Serious Project : Off with my Canopy !!!!!

[Dude! Sweet!]

So is it fair to infer that no canopy is better than a marginal canopy? Seems like those are the two options presented.

[MikeyFIN]

Well in the lower classes where non canopy boats are allowed a lot of competitors feel that way...

[MikeyFIN]

While the F-16 design is fine for this style of boat....the speed is much lower...and the impact dynamics much lighter than on a full sized cat. Champ boats have small, almost tear away canopies that are fine because the boats are so light that they "bounce' off the water's surface in most cases. When they do "stuff" the deceleration is a much bigger problem on the driver's body than the water intrusion.

T2x

Agreed on all counts except that ain´t no F-16 design.
There´s been talks about forcing a mandatory use of a Hans neckbrace.

[Dueclaws]

Steve-
Thanks for the info.
Sent you an email too.
John

[T2x]

So what core if not balsa?

This is an interesting question and deserves more than a simple answer. For a boat bottom that is subjected to tens of thousands of ballistic impacts over its life span I would use balsa and not a foam core since foam will compress over time at a greater rate than balsa and create delaminations similar to those on the JBS hull. I would also never use CF on the OUTER layers of a hull. (Peter uses CF on the inner most layers and to bond the bulkheads to the hull and that's fine). When it comes to canopies I would look for the same thickness as my bottom construction but you can use more CF and foam cores because there are far fewer impact cycles to deal with over the course of the canopy's lifetime.

I also strongly suggest using the THICKEST laminates on the front, rear and side bulkheads for the cockpits, since they tend to be straight and have little impact deflection (yeah I know they are supposed to be canted rearward on the front but that doesn't reduce the large flat area). A perfect cockpit would be molded in a single egg shape (including the top canopy) and laminated as thick as the boats bottom. This would provide excellent deflection and a device could be crafted to allow it to "pop out" in a devasting crash scenario.

Food for thought........

We've been working on and thinking about this for 25 years.

T2x

[Offshore Ginger]

2TR -Just curious and i know this is a stuipd question and most likely i will get reemed for this up the old bun hole but................. i forgot or lost track of the builder of your boat and that is .................................................. ?

[2TR]

2TR -Just curious and i know this is a stuipd question and most likely i will get reemed for this up the old bun hole but................. i forgot or lost track of the builder of your boat and that is .................................................. ?

Lightning Mfg. out of Florida, it's basicly a splash off a Spectre 30. Than Tag and Sparky from Vicious Marine did some bottom changes back in 2005 (? I think)

[Sean H]

You cut into the boat yet?

[Steve 1]

Jaguar has a nice Mold for a Canopy system also.

[Ratickle]

Jaguar has a nice Mold for a Canopy system also.

Anyway to get the dimensions and talk to someone about a price?

[Steve 1]

Anyway to get the dimensions and talk to someone about a price?

PM me with the boat type or cockpit size.

[imco offshore]

Well in the lower classes where non canopy boats are allowed a lot of competitors feel that way...

mikey what do you mean by lower classes ?

[Ratickle]

PM me with the boat type or cockpit size.

I'll get ahold of Rick. I know he said Skater was too much $.

[DAREDEVIL]

mikey what do you mean by lower classes ?

OOOPS, that means bashing ,,,i can tell.LOL

[Ratickle]

I know he means slower, not lower....

[DAREDEVIL]

I know he means slower, not lower....

That FINN .............haha

[Phantom1]

I'm sitting here wearing my Hooters racing T-shirt from I think 1999. My throttleman, Jon Maas, was the crew chief for Joey and Steve, so I was a big fan of your boat. I actually drove it during testing in Reggieville in '99 or 2000 and had a blast. I can't wait to see the transformation....

[DAREDEVIL]

I'm sitting here wearing my Hooters racing T-shirt from I think 1999. My throttleman, Jon Maas, was the crew chief for Joey and Steve, so I was a big fan of your boat. I actually drove it during testing in Reggieville in '99 or 2000 and had a blast. I can't wait to see the transformation....

So your having your own racerparty tonight so to speak ??? LOL

Should of said something. HEHE

[2TR]

You cut into the boat yet?

I laid a grid on the complete deck so far thats covered with 12 x 12 squares. I now have straight lines Evey were to help assure I stay in a straight line.

I Went to attack the boat a week ago and my saw died.. maybe thats a good thing. I'm now worried about cutting and not having enough time to finish before spring.

So I Changed plan'; I'm building a replica deck thats actually a table on wheels approx 9ft x 12ft. with the same cures to build the canopy on that. This way is things go wrong I'm not stuck with a un-race-able boat come spring.

I guess you can say, "I Punted"


Steve, PM Sent.

[glassdave]

I laid a grid on the complete deck so far thats covered with 12 x 12 squares. I now have straight lines Evey were to help assure I stay in a straight line.

I Went to attack the boat a week ago and my saw died.. maybe thats a good thing. I'm now worried about cutting and not having enough time to finish before spring.

So I Changed plan'; I'm building a replica deck thats actually a table on wheels approx 9ft x 12ft. with the same cures to build the canopy on that. This way is things go wrong I'm not stuck with a un-race-able boat come spring.

I guess you can say, "I Punted"


Steve, PM Sent.

good idea