I just got some initial test news from **** Loeb and Donnie Padgent (spelling*)...**** Tyndall and Kentley Porter's brother in law Keith Thompson were also out there. Keith apparently got video of the 3-4 runs (I am guessing 4 as they tested 4 different props) and says he will try and upload that asap.
Conditions, 20mph wind, rough water
Boat ran with a mild 29.5 mod motor. **** said he could run the boat dead into the wind wide open, turn in the rough water wide open with no issues, hold the bouys with no issues. He said this motor had the boat in the upper 60's, but also said Donnie was handing him a brand new "badazz" fully modded 29.5 to put in it as the hull wants more apparently! He tried 4 different props and could see the hull react to each prop change, which he said is a good thing. He also stated that the sponsons had not even been scuffed yet, and there were even some clearcoat bumps here and there. He wanted to test it just as any possible builder might run the boat in its worse condition. He summed it up with he could have thrown the boat in today and raced it just as the initial setup was. Pretty good news! **** Loeb said he would post something later, and I suspect **** Tyndall might add something as well!
Oh, per my conversation with **** Loeb on Saturday, the final weight of the boat, ready to run is 16.5lbs, and that the "natural" CoG was right around 1.5" behind the sponson heal with no lead added to get it to that point.