2001 Eliminator 36 Daytona
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Testers Notebook:
Eliminator 36 Daytona
Location: Lake Simcoe, Ontario, Canada
Test load: Safety gear, no water, no waste, half fuel. Driver only.
Test day conditions: Winds calm, 3-5 knots, waves calm.
Synopsis: With twin Mercury racing 500 HP EFIs and twin canopies, reliability and confidence are built into the Eliminator Daytona 36; the boat's handling really takes the edge off speeds well over 100mph
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By: Mark Rotharmel
When a performance boater invests hundreds of thousands of dollars to reach speeds over 100 mph, that boat better be safe.
Understanding this, and recognizing the popularity of factory offshore racing and poker runs, Eliminator Boats of Mira Loma, California, designed a gorgeous 36-foot twin-canopy catamaran. Capable of handling high speed comfortably, it puts you in a zone where few people travel.
Eliminator manufactures a full range of performance boats from V-bottom bowriders to offshore cats, but the company is best known for the Daytona series, launched in the mid-'70s by founder/president Bob Leach. The 36 Daytona caps the fleet of six very quick air-entrapment boats.
At 36 feet long with a beam of 9' 1", the 9,000-lb. Daytona flagship was based on a winning combination of speed and handling found in the 33-foot model, a boat that earned Eliminator the 1999 Factory 3 offshore championship. With a pair of Mercury Racing 900 SCs, the Eliminator 36 has been clocked at over 130 mph.
Somewhat tamer, our test boat had Mercury's reliable 500 HP EFIs, putting out 470 hp per side through Mercury Racing's new beefy XZ drives. Eliminator specs 350-cid V-8s as standard, but the 500 EFIs are more impressive, and more expensive. The test boat's suggested retail price is about a half-million dollars, but the Ontario dealer, Hot Knots, had it priced at $456,000. Without engines, the boat lists at $296,000.
Propped with 15 1/4" X 36" four-blade cleavers turning 5,300 rpm, the 36 made passes all day long over 106 mph. As wind picked up and the chop increased, one pass was recorded at 111 mph on GPS. The majority of runs maxed out at 107 mph. Very quick indeed.
The integrated acrylic F-16 half-canopies are protective and top speed can be taken for granted. Once up and running, the Daytona's tunnel traps air quickly, extracting speed with ease. Accelerating to plane in 6.82 seconds, the 36 pulls steadily, picking up 10 mph every three to four seconds until it reaches approximately 90 mph. After that, trim adjustments are critical in order to fly and balance the boat. At mid-range, the Eliminator charged from 40 mph to 70 mph - and again from 50 to 80 mph in just over 10 seconds.
Generally, cats perform best in choppy conditions where wave action helps keep the sponsons from sticking to smooth water. The 36 is no exception. A mild porpoise (sometimes referred as lope) occurred after 80 mph, but conditions were unusually quiet. Every so often I'd come across waves that would kick up the tail, and the sponsons would carry without touching down. When I backed off to 75 mph, the ride was absolutely flat.
Spanning the width of the tunnel is a trim flap about three feet deep. When raised or lowered, air is either packed or relieved depending on boat balance at different speeds. Synchronizing flap position while trimming the drives takes time, but once dialed in, the results are positive. Furthermore, steps in the sponsons and centre pod help ventilate these wetted surfaces.
As with all cats, caution is the operative word when turning. Having driven both the 25 and 33 Daytonas, I can attest to their cornering prowess. The 36 is more of a challenge. Below 50 mph, when the tunnel spills its air, the boat banks hard to the outside -- but at 70 mph, the experience greatly improves. Sweeping turns garnered good marks, and tight ones felt quite comfortable. That said, the 36 Daytona flaunts its stuff in a straight line - ideal for poker runs.
Distinctively styled, The 36 Daytona's lines are flat-out racy. For highly polished 'glass work and in-gel graphics, Eliminator sets the bar with a finish second to none. Built as tough as it looks, the 36 combines Kevlar, graphite, Balsa-core and top grade vinylester resin.
The cockpit has a clean, straightforward layout. Driver and co-pilot sit in high-backed buckets, with headrests that really work. Four passengers can fit snugly into the aft seats, complete with grab-straps. For added comfort, footrests and coaming pads hold you firm in turns and rough water.
As expected, the helm is highly functional, with fingertip-accessible switches and gauges/indicators placed for visibility. Powder-coated bezels encompass the instruments, colour-coordinated for a custom presentation. While somewhat unusual, our test boat had two steering wheels. At the flick of a valve lever located in the bilge, steering control transfers to the co-pilot, allowing the regular driver to concentrate only on throttling, especially handy for poker runs and factory class racing.
For an air-entrapment design, the 36 has a well-appointed cabin with decent headroom, a wide, deep V-berth and a comfortable lounge. Amenities are included, but only those appropriate for the sport.
The 36 Daytona does Eliminator proud, taking the edge off running over 100 mph. With built-in canopies, fighter-pilot seats and swept-back air scoops, this cat is no kitten.
Specs:
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Length: 36 ft. ( 10.97 m)
Beam: 9 ft. 1 in. ( 2.76 m)
Weight: 9,000 lb. ( 4.082 kg)
Fuel: 160 gal. (605 L)
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Test boat engines:
Twin Mercury Racing HP 500 EFI, 470-hp, 8.2 litre (502 cid)
V-8 gasoline engine, pushing four-blade 15 1/4'' X 36" cleaver propellers.
Acceleration: 0-40 mph: 12.77 sec.
0-60 mph: 21.24 sec.
0-80 mph: 28.01 sec.
Top speed (GPS): 107.0 mph / 5,300 rpm.
Cruising speeds (GPS): 61 mph / 3,500 rpm
70 mph /4,000 rpm
87 mph /4,500 rpm.
Speed testing by Garmin GPS
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For the dealer nearest you contact:
Team Hot Knots,
R.R#1 Forest Home Ind. Park,
Orillia, Ont. L3V 6H7
(705) 327-9741 Fax:(705) 327-7030
or
Eliminator Boats,
10795 San Sevaine, Mira Loma,
California, US.A. 91752
(909) 681-1222 Fax: (909) 685-4187
