First race tips.

[Mtwinste]

I'm going to race open class in my hometown race IMPBA in Huntsville AL I have an IMPULSE 31. I'm running on 6s and have many different prop options and been playing with the boat since 2012.

I've done a lot of RC car races but never a boat race. Any tips for me on this?

[Doug Smock]

This is assuming you'll be racing in open mono.

You will be racing against 45 to 55" F and LSG36 monos 45 to 55" boats. Speed will not be an issue as you will not be able to keep the boat on the pond. You don't have enough boat. Having said, that you have to decide if you want to keep it on the buoys and try to stay out of trouble. Or stay wide, (water will incredibly rough) and try to stay out of trouble.
I wouldn't enter it personally, especially it being your first race.
Have you been to a boat race as a spectator?

[Fluid]

As Doug states, you are outclassed by the much larger boats. But there is a strategy which gives you an opportunity for a podium finish. Don't race! I do not mean don't run your boat, just concentrate on finishing each heat, no matter what the other boats are doing. This means running on the sloppy water in lane ten and seldom using full throttle.

Using an experienced codriver/pitman can help you a lot. I pitted for a friend a few years ago who had a boat which was slower than the others in his class, so I coached him to slow down in rough water, avoid the dead boats, and drive to finish. Because there was a lot of attrition in that class each heat, he finished all five heats and actually won first place points. This won't happen too often, but IMO is your best strategy for your first race. There is a risk running with the larger boats, but if you decide to go for it, good luck!


.

[Tails Up]

Do it and have fun. And like said,sometimes you have to slow down to go fast.

[Mtwinste]

Dang I didn't know those monos would be so long! Well I have time to build one up to run there lol. Can anyone recommend me a mono to run in that open mono class ?

[Fluid]

Hard to beat a Herzog Hurricane hull, been winning in gas racing for years and has a good hatch for sealing. Runs great as an FE, we have several in the club and they can be race winners against the gas boats - if you can drive. Redline Performance carries the Hurricane, maybe others too. A deep vee works better in rough water versus the flatter DeltaForce hulls.

Oops, I just found out that Redline motors is no longer in business! The following store sells them. Sorry for the bad reference.

http://rc-hobbies.com/spring/

.