Double Your Pleasure

Want to make sushi of blustery seas that slow other boats to a crawl?

Powered by a pair of silky-smooth Suzuki four-stroke 70-hp outboards, Twin Vee’s new 22’ went through rollers as if they simply weren’t there. I kept waiting for the jarring smash of a touch-down, but the twin semi-displacement hulls on this power catamaran trapped enough air between them to cushion the landing. Yet bowrise, sometimes a problem on small powercats, was minimal, and my inclinometer never went above three degrees. Another advantage of the Twin Vee was its straight and true tracking. Even in 5' seas, the boat kept a straight line. And with one engine tilted up, we still came onto plane.

Anglers will like the open cockpit, no clutter from things like jump seats or ski pylons, and the boat's forward casting deck. The offshore fishing package includes standards like a leaning post, livewell, T-tops, rawwater washdown, stainless-steel rails and rocket launchers. These outfit the boat for blue water, but fishing the flats is still possible because the Twin Vee draws just 10". the rolled-edge finish may not look as good as a fully linered boat, but it keeps cost down to $14,729. Just one other problem with that rolled-edge design: The gunwales aren't thick enough to mount rodholders. You'll have to get the optional rails, then put on railmount rodholders, or screw them into the inwales.

Bottom line? You won't find many boats this inexpensive that can handle such heavy seas. Even in five-footers, it took an editor screaming about deadlines (are those like flatlines?) to keep us from running for Walker's Cay. For more information, call 561/337-0633.

- Bill Lindsey 

Boating certified test results
Twin Vee
 
Test boat power: Twin 70-hp Suzuki four-stroke EFI outboards with 50 cid, 2.91" bore x 2.97" stroke,
swinging 13" x 17" props through 2.42:1 reductions.

Advertised fuel capacity 80 gallons. Range based on 90 percent of that figure. Performance measured with three persons aboard, ¾ fuel. Sound levels taken at helm, in dB-A.