other side of the island hates it. He had to build a Force marine cab to keep dry because the low front is actually a shovel that likes to scoop tons of water in the huge swells there. Twin 90's on the back and it sits so low going up or down a wave that it looks like the engines want to submarine. It'll work fine for some waters and is terrifying in others.
Best ride, period, of any cat I've been on. No bad manners at all in a 2-3' chop you can stand or set down, and the boat holds a course well enough there isn't a need to hold the wheel...
Doesn't grab or pull either way while crossing chop from any direction.
Likes running in chop better than ocean swells for sure.
Low freeboard is a plus, not a minus for this skiff unless you are a hard core bottom fisherman who needs mid thigh support to reef on a fish.(I'm a hard core diver/spearfish guy and that's not an issue, I like the low gunnels for exiting wearing gear)
No body gets sea sick! What a great plus!
I can only compare ride to World Cat, Kevlacat and Glacier bay. I'll keep what I have for the ride and live with some other compromises.
Very light hulls take less fuel to push and carry heavy loads like dive gear and old fat guys better than over optioned innerliner hulls. I HATE center console boats. My boats a pretty dry ride with the small front cabin and windscreen it sheds water like a duck. More deck space for diving than any 30' boat I've ever been on with the same beam. I get about 1.75 mpg at 30 mph with a heavy heavy load.
120 gal fuel isn't up for the offshore capability of this little boat.
I'm a USCG 100 Ton Master and have owned two inspected diesel dive boats with 100 mile route tickets and at least 10 trailer boats over the years, and this boat is the most fun and the least aggravation of any of them. And now I want the 29' TV and $2 a gallon fuel.
I'm into my 4th season with a 26 weekender...best all-around boat I've ever owned by far....this is boat number 9....it will stuff the bow in large, close chop if you aren't paying attention.....I get 2-3 mpg at 24mph with suzi 115's...top out at 37.8mph...not bad...have had it 65 miles offshore....the older models were the biggest bang for the buck once upon a time....now their prices would force me to look at a used GB or WC......I can pull mine with a 1/2 ton pickup and it is easy to get on and off the trailer.....I looked at the new models alot and their fit and finish is way better than a few years ago.....bet there are some deals around on new ones....I might be selling mine this season??......Mick
There is a reason for every boat out there. I have an o0 26' express 175 suzukis. If I had it to do over would get the same boat. It is the lightest express and thus the fastest and best milage of its size. I run out of Venice La and run a long way. I fell very safe in the boat. I did change it up some. Took out the seats and put in a leaning post. The drink box goes under there. Put the live well on the swim platform. Use a 220 ssi in the back for fish. It fishes best with 3 to 4 people, 5 max. I live 6 hours form Venice and I want a very simple boat. Dont want lots of stuf to work on when I get there.
I just got one last winter and have been running it since April. The real test is next weekend when I plan to take out 30 miles or so sharking. In some of the trest runs that I have done so far in some snot, the boat did seem to sneeze a bit more than I had expected when running head-on into the seas going out Cape May inlet.
__________________ 26' Twin Vee Express w/ Twin F150s
I agree with all of the above....I have an 02 weekender with suzi 115's....for sale...looking at something smaller I can tow around FL....let it go for payoff....26K...Mick
1) Best ride I have ever had. Drove a 26-28' World Cat one time on a slick day so not much to compare.
2) Scuppers drains are poor in design.
3) Boat is Super fuel efficient compared to anything else I have ever owned:
19.6 aquasport, C-Hawk 245, Wellcraft 230 Coastal, 37' melech (Lafitte Skiff), 50' Biloxi Lugger.
Have torn up more boats but I did not own them:
Neptune 20.2 (Can you ride a Camel?) Aquasport 22.3, Seabird 25 converted.
100 USCG master: Louisiana Texas oilfield crewboat skipper.
This is my first season with TV. Love the ride, the outfitment of this boat is cheap. (Hatch Covers, Nylon Cleats etc..) Once you get past that... Great ride, handles well: Have not had it in huge rollers, I bet it is a carnival ride if you cannot safely plane. On a plane it is a joy to drive.
For the money I spent I am very happy with what I got. Only other beef than the scuppers alowing water in...is the way my cabin ceiling flexes in choppy seas.. just an annoyance that's all, I may have a t-top made and secure it to the cabin ceiling that will pevent that annoying movement.
If you can get a low side twin vee weekender for $30K or so jump on it.
I almost bought a TV until I looked at a Calcutta. I have been in them all except Freeman 2 boats and I do not think anything can compare. Looks great and it is a fishing and diving machine. Calcutta has 2 versions, 26 and a beast at 36. The 36 footer is sick.
I almost bought a TV until I looked at a Calcutta. I have been in them all except Freeman 2 boats and I do not think anything can compare. Looks great and it is a fishing and diving machine. Calcutta has 2 versions, 26 and a beast at 36. The 36 footer is sick.
Isn-t slow speed sneezing a problem with the 26's low tunnel?
The fold down seawall also seems like a feature designed for an inshore dive boat as opposed to an offshore fishing boat IMO.
Twin vee 26' express--FLAMES????? 
