Miami, Florida, the historic home of big time Offshore Racing, hosted a 12 boat fleet for a race over the weekend. These boats were spread over 8 classes, 5 of which featured a single boat parading around the course.
The largest class featured 3 boats with only one finisher, and the turbine class also resulted in a one horse race at the checkered flag, although the leader managed to break down just 1 mile short of the finish due to an "Explosion of Water" entering the driver's side of the cockpit (Cockpit safety standards anyone?).
Congratulations to both of the entry's in something called Manufacturer Production 1 class, for managing to actually have a race from start to finish.
Since there are at least three classes that I know of that had no entrants, we are almost at Nirvana...The moment when an entire event has no more than one boat in each class and every entrant winds up in first place.
You really can't make this stuff up.
T2x
Results 1 to 20 of 268
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04-20-2009 10:53 AMAllergic to Nonsense
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04-20-2009 11:00 AM
It's a shame. The guys from Aquamania are great guys and spend a fortune of money. To have only one other boat to race is a sin! It's really too bad what has become of SBI. Imagine, Miami beach (of all places) the powerboat capital of the world only had 12 boats.
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04-20-2009 11:02 AMOkay, Not going there on the down side cause you know I'm with you.
On the other side of the equation, which I am extremely interested in, why would the canopy fail?Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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04-20-2009 11:09 AM
To be honest, I don't know what happened...I am merely quoting the owner's comments on another site. I can say that I have seen many canopies by otherwise respected builders that have serious and obvious flaws to the practiced eye. Simply sticking a roof and windows over your head...does not make a reliable, or even useful, safety canopy. Therefore, I will await more info on this one before looking at either the canopy or cockpit bulkheads..... but it appears that something in the system wasn't up to par.
Of course, at the speeds these turbines and extreme class hulls are capable of, there is some real concern that no system will allow for protection at the potential impacts or g-forces at play. In this case, however, the water was apparently rough and average speeds for the turbine boats were only in the high 80's. I shudder to think what the "explosion of water" would have been like at 180.
T2xAllergic to Nonsense
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04-20-2009 11:10 AM
11 boats, 1 boat appears to have run two classes.
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04-20-2009 11:11 AMThe canopys in the unlimiteds are different?
Getting bad advice is unfortunate, taking bad advice is a Serious matter!!
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04-20-2009 11:18 AM
Why didn't they spend half the money on a Supercat Light hull or some other class that actually has some boats to race against? While you may believe that Turbines have a place in Offshore....why spend millions on a flashy fuel guzzling concept that the average guy does not and can not relate too, while diluting the sport even more? These boats actually make more sense as Poker Run entrants then race hulls. At least the whole purpose of those events is simply to show-off.
If you are foolish enough to believe that a twin turbine 48 footer "sets you apart" from the pack...... wait until the next guy arrives with a 4 turbine 60 footer.
T2xAllergic to Nonsense
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04-20-2009 11:19 AM
Yes very sad...some of you know my thoughts, opinions and stance on the health of offshore boat racing since 2002.
A lot of people will blame this on the economy and that is partly correct but my come back is why is PCA (Porsche Club of America), PBOC ( Porsche BMW Owners Club) SCCA and NASA (National Auto Sports Assoc) absolutly thriving?
I am now involved in Chin Motorsports and PCA track events and I meet a lot of Ex boat racers at these events. They left offshore boat racing for a lot of the same reasons. A lot of boat racers ran a good thing that was happening years ago. It is not the fault of the economy.Mike
2006 Fountain 38TE..CC..Outboards Baby!
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04-20-2009 11:22 AMAllergic to Nonsense
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04-20-2009 11:24 AM
It was the bottom. They had a problem in Key West repaired it on site. It was on the stb side where the bottom turns up near the bow. Apparently it failed again. I can only guess from what I have read.
Last edited by MOBILEMERCMAN; 04-20-2009 at 11:27 AM.
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04-20-2009 11:28 AM
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04-20-2009 11:29 AM
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04-20-2009 11:32 AMI read that a lot of canopies are bought for boats that were rejected for use on a jet.
Disclaimer: I don't have any confirmation, or other type of proof, just going on memory of what I read.
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04-20-2009 11:39 AM
I believe that to be true also. The thing is they are for visual flaws. In reality they were not intended to protect from water impacts. They are rated for simulated bird strikes. A 550 is rated to withstand a bird strike at 550 knots. I don't recall the exact details but it was simulated with a mass of about 10lbs projected at it at speed mentioned. Water strikes are tens of thousands of times heavier per square inch.
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