Superboats

[Jack Shellac]

Got to see the ocean racers at the APRA World Championships which were held here at Orange Beach, AL. What a sight! If you ever get the chance, don't miss it. 40' deep-V's and cats with two or four big-block, supercharged V-8's, can get over 170 MPH [ one of the cats got almost to 200 in time trials]. The weather varied from flat seas to 4' over the course of the races and it was interesting to see how the big boys tried to cope with the changing conditions. It sounded like an iboats forum to hear them worry about whether they'd picked the right prop or not. Made me feel a little better about my ignorance, anyway. An old hot-rodder would feel right at home hearing these boats idle by with the stuttering, rolling idle of a full race cam and seeing the exhaust and cooling water blasting out of the side of the boats. This usually is carried later on The Outdoor Life Network on Sunday afternoons if you'd like to see it. Worth looking at, particularly on the last day when the seas were rougher. Any one else ever seen them?

 

[sloopy]

Re: Superboats

so no one had a turbine powered boat?

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Superboats

No turbines, Sloopy. Just big block V-8's supercharged. On the last day. in rough seas, some of them were flipping. Even the cats were coming completely out of the water. It was exciting to watch, but I don't think I'd want to be in one on that day.

 

[DJ]

Re: Superboats

Jack Shellac,<br /><br />They are really something to see.<br /><br />I recall reading an article about legendary superboat racer-Doc Magoon.<br /><br />He described it as a cross between bronco busting and motorcross racing. Only it lasted four hours! <br /><br />After one particulatly nasty race, they had to surgically remove his hands from the steering wheel-OUCH! The salt spray had made the blisters swell to the point that he couldn't open his fingers.

 

[sloopy]

Re: Superboats

How many of them flipped over?

 

[Jack Shellac]

Re: Superboats

Two that I saw. It was interestnig also to see how they ran their boats. The deep-v's could accelerate faster but the cats would eventually catch up. The deep-v's took the turns sharp and then accelerated. The cats made wide turns to keep their speed up to keep up with the V's. The turns, of course were where they were flipping. At the end of the race on the last rough day, they were all complaining that they wished they had run smaller props. Apparently they find props somewhat of a mystery, just like most of us do.

 

[neumanns]

Re: Superboats

I watched them run once, FANTASTIC!!! Only thing that could have made it better would have been getting of the beach and closer to them. The sights sounds etc I would definatly go again given the chance.