Built to Thrill
- vol. 15 # 1
by Chip Fendt
Velocity’s 26 VR (Veloci-Raptor) is the company’s latest effort that simply proves to be stylish, fast and ready for action.
Steve Stepp, owner of Velocity Powerboats, has been the driving force behind the company for more than 35 years. Stepp and his boats have won numerous National and World Championships in the past three decades and his boating building experience is borne out well on all the models that roll out from the Velocity manufacturing facility in Sanford, FL.
Steve Stepp is a humble gentleman - that is until he starts to speak about his boats and their design heritage. Aerodynamics versus hydrodynamics infuses any conversation he has about his models. In fact, Stepp’s racing legacy and thirst for speed and comfort is evident everywhere in a Velocity.
In recent years, Stepp has become an avid fisherman and spends any free time he can get to on the water and drop a line with his wife Kim in the Florida Keys. This has given him the opportunity to fish inshore and offshore with the 26 VR and appreciate first hand what it takes to refine and manufacture a true fishing machine.
Just recently, Stepp brought a 26 VR powered by a 250 SHO Yamaha to the Sarasota 10th St. boat ramp for Poker Runs America to test. Its long, sleek red hull looked as if it was running 100 mph on the trailer. At first glance, while walking around the boat, I just knew it was built for speed and hardcore fishing. Twin Minn Kota TNT trim and trolling tabs hung off the back, while two Minn Kota Talon hydraulic anchors were mounted to the transom to hold the boat firmly in place when up on the flats. The engine was mounted to a Detwiler hydraulic jack plate for optimum trim ability.
While inspecting the deck, I made note that this boat was built to be a true fishing machine. The 26 VR’s several key items, including the two 25-gallon bait wells, one 45-gallon release well, a custom Velocity designed tackle center, a cooler with seat cushion, under-gunnel rod storage, an anchor locker, and dry storage compartments (all fitted with water-resistant rubber molding and stainless steel gas springs) simply reinforced my opinion that this platform was ready for action.
Open a rear hatch and everything is accessible for easy maintaince and service. The liner is self-bailing and the console is aerodynamic and functional. A waterproof fold-down compartment is built into the console that houses a stereo, VHF, 12V charger and a glove box. The dash is clean and well organized. A Garmin 4208 GPS chart plotter is mounted in the center and an appropriately marked switch panel for the pumps and lights is on the starboard side. What stood out were the drink holders. They are removable and can be placed anywhere Velocity installed the small mounts throughout the boat. Drink holders are big in my book and Steve made sure there are plenty of them.
While the 26 VR was still on the trailer, Stepp pointed out the full length, concave, chines that run the entire length of the hull. He incorporated the chines into the 22-degree deadrise to keep the boat dry in rough conditions. What’s more is the padded bottom and stepped transom allow the 26 VR to operate in shallow water and run at high speeds.
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