Limited spec mono

[Steven Vaccaro]

I would say keep the stepped hulls out. Steps are tough to run and will scare off people that don't have the ability to tune.

I would also like to see a spec boat keep up with my n2 mono. If thats the case, I hope you dont mind when I ask guys to run my n2 in your spec class :-)

[D. Newland]

You are right, and they are actually legal to run in Hydro, too, but I don't agree with what you are saying. There are many non-stepped monos to choose from. If you (or anyone else) is dead-set on running a stepped mono, you/they have a place to run...in offshore classes. Hydro, too, but that would be crazy.

And, clubs are free to do what they want. The rules are really for National and NAMBA sanctioned racing events.

[T.S.Davis]

I guess I missed that. I didn't pick up on the fact it included monos. Thanks for the info.

That's pretty much a European thing. IMPBA and NAMBA both are like that. It's been that way since the sawn of man. Likelyhood of changing that is next to nil.

I want a rule dissallowing self righting hulls from all classes. Evil little bastards. Ingenious, conveniant, useful boats......just not for racing.

[LuckyDuc]

I want a rule dissallowing self righting hulls from all classes. Evil little bastards. Ingenious, conveniant, useful boats......just not for racing.

LOL!

[Steven Vaccaro]

That's pretty much a European thing. IMPBA and NAMBA both are like that. It's been that way since the sawn of man. Likelyhood of changing that is next to nil.

I want a rule dissallowing self righting hulls from all classes. Evil little bastards. Ingenious, conveniant, useful boats......just not for racing.

Basically there is one or should I say an implied one. At each of the last two races I've been to they set a very short time limit on them. Basically making them void.

[properchopper]

I'm tentatively thinking of my T-29 for LSM, but Terry, now you got me wondering what that "too much wetted surface through a turn" thing's all about. Thanks for planting that thought, Bro ! Gotta test at the lake now to scratch that itch....

Today I'm also going to test out a Mean Machine I threw together for P-Ltd Offshore just to try something different... If it can make that (almost) U-turn at the far pin I might give it a try. It should be faster than the Cybers on the straights, but can it survive the slop on lap 12+ ?? Hmmm....

Top Secret Dep't : I'm working with to bring in which just might be the ticket for LSM Stay tuned....

[RandyatBBY]

Cool idea great to get the use of old boats and need for new ones. Sounds like the OM26 or the OM29 will be the ticket

[properchopper]

Cool idea great to get the use of old boats and need for new ones. Sounds like the OM26 or the OM29 will be the ticket

Newland's and Proulx's OM 29's were always just about impossible to beat.

[T.S.Davis]

Newland's OM has about a 10000 laps on it. That thing is fast. Randy's OM26 might be the perfect boat for the class. I'm still not sure where the line will be betwixt fast and stable.

Tony, don't get me wrong. The T29 is an awesome boat. Especially in offshore after the chop kicks up. Stable, goes right where you point it, reliable. Watch one through the turns though. You need 10 laps of offshore slop to keep those going fast.

[properchopper]

Newland's OM has about a 10000 laps on it. That thing is fast. Randy's OM26 might be the perfect boat for the class. I'm still not sure where the line will be betwixt fast and stable.

Tony, don't get me wrong. The T29 is an awesome boat. Especially in offshore after the chop kicks up. Stable, goes right where you point it, reliable. Watch one through the turns though. You need 10 laps of offshore slop to keep those going fast.

I ran my T29 last year in AZ. Made 5 out of 6 heats. Thought at 29" it would be faster than the 32" Cybers. It wasn't. More hmmm...

[T.S.Davis]

Goes like stink in the straight and then lumbers through the turn. Going straight you're packing air on both sides of the vee. Through the turn your laying on half of what used to be carrying the boat. My perception at least. Maybe it just looks that way.

[properchopper]

Off to the lake. Stay Tuned.

[D. Newland]

Basically there is one or should I say an implied one. At each of the last two races I've been to they set a very short time limit on them. Basically making them void.

I'll take the responsibility/blame for this, and would like to discuss it a bit further because it's coming up frequently as more are hitting the water. Self-righting boats have many advantages, but in National or Sanctioned racing, I have legitimate concerns that I have seen/heard personally on the drivers stand.

This isn't opinion.

1) It's confusing to the other racers on the drivers stand. It is inevitable for the driver or his pitman of a SRB (self-righting boat) to say, "it will flip over!....wait for it!" It's heard by other drivers...then they panic about where the dead boat is...or isn't. And, this can happen multiple times in 1 heat.

2) SRB's require an unfair amount of the CD's time. "Dead boat at turn 1...wait....no, it's going again. Dead boat again at turn 2...no, wait, it's going again". See #1 above as the CD is speaking this into the microphone. And, again, I'm not making this up. It has happened multiple times in heat racing.

3) Unfair advantage to the other racers. Yes-properly designed SRB's are a better mousetrap, but items 1 and 2 have to be taken into consideration as well when racing.

4) Now this is my opinion, but SRB's to not fit the "spirit" of the Offshore rules. Real offshore boats aren't self-righting.

In effort to make sanctioned/national racing fair to all racers and to make sure the CD's time isn't disproportionally spent on any one type of boat, I made some pretty strong recommendations to the CD's at recent National races. Now, I do want to be inclusive as possible and recommend allowing SRB's to race, but the SRB drivers have to be aware, actually overly aware of what I said above and race their boats as if there is no self-righting ability. In fact, disable the feature if possible. Call themselves dead if their boat is righted by its self-righting design and leave the boat on the race course until the heat is finished. Do not hog the CDs time or create confusion to other drivers.

If they don't, the alternative won't be as inclusive come race day. I would really like to avoid this, if possible.

[T.S.Davis]

I don't want to see them sprint either. That may be just me though. It's the ability to drive them at the edge of sanity and beyond that rubs me wrong.

I have a P mono that's absolutely stupid fast. If it would self right it would be a winner. Since it wont I'll have to make it more reasonable to continue racing it. I have to finish to be a contender. Take away that reality and I'll make something di-OH-bolically fast.

[RandyatBBY]

I have thought it for a while and there should be a class for them to be allowed, but not in every class. Just like true scale, good to have some but not all.