Other than the side fin?

[wbirdstrike]

I am just wondering other than the side fin what advancements have the runabouts have had in design? Are there boats out there that are more aero sleaker than others, or is it more about the motor and prop? I've seen the the boats with the more traditional deep vee hull, but are they really succesfull against older designs? Just curious.

[ZUL8TR]

Runabout advancements

I am just wondering other than the side fin what advancements have the runabouts have had in design? Are there boats out there that are more aero sleaker than others, or is it more about the motor and prop? I've seen the the boats with the more traditional deep vee hull, but are they really succesfull against older designs? Just curious.

Just from old pics and what I recall from racing compared to today here are some changes with stock class:

1 The streamlined plastic windscreens.

2 Elimination of the front open seat area (this done quite a while ago)

3 Maybe the A (overall width) and B (overall length) dimensions have changed? I think there used to be a depth dimension amidships that is not in the present rule book.

4 Hull weights?

There are probably more that others will add?

I doubt if the runabouts are any sharper nosed than in the past so no real aero gain there. Perhaps there should be a rounded front point rule like the pickle hydros?

The pro runabouts have changed quite a bit with the inward sloping sides above the side chine and other.....

[T Chance]

The pro runabouts have changed quite a bit with the inward sloping sides above the side chine and other.....

Yes the Pro boats have changed, slight changes to the bottom and chines but the big change in the deck and cowl. With the old style if you turned at little as you came to the corner without backing off somewhat you could lose downforce and blow over (I am living proof of that - ten days in the hospital), but with the new boat, you keep the downforce.

Shown are two photos of the old and new style Krier Pro Runabouts, the one with the 250cc Yamato was taken take about 25 years ago; the one with the 500cc Konig was taken last year. Thanks to Jean Tennell for the photo of the new boat.

[jeff55v]

This past summer I was able to compare my new Sorenson Yurok 13' to an older version of the same model. We put our boats side by side, took out the tape measure and began investigating. We were both suprised at all the subtle differences between the two boats.
I didn't get the chance to race against the older version boat. It would have been neat to see. But from what I've seen on videos, the newer boat handles much better than the older one.
Generally speaking, newer is better. Lessons of yesterday are applied to today's technology.

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