Update on Adrian's boat tests:
1) He's tested it pretty thoroughly in short-period (4 to 7 seconds between peaks) big swells/waves and a 25 knot wind ...and the boat performed and handled great. He got a bit of wind blown spray into the boat, but recall that his 'pilot house' has no sides yet. He's going to make some vinyl sides w/windows that he can put on to keep spray out on the nastier weather trips.
2) Top speed that he's reached so far with his 250 hp outboard: 47 mph (41 knots). He said there was some throttle left, but he started to pick up a little porpoising at speeds higher than that so he called it good and let off.
3) If I recall from our phone conversation, he's getting around 3.5 mpg in mixed snotty and good conditions.
4) Noting that his rendition of a GA has no aft pilot house bulkhead and he had no issues with flex (oil canning, hogging) or torque (racking) when driving through those steep short period swells, it also sounds like the boat's strength with flush glued- and glassed-in decks is strong enough for the boat to have a walk-around house and no aft house bulkhead. Note that he used 1-1/2" thick shelves under his sheer decks and his sheer decks are 17" wide (if I recall). This adds a lot of stiffness to the boat. Either way, this combination works for a fully-open deck and/or a walk-around house. This is good news for those that have been asking about a walk-around house.
Brian
