Making a lobster boat ride faster.

When I was looking at all the different things available, I was getting ideas from left,right and center, and it was all what suited someone else. I'd get the idea from someone and run with it for a day or 2 and work out that it wasn't exactly what I was after. I ended up buying an older boat and modifying the cabin/deck to suit. I was very close , before I bought the boat I have, to building Glen-L's double Eagle, and stretching it. I was trying to clarify the thinking process around your imminent decision . We are all trying to help, but sometimes that help clouds your original idea, and you can end up losing sight of the goal.
Regarding engines, Cummins 6cta, aren't a bad choice, but whatever design you choose will have a big effect on what engine you use. As long as it fits within the weight and size limits, no big issues. The 6CTA is a bigger engine than many 30' boats normally accommodate, but the big issue for me is access to the important parts of the engine. Oil filters, starters, alternators, belts and adjusters, wiring and sensors. These are all things commonly forgotten by designers, and boat outfitters when designing/building a boat.
Anyway just some more thoughts.

 

Thanks for your answer, I know that you all are trying to help and believe that I am more than thankful for your part in helping me make a decision.
I've build 2 Glen-L double eagle's and am now busy with my 3rd eagle.
Very easy to build and it looks nice too for an amateur build
(I've only build 3 of them)

I know the 6cta is bigger but that's what I like about it, it's BIG.
I know that I've said 22knts is what I want to reach but that just makes me
want to try to reach more.

I've put some thought in what to do about space for the parts needed for the
engine to work but I guess the best thing to do now
is as another user advised is to ask the others owning lobster boat if I could
tag along and maybe work for them.

 

I went to the Newport boat show in RI this weekend & met a man from a propshop called accutech outta dover nh..(his names larry (603)617-3626 )that said he did the propeller work on a 100 & something mile an hour lobster boat...im not familiar with the sport & for all I know he`s fillin me full of it ,but if hes not you may consider talking to him ..he seemed friendly & knowledgable ..& lets face it the prop shop plays a big role in making a boat move along better or worse...on top of all the other things that are being discussed.. also you can pay a designer to hammer out the design for you ..you can just tell him how fast you wanna go & he`ll tell you exactly what you need to do..how much hp you need etc....that's what im doing ( not with a lobster boat but a boat just the same)..these guys know what theyre doin & can compute & design exactly what you need...of course that might knock all the fun outta makin your lobster boat hit mach FIVE...but its an option for you,& the cost to design an entire boat isn't horribly expensive either I think you`d be ripping yopurself off if you didn't at least look into it ...if you want to talk to somebody ill give you my guys info.. he belongs to the forum so it`d be easy to at least see what he has to say, that's not to say everybody that's responded hasn't given good advice cause I don't know enough to speak on the subject & I have got mostly great advice on this forum but I chose a designer to ensure that I wouldn't be guessing if I got good advice, if I`ve learned ONE thing since I joined this forum ..its that ANY change you make to the design of your boat results in a trade off in respect to another dept. of your boat..& before you go takin my advice remember im, GREATLY inexperienced compared to 99% of these guys ..good luck in any case & any way you go you cant really go wrong ,this forum seems to have some very serious & experienced members to help you along..i know they've helped me along pretty well

 

Albert If you build a boat with a target 20-22 K the chances are you will be cruising at 16-18K. If you want to cruise at 20-22 K you will have to aim at the mid to high 20s and that calls for a whopping big jump in HP. Truth be told the trend to push lobster boats into the speed range of planning boats is a bit misdirected. If you like the look of the Downeast just get a designer to put a Downeast topside on a planning hull otherwise you would be wise to settle for your top cruising speed in the 16 K range with a lobster boat hull.

 

If you want to save a bunch of building the US Navy 40 Ft and 50 Ft are very very strongly built.

The 50 usually has a 6-71 at 235 hp 2100RPM , that weighs over 3000lbs.

The hull would be strong enough to install a 750 HP engine if you want fast.

Its an open boat so whatever style house you desire would be quite EZ.

 

I like the lafitte style boat....like the one I built in the march 2013 edition of national fisherman magazine...300 hp cat. 3126 30 knots. And its 30 foot

 

Have you looked at Arch Davis's 26' "Jack Tar"?

http://www.archdavisdesigns.com/davis_jacktar.html



There's a great build thread here:

http://hbochs.tripod.com/Jackforwrd.htm

http://www.sbmar.com/repowers/building_miss_rebecca_-_a_26_jack_tar_designed_by_arch_davis/

If you lengthen it by 10%, that puts you at close to 29' ...

 

She looks nice, thanks