Schiada V-drives

[YOLOMIC]

I am curious to talk with anybody who owns a 21ft Schiada River Cruiser. I absolutely love this boat but I have not had the opportunity to ride in one or drive one. I am curious as to how they drive, dock manners, ease of skiing, trailering and so forth. I have my eye on a used one down in California. Do they accelerate as hard? I need at least 95 or 100mph and I am going to go with a twin turbo or whipple charged motor so my wife has a sundeck! Thanks for your responses.

[superdave013]

I have a 20' Schiada. I wanted a 21 but found a good deal on this one. It even fits in my garage much better than the 21 would have. I owned to very nice flatbottoms before this boat. My last flat was blown, injected and ran 8.20 @ 128mph. I love my Schiada so much. It handles so well and just eats the chop. The 21' from what I hear is even better. As far as acceleration goes, I'm pretty jadded from my last boat. But this one is pretty good. Wait until it gets nice and sloppy out and then start picking on the jets. Dock manners, just about like a mid enegine ski boat. They don't steer real well in reveres but it's no big deal at all. I think it gets around the docks pretty well. Sundeck, I have an exposed engine but the non-skid deck is huge! Like an aircraft landing strip. My wife loves it. Speed, mine came with a twin turbo 461. It ran pretty good but i never GPSed it. It's getting a new 573 turbo deal now so it should be able to keep up with most of the Jones's. (hee hee)
All and all, if I hit the lotto I might (would) buy a big off-shore boat. But I would keep this one for my lake steed. Get it, you'll love it. The only down side is that it will cost twice as much as a nice 21' jet boat. Worth every penny!!

[Rivertoys_com]

SuperDave, I see you're in Anaheim and I assume you go to Mojave or Havasu. If not, where do you hang out (I'm in Fullerton and use Lake Mojave mainly)? I am looking for a 21' v-drive now, probably a Spectra or simular. I currently have an 18' jet. I really want a v-drive. My only concern is with beaching. We can pretty much run up on any beach. That won't be the case with the v-drive (I assume). Do you have any feedback re: beaching in our lakes and such?
thanks,
Jason.

[superdave013]

Right now I'm changing some things so the boat is scattered all over the floor. Um, beaching? I would not even beach a jet boat. That's just me. I see people beach their v-drives but you will never see me do it. To much stuff underneath it. A small price to pay for a great handling boat. I just toss out the ol anchor and keep her floating.

[spectras only]

Rivertoys,I have a 20.10 Spectra with jet,no problem beaching in the river where I boat,but my 24 footer with the V-drive is like an anchor to pull off the same spot,despite the fact the boat is much longer ,so it should keep the drive further into deeper water.It all depends on the river bottom,if it's steep no problem,if it's shallow the skeg,shaft,srut will touch the river bottom.As Superdave says the best is to anchor your boat and always have the engine shut off if you have to beach your boat.
[This message has been edited by spectras only (edited July 02, 2001).]

[Timer]

When I started boating in the late 70s/early 80s I never saw any boat pulled up on the beach. I was out of it for a number a years and when I recently got back in I was really shocked to see everyone beaching their boat. I figure even with a jet you're going to scratch up the bottom and probably get sand in the pump -- both having an effect on the ultimate speed of your craft. A v-drive would be totally taboo to beach! I probably couldn't even watch someone do it. http://free.***boat.net/ubb/redface.gif

[spectras only]

The only place I beach my jet is no problem,since the river floor is like mud ,not sand so it wouldn't scratch at all,the only way I would beach my boat on sand like yours in california,with an old life jacket under the keel.

[Rivertoys_com]

Thanks for the info. I said I beach anyplace but actually I'm rather picky about where I beach. I never have the engine on in shallow water. I have thought about the sand getting into the pump and I even reach under from time to time to see if I feel anything, esp before shove off. Make no mistake thought the bottom does suffer from beaching and I really should be doing it anyway.
There are too many pluses for me not get a v-drive. More top end on less fuel, gotta love that! If any of you guys know of a 21' v-drive for sale, let me know, jason@rivertoys.com thanks!

[Brewer]

I have a 19' Schiada and have never beached it. As said above, use that anchor and mooring lines, and watch out for inexperienced boaters who will want to "bounce" off the boat (like at the sand bars). The price of the hardware is just not worth it for a little convenience.

[EricU]

I have a 21' Schiada river cruiser, (going to be at Berryessa this weekend!). It's my first V-drive, used to run jets.
I am currently running a LS6 style 454, and I want to add a Whipple, intercooler and an EFI this winter, then next winter a 4.25" stroke crank. The boat tops out at about 65 now and this is a little slow for me. But this boat will blow away any of my old jets as soon as the chop starts! Another reason that I went with the Schiada is the quality of, well everything and the boat will handle all the horsepower that I will throw at it.
Eric.