Cheetah Length Measurement Observations

[properchopper]

Last April there was a NAMBA 2-Lap here at Legg Lake. I wanted to enter my personal Cheetah in the relatively new P-Catamaran class. Having been under the impression that the hull was longer than the 34" limit for National competition, I did some measuring, as adhering to NAMBA regulations are a MUST for National Record trials (and NAMBA requires measuring techniques to conform to General Relativity, Newtonian Gravity, the Scherzinger-Newton Equation,Special Relativity, Galilean Mechanics, Quantum Gravity and Mechanics, and the second derivative of the square of the sum of Justin Beiber's And Kanye West's I.Q.)

Here's what I discovered :

Using the "tape measure up & over the hips" measuring method :

cheetah yellow full length ruler.jpg

The length measurement exceeded 34"

cheetah yellow rear measurement.jpg

I really didn't want to file off that much to comply


BUT I tried a different measuring technique using a straight ruler :

cheetah full length metal ruler.jpg

Look what I discovered by not going up & over the "hips":

cheetah rear ruler.jpg

To be perfectly honest, I needed to make a quick call to my uncle Schlomo to take a very tiny bit off the tips but not enough to create a tear in the fabric of the Universe :

cheetah tip mod.jpg


The thing to remember is that the length limit for P-Class racing exists when a National points event is entered (or with anal Club CD's) otherwise most Clubs/CD's are likely aware that an extra teeny bit of length won't necessarily get you on the podium .

[Flying Scotsman]

Tony, your measurement by not going over the hips is true hull length and I stand by comments on a previous post, as far as some CD's are concerned on length issues

Douggie

[T.S.Davis]

CD's that get hung up on length issues likely have other length issues too.

To my knowledge Tony, your straight line tip to stern is the length per the rules.

[properchopper]

What's somewhat oddball about this whole Cheetah measurement conflict is that it's in some respect really a 32" wetted-surface hull with a big overhang

cheetah sponson length.jpg

[Fluid]

This is exactly how mine measures out.

[z400]

CD's that get hung up on length issues likely have other length issues too.

[lightningmcnulty]

the slack in the tip of the tape might make up some of that difference, see what happens when you hold the tape starting at 1 inch so you don't have the variable of the tape construction.

just would be interesting to see why the measurements are different.

[Jesse J]

the slack in the tip of the tape might make up some of that difference, see what happens when you hold the tape starting at 1 inch so you don't have the variable of the tape construction.

just would be interesting to see why the measurements are different.

Well then he would have to file off a whole inch!

[Fluid]

...just would be interesting to see why the measurements are different.

Many of us believe there are multiple mold designs. In addition to the length differences (reported from 34.0" to 34.25") there is the issue of the rear step. Some owners have to do considerable work to the rear step to keep the cat from plowing, while others have to do nothing. Just another example of inconsistent Chinese construction.



.

[properchopper]

I can understand the need, in National events and/or records competition, for compliance to the stated rules. That's not to say that I have a stand on their logic/intent - I'll leave that to my more learned brethren. I will say however that it would make sense, at least to me, to have a "fudge factor" which would allow a reasonably minor variance in the length category, if nowhere else. Because the actual wetted length of hulls can substantially differ by varying deadrises and overhangs, the LOA measurement doesn't seem to be the critical factor anyway. I'd be in favor of something like a +/- 1% fudge factor
written in the class length limits ( but I'd rather teach my English Bulldog Spike how to play the accordion while tap-dancing to the Macarena than getting involved in any part of rule-changing)

[Doby]

I can understand the need, in National events and/or records competition, for compliance to the stated rules. That's not to say that I have a stand on their logic/intent - I'll leave that to my more learned brethren. I will say however that it would make sense, at least to me, to have a "fudge factor" which would allow a reasonably minor variance in the length category, if nowhere else. Because the actual wetted length of hulls can substantially differ by varying deadrises and overhangs, the LOA measurement doesn't seem to be the critical factor anyway. I'd be in favor of something like a +/- 1% fudge factor
written in the class length limits ( but I'd rather teach my English Bulldog Spike how to play the accordion while tap-dancing to the Macarena than getting involved in any part of rule-changing)

....

[rayzerdesigns]

would be nice if we actually had a p catclass here on west coast

[properchopper]

would be nice if we actually had a p catclass here on west coast

I agree. But you know how tricky it's been to populate the existing classes so far. Problem is that D19 FE ranks expand and contract in size like my large intestine after a burrito cleanse. D19 FE is losing (or has lost) by the end of this year Tyler, Jim J., "English" Stephen , Jesse, and recently "Vegas" Mark F. I've been trying for years to get anyone with a pulse to rig & race FE Jersey Skiffs but most seem allergic to simultaneously driving and smiling

I'm all in for P-Cat ovals - Have Cheetah, Will Race

DSC07036.JPG

[Doby]

Why are you "losing" so many people?

[properchopper]

Why are you "losing" so many people?

check inbox