SeaKeeper Ride on C 24: Anyone done it yet?

[Edmund]

I think the hulls between the C24 and R-25 should be similar enough.

I emailed Seakeeper directly yesterday to see if they have any insight or advice based on the specs of the R-25 for choosing between the 450 or the next size up. Will update when/if I receive a response.

UPDATE: I opted for the 525...the middle size for a couple reasons: first is the general principle that it's "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it" - and with that, I'd always wonder if I shoulda gotten the middle size down the road. I had a significant discount offer, so I took the middle size. Secondly, the C24 like all Cuts has a very aggressive double step, meaning there will be times where the hull will want to fall off plane or fall to one side much more than a non stepped hull....and third, SKR told us there is no downside to being a tiny bit "too big" as opposed to a tiny bit too small. I will certainly report back when I get to test this bugger.

 

[brtnstrns]

UPDATE: I opted for the 525...the middle size for a couple reasons: first is the general principle that it's "better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it" - and with that, I'd always wonder if I shoulda gotten the middle size down the road. I had a significant discount offer, so I took the middle size. Secondly, the C24 like all Cuts has a very aggressive double step, meaning there will be times where the hull will want to fall off plane or fall to one side much more than a non stepped hull....and third, SKR told us there is no downside to being a tiny bit "too big" as opposed to a tiny bit too small. I will certainly report back when I get to test this bugger.

Yeah, Seakeeper got back to me this morning and said the 450 is rated well for the R-25, and "if there was room, the 525 would provide even greater performance."

Since I know @JMarshallR25 has already been living with it on the exact boat and the price difference is significant, I'd probably just go for the 450 myself if I get around to it.

Was your discount something special or just something you found online? I'd be aiming to do the install myself most likely.

I'll also be curious to see how your underwater lights and wire routing get handled once it's installed.

 

[JMarshallR25]

Yeah, Seakeeper got back to me this morning and said the 450 is rated well for the R-25, and "if there was room, the 525 would provide even greater performance."

Since I know @JMarshallR25 has already been living with it on the exact boat and the price difference is significant, I'd probably just go for the 450 myself if I get around to it.

Was your discount something special or just something you found online? I'd be aiming to do the install myself most likely.

I'll also be curious to see how your underwater lights and wire routing get handled once it's installed.

Before you commit to installing this yourself, I recommend you download the BILT app and virtually walk through the entire installation and commissioning process. It's involved and way outside of my comfort zone, though of course your skillset may be broader. If something went wrong, you would have nobody to look to for warranty support for the installation. Not sure if you were asking about my discounted install - it was just a dealer incentive. Personally, as an attorney and a firm believer in the power of warranties, I would have this installation done by a "certified dealer," which per the SKR website are dealers who "have completed our formal installation training program, maintain annual training, buy directly from us, and complete numerous verified installations each year."

 

[Edmund]

Yeah, Seakeeper got back to me this morning and said the 450 is rated well for the R-25, and "if there was room, the 525 would provide even greater performance."

Since I know @JMarshallR25 has already been living with it on the exact boat and the price difference is significant, I'd probably just go for the 450 myself if I get around to it.

Was your discount something special or just something you found online? I'd be aiming to do the install myself most likely.

I'll also be curious to see how your underwater lights and wire routing get handled once it's installed.

Even with the weight and length of both the R25 and the C24 being right on the cusp between the 450 and the 525 - I think I'd go for the 450 on a R25 ...but the steps on the Cut pushed me to go up a size for the C24. So we're going 525.

Regarding the discount: I've been following SKR for a long time, and the offer I got was an email promo - but FWIW it was one the dealer was not aware of...so whether it was "special" or not I don't know...but saved me a good bit. So I"ll take it.

 

[pbjellythyme]

Quick question: Now that you’ve installed the Seakeeper Ride, would you feel like you also could install the Zipwake for slower speeds?

I’m looking at the R25, but truly don’t think I’ll boat over 20mph. In that case, would zipwake be the better option?

 

[Edmund]

Quick question: Now that you’ve installed the Seakeeper Ride, would you feel like you also could install the Zipwake for slower speeds?

I’m looking at the R25, but truly don’t think I’ll boat over 20mph. In that case, would zipwake be the better option?

My SKR is not installed yet (in process) but I don't think you could (or would want to) add both. Not sure that Zips would work better 20 and under and not sure you would need either in that situation.

 

[JMarshallR25]

Quick question: Now that you’ve installed the Seakeeper Ride, would you feel like you also could install the Zipwake for slower speeds?

I’m looking at the R25, but truly don’t think I’ll boat over 20mph. In that case, would zipwake be the better option?

The SKR works from 10 mph up. You don’t need to be on plane.

 

[Edmund]

The SKR works from 10 mph up. You don’t need to be on plane.

In fact, it will help you get on plane and do so at lower speed to boot........like any good tab system.

 

[Jesperjo]

Quick question: Now that you’ve installed the Seakeeper Ride, would you feel like you also could install the Zipwake for slower speeds?

I’m looking at the R25, but truly don’t think I’ll boat over 20mph. In that case, would zipwake be the better option?

You may find it hard to keep the R-25/27 below 20 mph, at least on a stock boat. They don’t like going anywhere between about 10 and 22 or so. There is a portion of that mid range they can’t do at all and much of it they are just really squirrelly.

You can make them much more capable in that mid range with some upgrades. @Submariner has some great posts about custom props that give you back a lot of the mid range speed, a faster hole shot, but at the cost of some top end. It sounds like it might be a great option for you if you don’t like going 25-34, where the stock boat is happiest! I haven’t tried the Seakeeper Ride myself, but from what I read, that may help too.

If you really want to stay below 20 on a stock boat, the R29 is probably the better boat. It’s made to do that.

 

[Edmund]

You can make them much more capable in that mid range with some upgrades. @Submariner has some great posts about custom props that give you back a lot of the mid range speed, a faster hole shot, but at the cost of some top end.

Re propping is sometimes the over looked item that can be a big time improvement.

FWIW I recommend looking into re propping any C or R model. Sometimes I can't really understand the factory prop choice. I made my C24 a much better boat by re propping. And it doesn't necessarily involve one of the new high tech props (like Sharrow etc). Ken at PropGods (you can find online easy) is a great source of advice and props. For any boat....

Ken and I tried two props, and the second one improved my boat's performance at low, middle and top end ranges.....which is rare....