My toy: Hydrolift Sportcat 22 - Merc 300 XS - Page 2

Frenchbruno · 07-08-2013, 08:23 PM

Please correct Aeneas name on Boat mad is Chopper.
http://boatmad.com/forum/member.php?u=4963

god afton

chopper · 07-08-2013, 10:36 PM

God afton Bruno,

Nice SportCat!

All I know about these boats and possibly more is already in this thread but this weekend I went boating with somebody who knows a whole lot more - Hans H... He raced Hydrolift boats and later imported them to Sweden. Also developed RIB's of the 17ft and 20ft monohulls and set a UIM World Speed Record with 'lakritsbåten' - a RIB Unlimited prototype powered by a Merc 225. He also developed the Ribcat powered by a Lamborghini V-12.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_itXpzsVuQ

Send me a PM and I will try to put you in touch with Hans.

WargtaSS · 08-08-2013, 10:15 AM

Thanks guys, I've already done alot of research and read about everything there is to read on norwegian, swedish, danish, english and american forums before I bought it so I am more interested in the history and pictures of this particular boat and Norcat boats if anyone has something to share.

Unfortunatly the old site www.norcat.no which also had an alias www.sportcat.no was shut down and removed before I was able to download any images or read all the info about their boats so if anyone have something saved from that old site I would be grateful. I saw this boat was on the frontpage there as I quickly looked at it a couple of times but didnt expect them to shut it down briefly after that...

Recently the www.sportcat.no site has come up again, but that is just an enthusiast/owner of a Sportcat with some info on his boat and the same history as www.hydroline.se

I am also in touch with Markus and Brian Kjær at S&F about this boat and have gotten some nice tips about Sportcats.
Brian is the one recommending me props among other things as he had the same setup boat/motor a few years ago and tested alot of different props on his boat.

Improvements and suggestions on how to make it better/get the most out of it are also welcome.

Adding a rubber mat at the transom/tunnel is something I would like to hear more about.

Maybe that old racer got some hints for me but I think I will get a little more seat time first before I contact him

Frenchbruno · 08-08-2013, 12:26 PM

I've a big batch of SC22 pictures, videos, even a few pages from the old site.
For the rubber adding at the transom to increase air compression on this hull,chech the added pictures , Chopper told me the boat was bougth by his friend , then sold to Danemark a few yers later. I'm pretty sure chopper will be able to tell you the story of this boat and the effect of the rubber compression flap.
I think it's a good impovement when you use heavy engine like 300XS instead of the light 2.5 EFI...

WargtaSS · 08-08-2013, 01:00 PM

Is this the boat imported from Denmark by the swede Claes E. which had a 2.5 on it and then was sold to Johan H. from Sweden who put a 300XS on it?

And is this boat now back in Denmark?

chopper · 08-08-2013, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WargtaSS

Is this the boat imported from Denmark by the swede Claes E. which had a 2.5 on it and then was sold to Johan H. from Sweden who put a 300XS on it?

And is this boat now back in Denmark?

Yes, it sure looks like Brian K's boat...

WargtaSS · 11-08-2013, 08:07 PM

Are there any disadvantages using the rubber flap? The water might hook in it if its rough perhaps, and also when going slow? What is the obvious gain, floating better, more top speed or both?

b.kjær · 12-08-2013, 11:27 AM

it is mine old boat, i sold it back to a swede named Mark, and he sold it to another swede after a year.lol!!!

maybe it is time to get it back to Denmark:

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopper

Yes, it sure looks like Brian K's boat...

WargtaSS · 12-08-2013, 11:38 AM

Hey Brian, nice boat you had, but the new one aint so bad either

Are the pics with the 300XS from when you had it, or the latest swede?

b.kjær · 12-08-2013, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WargtaSS

Hey Brian, nice boat you had, but the new one aint so bad either

Are the pics with the 300XS from when you had it, or the latest swede?

It is from when i have it

still no worries · 14-08-2013, 11:52 AM

what is the difference between the 2.5 efi and the 300xs on this boat ?
thanks

chopper · 14-08-2013, 04:31 PM

A ride in a Hydrolift SportCat-22 (texts in Swedish).

WargtaSS · 16-08-2013, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by still no worries

what is the difference between the 2.5 efi and the 300xs on this boat ?
thanks

You thinking weight/performance/handling?

Im guessing 50-60kg more on the XS, performance better with XS but maybe a little worse handling/steering with XS as its a bit heavier and also more volume.

I havent tried a 2.5 though so maybe someone else which has can tell us.

There is a sportcat nr. 22 with an XR2 and trailer for sale now in Norway, price would be around 21'£

http://www.finn.no/finn/boat/used/ob...nkode=43276171

SportCat · 16-08-2013, 08:44 AM

81 knots with a stock Bravo one 28" prop.
Merc 2,5 EFI and the white/blue in pic above.

Claes E.

WargtaSS · 21-08-2013, 09:36 AM

Hi there Claes, can you maybe also tell about your experience with the rubber mat?

Did you try it without as well? Much difference?
Thinking about adding one myself

HT20 · 22-12-2013, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WargtaSS

Wow nice! Cool pictures! Yes that is my boat

Thanks! You have more of it?

I know there were some pics on the old sportcat.no site but it was removed before I got to download them...

The story goes that Jahn Andreassen (the owner?) of the company Norcat built this boat for himself, and he was also tired of regular white boats so he put some colors on this one.
The deck was also the lightest they ever made around, around 90kg I think.

I am not sure if he ever used it/drove it before it was sold to a guy in Oslo, or if theese last pics with the motor on is from this new owner in Oslo.
I know the Oslo guy had a 300XS on it at least.

Then this guy and his father took it out for a test and they flipped the boat in 35-40 knots because the steering suddenly broke (!) The boat got some light damage on the deck left side near the transom and the guy was scared and sold everything off, motor separate.

Then this other guy which I bought the boat from buys it in 2009 I think and has it repaired and changes all the electrical system and gauges etc and puts on an old Merc Black Max. After some years this motor goes on fire (!) and he sells me the boat in august 2012. Boat was not damaged from the fire, they were close to the docks when this happend and put out the fire relatively fast.

So there seems to be some bad luck following this boat, but I hope it has ended now hehe

I then searched for a 300XS nearly 6 months before I finally found one and bought it and could put it on the boat juni/july this year

Still in test phase, but I already love this boat and the potential it has.

Gonna sell my 2 Bravo's I think and go for maybe both a 28 and 30 PRO ET lab finish, or maybe even a Performance Propeller Drag 4 (which is very similar). I hear from a guy that is also a member on this forum that the labbed 28p PRO ET suits this boat very nicely, and he has tried out a bunch so no point for me to re-invent the wheel.
He made over 80 knots with that prop, so I am thinking I can maybe use a 30 to get 90 knots

So first priority is a labbed pro et and I know the labbed version gives less bowlift than the pro finish. I got more than enough bow lift already so that will probably work out nice.
But I was thinking if I could not find a labbed one fast I COULD try out a non-labbed if anyone had one cheap untill I get the labbed I want.
I bet they are better than the Bravo's I got today at least

Hi.

Nice to see this boat brought back to life again, I spent some time att Jahn`s place during the time he built this boat since I was rebuilding my own Hydrolift T20 att the time.
I bought all my materials from Jahn during this period, and when on a couple of trips out to his place to collect some divinicell and fibreglass, I got to see the boat in different stages of the build.
And I can say he took his time and did this boat proper, also it is not a hand-layup-it is built using vacumbagging with proper materials to be light and strong.
As you said, this was going to be Jahn`s personal boat, witch he was going to use in advertising the NorCat`s that he made.
And that is probably what made it through the accident where the boat flipped, I remember that was a frustrating time when hearing about that.

Also, I live in the area, So I watched the boat when it got the old merc on it and was runned with that engine, the boat looked really bad during that period with alot of gelcoat-cracks along the sides etc, looked really rough..That was a sad sight as I hade seen the boat during the build and seeing that no expence was spared during this build, and then turning into a boat that looked really rough.
I also was nearbuy when the engine caught fire, think I maybe have some photos somewere also..

Anyways, it`s nice to see that the boat is in good hands again!
Take care of it, I miss mine alot...

Renegade · 22-12-2013, 12:13 PM

One of my favourite all time boats.

WargtaSS · 01-01-2014, 10:27 PM

Hi there HT20!

I have read about your overhaul on your T20 over at the S&F forum, it turned out to be a really nice boat!

I also saw your ad back on Finn.no when you sold it, I was tempted to buy it but already had a Gilbert 21 project and was determined to go with a cat instead, so I later found this Sportcat advertized

Anyways, a real fine example of the T20, hope it gets well taken care of.

And you are right, there are still some gelcoat cracks on the sides which I havent gotten to do anything about (yet), but the hull itself seems all solid and in excellent condition from the inside. I spent a couple of hours crawling in under there with a light and taking pictures before I bought it to be sure the structure/materials was not harmed in any way or any sign of delamination.

That was the important thing as I can always paint the boat later and make it look better on the outside. Also got a nice deal on it I think as to what it was advertized for.

Do you know excactly which materials it is built with and how, or do you perhaps have some contact-info to Jahn so I can ask him as well some day?
I also need the color codes so I hope he still remembers something about this build.

I would really like to get the full history on this boat from the mould and forwards so if you have anything more to tell or pics you are very welcome to post it here

Also, as he made this boat for himself, did he ever use it or did he sell it right away? And the 300xs it had at first, was that something he put on or the new owner (if you know).

And to end with a little general update, got a Promax 28p labbed prop from the states which will be tried out at first opportunity! Probably late may or something, will be interesting....

Cheers, Kent

HT20 · 03-01-2014, 11:24 PM

Hi again.

He never got to use the boat as his own after it was done, I think he had to much money invested in the Norcat-production and was forced to sell it because the lack of sales with the boats.
He made two boats, the one you have and a white one, witch he offered to sell to me during that time.
Unfortunally I did not have the founds to buy it.

It is a shame really since the boats he built were really well built, and that is probably why yours survived the crash.
I also think he rigged the entire boat with all the equipment and the XS 300 and did all the testing and so fourth.

He also had a CR23 with a mod VP on at the time that he spent his time on, also a cool boat.

Your Sportcat is buildt with Dyvinycell H80 in the stringers and H250 in the transom.
Deck is laminted with Dyvinicell H80, perforated and cut squared to follow along the deck-profile.
All of the cloth/fibreglass is either 600gr or 900gr biaxial/triaxial sown cloth, not rowing.
Alot of the materials he used was the same as I used in my T20.

From what I know he still works at the same place where he used to, building Goldfish hulls.

As for the color of the gelcoat, he might remember...

I PM`ed you the number he is registrated on now, give him a call-he is a really nice guy.

WargtaSS · 04-01-2014, 10:51 AM

Thanks for the info, will give him a call one day !

So he only had 2 made, interesting...

Do you by any chance know the weight of theese boats?
I suspect the bare hull might be a little lighter than the original sportcats.

I also think whoever took over the moulds after Jahn started a little production as I saw a white one for sale this autumn, made of carbon fibre I think(!)
It was dated prior to when Jahn did his production.