25 replies to this topic

[Bob Riebe]

I happened to catch some boat racing this morning.

 

I see the top fuel drag boats also run one thousand feet now.

 

Boat design is fascinating.

 

In the nineties I would catch a couple of boat races, different formats, a couple times a year, it has been at least ten years now since I saw even a local one.

 

Interesting to watch. I may have to try to catch one live one day.

 

What engines are they running now, doe anyone know?

I know that the Arias Hemi was popular there but that was quite some time back.

 

Now they also have a Pro-Mod class, from what I could see they are not all Hemis.

[bigleagueslider]

Almost every form of power boat racing seems rather scary to me. Whether it's drag boats, F1 powerboats or unlimited hydros.

[mariner]

The fact that F16 cockpit canopies were popular on the unlmited race boats may be a clue as to the overall safety risk?

[bigleagueslider]

I don't think unlimited hydro race boats really needed the same canopy used on supersonic fighter aircraft like the F-16 or F-18. The canopies used on fighter aircraft like the F-16 are very thick (1/2") stretch-formed lexan, and they are primarily designed to survive bird-strikes at mach 1+ speeds. What makes high-speed boat racing so scary is the unpredictable nature of the racing circuit.

[MatsNorway]

Absolute madness. I will not complain about the distance there. And they accelerate just as hard too i believe?

[saudoso]

I don't think unlimited hydro race boats really needed the same canopy used on supersonic fighter aircraft like the F-16 or F-18. The canopies used on fighter aircraft like the F-16 are very thick (1/2") stretch-formed lexan, and they are primarily designed to survive bird-strikes at mach 1+ speeds. What makes high-speed boat racing so scary is the unpredictable nature of the racing circuit.

Don't forget the medium density. From 1.2kg/m3 to 1t/m3 if the toy flips... You don't want the canopy to fail just then, right?

[MatsNorway]

Birds do not carry alot of mass or density with their hollow bones. The water got the mass and the surface area. Im sure those things even being that thick still would fail if they hit the water in a worst case scenario.

Edited by MatsNorway, 04 August 2015 - 18:47.

[Bob Riebe]

As the Drag boats are hitting over 260 mph, I do not think over-kill on canopy thickness would be a bad idea.

 

The fastest competition lap record by hydroplanes was 173 mph so they need all they have.

[ray b]

there are lots of classes

fuel ak gas then size if supercharged ect

 

I am sure the lower classes run non-hemi's just as a cost thing

 

my boat a racesoncraft had a hemi 426 with a blower

ran alcohol class claimed 150 mph with 1500hp

 

things like the insane hemi cuda price bubble in about 05

made the motor worth far more then the boat

so the motor went byby to build a clone cuda

and I got everything else for the price of the trailer it was on

as the new owner just wanted the motor

 

I resold it  a few years later

the buyer planned on a chevy big block

[bigleagueslider]

Birds do not carry alot of mass or density with their hollow bones. The water got the mass and the surface area. Im sure those things even being that thick still would fail if they hit the water in a worst case scenario.

Here's the result of a bird impact on the canopy of a sub-sonic Harrier:

 

Edited by bigleagueslider, 06 August 2015 - 02:57.

[Kelpiecross]

The thing that surprises me about these boats is that all the power is transmitted through a few square inches of one blade of the propeller (I think they are "propriders" with only one blade in the water at a time). .

[275 GTB-4]

Does anyone remember a female mechanic (originally from Australia and married a Texan) named Nancy around the 1960sish? She was my Aunty and lived to be 100. Would be nice to know something about her life in the USA.

[MatsNorway]

The type of prop is called supercavitating propeller. And offshore boats trim the height of the prop all the time to best suit the conditions and speed. Like a gearing if you like.

I think Drag boats have a "program" running that gradually lifts/drops the the prop.

https://en.wikipedia...ating_propeller

Edited by MatsNorway, 06 August 2015 - 19:10.

[gruntguru]

Aquatic version of the slipper clutch eh?

[MatsNorway]

All watercooled and ****. Fancy stuff.

[bigleagueslider]

The TF hydro drag race boats use fairly conventional prop designs, and once up to speed the only parts of the boat contacting the water are the propellor blades, rudders and sponson tips. The hydro boats are designed to use aerodynamic lift to raise most of the hull clear of the water surface to minimize drag.

 

[Lee Nicolle]

The TF hydro drag race boats use fairly conventional prop designs, and once up to speed the only parts of the boat contacting the water are the propellor blades, rudders and sponson tips. The hydro boats are designed to use aerodynamic lift to raise most of the hull clear of the water surface to minimize drag.

 

I think that is what scares most of us!

Though boat racers think us car racers are crazy, a chap I know 'circuit' races on rivers, lakes and occasionally close too shore on the ocean. He helps out on a neighbours classic speedway SuperMod and reckons we are mad. Though I did see him trying the submarine bit on TV last year though a week or so he was heading out somewhere else. He must have been busy as I feel sure the engine ingested a whole pile of water.

Though drag boats make them look very sane.

[gruntguru]

Great photo.

[Bob Riebe]

While looking for info on engine types, of which there is little, I found these.

 

I live in the Land of 10,000 lakes with close to zero boat races

 

 

 

[saudoso]

Do they have auto throttle cut off?

[bigleagueslider]

If you look closely at the picture of the red boat in Bob Riebe's last post, you'll note the 3 intake butterflies are closed tight. But the only parts of the boat that are in contact with the water are the starboard prop tips and the very bottom edge of the rudder. Just along for the ride at this point.

[Sebas9031]

These beast are tremendously fast and dangerous. I had the opportunity to see  the #33 FastBoats Marine Group 40′ MTI back in 2012. These things were literally flying over the water. Here is a picture of the one I got to see. 

 

 

[bigleagueslider]

Offshore race powerboats are indeed very risky. But it is more due to the nature of the race circuit. The open ocean presents all sorts of hazards, such as swells coming from different directions and having different heights, high winds, debris floating on the surface, or even large sharks or whales.

[Lee Nicolle]

Offshore race powerboats are indeed very risky. But it is more due to the nature of the race circuit. The open ocean presents all sorts of hazards, such as swells coming from different directions and having different heights, high winds, debris floating on the surface, or even large sharks or whales.

Reputedly one hit a near submerged shipping container in recent times at well over 100mph. That would hurt!

I have seen a couple of them in the water from the shore. It appears ships lose more than a few of deck cargo.

 

Decades ago out with my uncle on his 20 foot half cabin we had a shark in effect hit us. Just idling along and the shark went under the boat with a fair thump. Evidently not uncommon. He did rescue for his local yacht squadron.

[Sebas9031]

Absolute madness. I will not complain about the distance there. And they accelerate just as hard too i believe?

Yes it is crazy to see. 

[Sebas9031]

Reputedly one hit a near submerged shipping container in recent times at well over 100mph. That would hurt!

I have seen a couple of them in the water from the shore. It appears ships lose more than a few of deck cargo.

 

Decades ago out with my uncle on his 20 foot half cabin we had a shark in effect hit us. Just idling along and the shark went under the boat with a fair thump. Evidently not uncommon. He did rescue for his local yacht squadron.

It is definitely dangerous. But it is also exciting to watch.