Rant

[siberianhusky]

This is just a question as it doesn't really concern me, but why were classes divided by voltage and not motor size? Always wondered that, is it a hold over from the round battery days? Or just that technology has moved quicker than the rules can keep up?

[LuckyDuc]

Getting a new class started with unique rules, or lack thereof, in most clubs is quite easy.

If you can get 2 other racers (5 in some clubs) to agree upon the class, rules, and build boats to match, then present the idea to your club at the next meeting. Chances are that you will be able to run that class as long as the minimum number of boats show up on race day. If the class grows in popularity you have a winner, if not, at least you tried. Getting a new class and rule set to catch on at a national level takes time and a track record of growing popularity in multiple districts. "Proof of concept" as it were.

[lackabucks1]

Electric - looks good to me, but I would have small mono for under 30" with 5000 mah 40c limit, no restriction on motor or esc. I should add that in our area many ic people look on electric with sustain if not outright hostility. My RC flying club was the same way, but after 10 years of electric advances, at regular flying sessions the majority will have at least one electric in their stable and even the old-timers admit that electric is saving the sport as we now have pilots all the way down to 10 years old. Since you can get a complete system for under $100, nearly everybody can afford it and the enthusiasm in this area is growing rapidly. In this area we now have three indoor flying areas that operate weekly and in our town have expanded to two sessions a week. Our electric boating group has expanded, runs at least once and often twice a week (when the water is in a liquid state) and this fall was invited to run a FE demonstration for a community festival. I expect our group of to expand this coming season. By the way, AMA in Muncie has acquired large RC boat pond.

[lackabucks1]

Disdain not sustain. Sorry. My keyboard keeps automatically changing words to what it thinks it should be.

[lackabucks1]

Siberianhusky - its almost impossible to regulate motors unless you specify brand and model. A given size can have many outputs so you would also still have to specify battery voltage and capacity. Relatively few dinosaurs use round battery chemistry for rc applications, because lithium batteries have advanced so rapidly and the price has fallen kike a rock.

[Doug Smock]

Siberianhusky - its almost impossible to regulate motors unless you specify brand and model.

That is correct, and even with that there are still some issues, but I'll leave that alone.

If you are really interested in how we got where we are there are a bunch of discussions on the subject here. http://www.rumrunnerracing.com/feforums/
Pop the top on your beverage of choice and do a search on rules.

[lackabucks1]

Doug - as one who has served as an officer and official in everything from youth soccer to church to model railroad and rc clubs, let me say that all who volunteer for positions in nearly any organization should receive medals. In return for listening to grumblers like me, you get to spend your own money, untold amounts of time away from home, family and the hobby you love. Hope you know I am not after the club or national officials. I just started this thread because I was interested in why the rules are so complicated. Never expected it would stir up so much response. Thanks to all who responded to my rant in thoughtful and reasoned ways. It just reinforces my belief that regardless of our differences, RCers, regardless of their choice of vehicle are the greatest.

[siberianhusky]

Thanks but hum, no! Read some of that stuff already! Even though I don't really race all my stuff is built to class rules, figure they'll be easier to sell when I want something different. Only reason I have some familiarity with the rules as they sit.

[carlcisneros]

Keith, we here in Dist. 12 (IMPBA) do have 3 Open classes for racing purposes.
Open Offshore (Gas, Nitro, FE), Open Nitro/FE Mono and Open Nitro/FE Hydro. (keeps the nitro guys alive and racing)
We also have B/P mono, B/P spec Hydro,B/P spec Tunnel as well. (B class boats being 3.5cc Nitro powered)
We have a ball doing it during the season and the FE boats give the IC guys fits.

you should set a boat up for racing Keith, OTHER THAN the Daytona Style Cats.

[kevinpratt823]

Is there even any racing in the Boston area that anybody knows of? I would love to have a set of rules to bitch about.

[LuckyDuc]

Try checking here: https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=U...cbbbf9d702522d

[Doug Smock]

Doug - as one who has served as an officer and official in everything from youth soccer to church to model railroad and rc clubs, let me say that all who volunteer for positions in nearly any organization should receive medals. In return for listening to grumblers like me, you get to spend your own money, untold amounts of time away from home, family and the hobby you love. Hope you know I am not after the club or national officials. I just started this thread because I was interested in why the rules are so complicated.

Eric, I agree with you 100%! You get it!!
I do hope you decide to get involved at some level. Once you get started it's easy, these guys will guide you all the way.
Testing, tuning, helping people, all the smack talk on and off of the drivers stand. There are some great folks racing these toy boats! I love it, I think you would too.
Whatever you decide to do, good luck and have Happy New Year!
D.

[egneg]

Keith, we here in Dist. 12 (IMPBA) do have 3 Open classes for racing purposes.
Open Offshore (Gas, Nitro, FE), Open Nitro/FE Mono and Open Nitro/FE Hydro. (keeps the nitro guys alive and racing)
We also have B/P mono, B/P spec Hydro,B/P spec Tunnel as well. (B class boats being 3.5cc Nitro powered)
We have a ball doing it during the season and the FE boats give the IC guys fits.

you should set a boat up for racing Keith, OTHER THAN the Daytona Style Cats.

I would love to get back into racing! I started in 2010 and did ok running FE but then ODMBA lost the use of their lake. I have been building boats to IMPBA regs waiting for things to get sorted out. I now have 4 boats ready and a couple more being built. I keep my IMPBA membership current just in case.

[JohnZ]

I realize both sanctioning bodies have slightly different specs for each boat hull, motor , battery, so does that mean when a person buys and sets up a new boat they have to set up the boat according to whichever organization proscribes which would probably differ from that of the other and what would qualify a boat for one class might not make it in the other one. Or, are they running classes so close that one might not need to make changes in their boat?
Not being a member of any boat club, as where I live, Northern Michigan, those few boaters are few and far between sometimes as much as 45-50 miles. Besides there doesn't appear to be any interest in starting a club and joining either of the two sanctioning bodies.
With as many lakes and rivers we have here in Michigan one would think there would be more interest in model boating.....

[T.S.Davis]

John, if you're in Michigan build to the NAMBA rules. At least that way if you get a wild hair for racing you can come play with us. We're not very Mid Michigan as our name claims but at least we're IN Michigan. The rules aren't really that different. One rule set was based on the other and was.....expanded/subtracted/improved (subject to debate haha). IMPBA has never adopted any "limited spec" classes because they can't agree on allowing open speedos or not. They also have a US1 section in the book for FE but there isn't an electric nationals at which to pursue it. That US1 thing was something the former FE chair wanted and wrote in. I remember talking about it with him in 2008...ish. We may have consumed an adult beverage or 7 before that conversation though.

Eric, come play with us some time. We have a couple guys from OH that come up and play with us a few times per summer. We also have the Michigan Cup coming in late June. 3 days of glorious nonsense. Gauranteed to be a hoot.

On the motor size/class designation thing......it wont work. Take a Proboat 1500 motor. If that were THE legal motor............it's a 4s motor but you "could" throw 6s at it with the right prop and get stupid fast. The life span will be low but if you're bent on winning the motors are cheap. Limiting the spec classes to a list of motors and a voltage we get realitively close racing. Within reason. The fast guys will still squeeze every last drip of speed from a given setup. Then we have psychotic classes for those what need em (that would be me).

Being involved in either organization on a national level is a double edged sword. You feel good because you're helping move the hobby forward but you hate taking a beating for things you know you're not even capable of. The things people have said to me or about me on open forums at some points made me change my focus back to my own back yard. Rules discussion were the worst. Who knows though, the internet was young, maybe we all learned something from the evolution of both orgs.