I've searched and searched and can not find the info on this. My question is about using 2 skeg struts on a 60 inch cat with twin powerplants verses using 2 normal round bottom struts.

bn2o,
I can only give you information from personal experience. Everytime I have ever tried to run a cat without a skegged strut I have had trouble with the boat through the corners. If you are looking for just all out straight line speed and not really concerned with how the boat turns at speed then no skeg will be a good choice for you. If you would like it to be stable through the corners without the back end of the boat sliding out with the cost of a little top end speed then struts with skegs will be a good choice for you.

Carlo

If the strut, the propeller shaft housing & the skeg, were three individual pieces made of steel, silver soldered together, the strut & the skeg could be very thin. Since the skeg is a short piece it could probably be as thin as .0625" (1/16") at it's widest point. If it was machined as a wedge from front to back there would be minimal drag even if it was 1.500" below the shaft's housing. The three pieces are keyed together, therefore no fixture or jig is required to silver solder the pieces together.

The steering struts Ed & I built had .0625" thick X 1.250" wide X 1.500" deep skegs. I don't remember if we tested different depth skegs. Struts were .1250" (1/8") thick with lightening holes.

Jim Allen

Carlos and Jim, I want to say thank you very much gentleman. My main concern is making this boat turn, I believe I will have enough power to run well down the straights and pull it through the turns IF I can make it turn. Again gentleman thank you!!

You can always sharpen the manufactured hardware and put a fine glass bead on it to reduce drag.

Sorry Carlo for calling you Carlos.

No problem that is very common. LOL