Pre Race Testing for Mayfield goes BAD

[dwestby]

Last weekend while testing for Mayfield my DSH and DMH set-up the unexpected happened. First no one was hurt. The testing went good with the stock 44sx, The 44sx had a gain of 6 mph just after 3 set-up changes and the hydro was handling great . We had a tow boat with a driver on our? course water temp 42 degrees and a slight breese Then all HELL happened. We had time for one or two more test so the Mod 44sx was put on. Set-up was checked and everything was ready to run. Dry fired the motor and checked everything again. Then the first mistake I mod a cowling off a 44sx to fit around the Bayer Pipes,,Second mistake I was going to go in the tow boat to take picture and get a better look at the hydro attitude . DID NOT . Driver got in the laydown , primed carb, put COWLING on hit the electrie start the motor bogges a little and clean out and off it goes running with a little miss, then it hit the pipe and holy sh____t it is off, speed is picking up the hydro is looking fast and sounds great. The driver backs off a little to the feel of the boat and the motors quites. I am on the beach about 500 yard away the tow boat is about 100 yards away. Sound like it ran out of fuel or stuck., but more like fuel. Rick and myself were talking about what could been the problem. The tow boat is moving to the hydro and I see smoke coming off the motor area. We see the driver going to front of the hydro waving to the tow boat to get closer.. The driver jumpes into the tow boat Mean while we are on the beach with no commucation to the tow boat and see smoke and fire about 2 to 3 feet above the motor. The hydro moves so the fire moves to the front of the hydro and the tow boat can not get to the pickles to sink the hydro. The tow boat had a fire extinguisher the size of two coke cans and not a long rope to do any good. The tow boat has to come to shore and get up and go back out and bucket water and put out what is left of the fire. . For those who do not know me I do not take this litely and not as a JOke. I do not like losing a boat like this. If I had a time machine this could have never happened I just had to be in the tow boat. On the up side the driver is still a freind and as the other and no one got hurt. When we go testing again we will have radios, ladder to get a driver in the boat long ropes , big fire extinguishers and two people in the tow boat buckets and and expect the unexpected. The boat is on display at my shop till next week then like the Phonenix another new hydro will race again. Have my patterns for anther hull if I can find a builder Picture to follow if I can figure how to down load them HELP. sorry kyle SPUD

[pro350hydro]

Here is some photo's for you guys. Glad no one was hurt

[pro350hydro]

more...

[HydroKyle93R]

im so sad

[KG4]

OMG I could cry,Glad no one was hurt.

[T Chance]

I can't even come close to knowing how terrible all this is. So sorry for you.

[blueskyracer]

So sorry Dennis. Last time I saw a hydro burn like that was the Exide back in the 60's. Sucked then and sucks now.

[daveracerdsh]

Fire

I have a boat you can borrow if you want. Set up for either a 44XS or a Tohatsu. Let me know. It does need hardware...but other then that it is race ready.

[dwestby]

thank you Dave

Thank you for the offer. Right now I am just kind of bouncing around the shop beating my head on the wall. I have a complete 44sx and a tohatsu waiting for the crank complete and another 500 DM powerhead complete. The boat was new and only had been in the water for the second time testing never realy raced. I talk to the builder of the boat and he THINKS he still has the full size patterens in his computor. Do not know which way I will go. Plans were to be at Mayfield for more testing this weekend on race set-ups. Feel sorry for Kyle it would have been a good ride and a start for Orville. Still need work on proping and cleaning up on a race set-up I know we would not have won as we were but I know it would not have came in last. My ego want to build another and come back . Like a freind of mine said you have not spent enuff money to really enjoy what you are doing. We will see which way I go thank you again for the offer Dennis (yes it is proping$$$$$$) i think???

[Dave M]

Sorry

I am sorry on the loss of a boat and possibly the engine. It looks like from the pics the boat is not damaged to the point of scrap. It just melted ? If the bottom is in tact why not just put a new top half on ? Like I siad, I don't see the bottom in the pics being damaged, but maybe I am not seeing all of it too. No matter how you turn it, it still sucks. Sorry about the luck.

Did you figure out what casued the fire ? Was it the stock cowling over the pipes ? Or a fuel line crack and onto the pipes ? Or Ele fire ?

[dwestby]

probably never know for sure

It looks like fuel from the carb or priming the carb got into the belly pan/ or the cowling did have opening big enough to cool the pipes and vent the gas fumes out. Or the cowling was to close to the pipes and got on fire first then the gas lines so on. All Gas line were new and clamped First run on the motor after test tanking it. New all the way threw. crank / machined rod, bearing seals pistion bore reed cages reworked. All my motors have and had new cranks pistions etc lower unit has about 15 minutes on it. Has about $2500. in just the power head maybe a little more. If you look close you might see the stringer in the bottom or where the stringer were. Good patteren to check measurement for a new boat. Skid fine is good. Helment could use some work. got a new one on order Spud

[propnuts]

Glad everyone walked away

I feel aweful for you Dennis, I know you were looking forward to this weekend. Hopefully you can take Dave up on his offer.

[makeshiftboats]

I caught fire in Hillsdale because the mag touched my makeshift splash shield made a spark and ignited spilled fuel.I splashed water like crazy put the fire out and raced again that day.It could have easily been worse.But my concern is at a sanctioned race every rescue boat should be equiped with a fire extenguisher and i was surprised there was not one I hope this gets some attention gotta go guys

[Silas_53A]

Thats terrible... glad no one was hurt.

Saw a similar thing happen at Taunton CT. a couple years ago. An 1100 pro hydro was planning off when it threw a rod threw the side of the case. BRAND NEW motor. At first couldn't tell what happened. then you could see the heat rising from the back but invisible flames. matter of seconds and the boat was completely engulfed in flames. Luckily the drive was able to climb out and into the water.

Safety boat was there but their only fire extinguisher had failed apparently. boat was heading straight for the wooded shore.. 5-7 people got to it and successfully flipped it, putting it out, preventing a forest fire, but lost some hair. could have been avoided.

[KG4]

I service fire extg and suppresion systems for a living.Get your extg certified once a year guys,I have seen many that would have failed if i didnt service them.If they are older than 1984 get a new one and stay away from the plastic head ones they are junk.