I'm more than a little interested in this weight debate. I'm on the books for a tow vehicle which can handle, reportedly, about 7500 lbs. If my 26 Venture, with headliner (dry, no mold), twin 90s, fuel, water, ground tackle, electronics, pots 'n pans, and 23 cases of New Zealand sauvignon blanc, I'm figuring less than 7000 lbs. Kidding about the 23 cases - make that 2 cases max. If, in deed, the goliath tops the scale at 9000 lbs, I'm in for a 3/4 ton diesel truck which my wife will hate, so she says.
About this "V" on the Venture series. Coming off a 28' 24 degree deep "V" w/twin 502 cu in MPI magnums, I can tell you these hulls are wave busters and they can take more than the occupants. There are more than a few broken bones to support this statement. I found taking 3' - 4' seas quartering or straight on at 45 - 60 mph was significantly more comfortable than going 30 mph. This is called "Getting on top" where the boat and props just hit the wave tops without the up and down of riding up a swell and then descending in a trough with the resultant slamming. This is where the true deep "V" shines, on top.
I realize a Venture C-Dory, being more "V'd" than the Classic series, is not apples-to-apples comparison. A C-Dory is not an "on top" boat. How much more "comfortable" in a chop will the 26 Venture be, with it's slight "V" modification, compared to the 25 Classic? Leave this one up to those who test boats or your imagination. Two to four degrees "V'd" aft and more forward may be appropriate for a 25 mph boat, or less in any significant sea, but at these speeds, the aforementioned deep "V' would not be on plane yet. To plane a true deep "V", it takes a lot (read a lot) more HP/weight ratio than found in any C-Dory.
The good news is construction of my 26 Venture starts Monday, Nov 4. Ron agreed to send occasional photos which saves me gobs of driving.
Aye.