New Boats for 2013

[seanp3]

Sheesh! I forgot how long rigging takes. There's a long way to go, but coming along nicely: Sweet lines, nostalgic Merc. Debating on the tower paint. Cloud white is correct, but Phantom black is easy.......

Tim

Pretty sexy looking boat!

[topomichracer140m]

Many thanks to Chris Fabbro for design assistance, and Dale Ropp for an excellent build. I look forward to meeting Noodles and all the D drivers at Top-O. With any good luck, the boat will behave as good as it looks!

Tim

I guess I know who I will be following across Mullet Lake this year...great looking rig!!

[Tim Kurcz]

While you may not "need' a cowling for the water issues, you probably want one for the aerodynamics... If a good bit of the drivers body or chest is sticking up above the decking there's a lot of drag produced that can be mitigated by a cowling that sticks up to near the bottom of your helmet (or higher if you put some kind of windshield on it. I'm not suggesting you look thru a windshield, you can, like most formula car drivers look over the top of it, but getting a fairing up to near the middle of the helmet is a good thing from an aero standpoint. Think of the difference as being between a convex surface that pushes the flow around the driver with a concave area (the drivers chest and arms) that acts like a parachute and slows you down a lot. I would think a good fairing would be worth a couple of mph at least.

I realize the boat is a bit heavy, but that high nose is also going to create a lot more front end lift than a typical runabout. That would scare me a bit, but maybe it won't be a big deal with the higher weight. Has anybody run something like this that you know of that had this high a nose and ran in the mid 70's? Just curious.

Your comments about aerodynamics are valid. Remember that I'm about 12" deeper than a conventional flat bottom, so there's less of me in the slipstream. And at 5-'7" and 160 Lbs., dihedral bow lift will help the D overcome he weight. Heck; I'll be happy with 60-65 in heavy seas.

My bigger concern is with the 850cc Mod and 1100cc Alky: Both are 100MPH capable on my hydro. I'm thinking stable speed will be limited to something like 85-90MPH. Testing will tell........

BTW: Last year CSR was won by Dustin Pearson in a Vee-Bottom 28CE. Go to the Top-O website for an image. Not much slower than the D's.

[pearson95m]

Boat looks sweet!.. and knowing that Dale took part in building it tells me that it is well designed and constructed. I can't wait to see how she performs. If that baby can get up on the pad in calm water, it will defiantly pose a real threat. The V-bottom style has always intrigued me… and seeing a few of them run on youtube makes me really wonder if it’s the future of runabouts (marathons in particular). It’s a big investment to “test” out… so I’ve never pulled the trigger myself. I’ll be keeping a close eye on how it pans out. I’ll see you at top O.

Josh

PS… Dustin’s boat wasn’t a Vee-Bottom.

[rumleyfips]

In the 70's I boaught a Karleson ASR from Bobby Strasser. It was really a kilo boat: wide bottom, steep chines and a big fabric cowl. On a big course on good water it was fast and I could hide behind the cowl. Then I lent it for BSR and the guy caught a chine and blew out the bottom. I rebuilt with a narrower bottom, less chine angle on the outside and a round chine on the inside and got rid of the cowl. It was better in different waters and on different courses but really wasn't any slower.

I always believed in aero ( Tommy Marcel always said " low frontal area"), but that cowl didn't seem to make a difference one way or the other.

John McManus

[Yellowjacket]

My bigger concern is with the 850cc Mod and 1100cc Alky: Both are 100MPH capable on my hydro. I'm thinking stable speed will be limited to something like 85-90MPH. Testing will tell.........

to quote Kipling.... You're a better man than I Gunga Din!

BTW: Last year CSR was won by Dustin Pearson in a Vee-Bottom 28CE. Go to the Top-O website for an image. Not much slower than the D's.

I hadn't realized that, and I think you are on absolutely the right track for a marathon boat, a V or padded V is the right way to go.. Good luck with it, keep us posted on how it's working..

[kampkurz]

The boat Dustin won with has at least a 26 inch flat bottom. Race with him often. Boat belonged to Kim Parke prior. FYI
But I can not wait to see that new V Bottom at Topo. Very interesting. I would love to hear how it works for you. I know I would have loved to have that boat on Mullet the last two years. You're gonna be wishing that thing had 36 inches of lift. Ha Ha.

[Tim Kurcz]

Looks can be deceiving

Thanks for the heads up re Dustin's boat. From the image on the Top-O site it sure looks like a deep vee. You may be right about the 36" lift: my first Top-O was 2012 and Mullet was 3' seas. Got pitched from the deck of Jeff Howie's SLT upon a stuff. Figured doubling the lift was a good start. Can't wait to test, hoping it behaves decently. Targeting June 15 for splashdown.

[kampkurz]

[QUOTE=Targeting June 15 for splashdown.[/QUOTE]
I Would really like to hear how it works for you. It has been so rough the last two years and that boat looks like it could really take the rough stuff. If you haven't already....cut some stirrups into the floor board to stick your toes in. Will help you stay on the wheel in the rough stuff.

[Tim Kurcz]

Driving style

I Would really like to hear how it works for you. It has been so rough the last two years and that boat looks like it could really take the rough stuff. If you haven't already....cut some stirrups into the floor board to stick your toes in. Will help you stay on the wheel in the rough stuff.

Will definitely post test results. Plan is to get at least 20 hours driving before Top-O. Two thoughts on cockpit: First is stirrups, second is (heaven forbid in stock outboard), a seat & foot throttle.....

[kampkurz]

A seat sounds nice but I gotta tell ya.... I don't think that there is a chance of staying in it. Not at Top'O anyway. Maybe for when you cottage race it.
Stirrups? Holes cut into floorboards to allow you to stay up on the wheel where you will want to be on Mullet. My first time I did not have any. Tim Ross said "Get some stirrups cut in that floor." When you get a marathon tip from Tim Ross, you are well advised to listen up. It made so much difference, I will never race without them. No more energy wasted dragging yourself back to the wheel. If you are uncertain of what I am talking about. Maybe I can post a picture.

[pearson95m]

a couple quick thoughts…

first, I agree with Mark. I’m not sure fully sitting down would be advised. However, with that said I’ve seen some guys put their fuel tank in the cockpit and straddle it (to use it as a seat). Something like this might help take the pressure off your lower back, butt and quads.

second, check the rule book on foot throttle. I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think they’re legal in stock…. I could be wrong though.

[krazy karl]

I doubt you could maintain consistent partial throttle control with a foot throttle with all the bouncing around.

I also have stirrups in my marathon boat. I also added an additional bar screwed into the stingers between the stirrups and the transom. Gave me an additional driving location when the water smoothed out somewhat but not smooth enough to go all the way back to the transom. A guy showed up at our region 11 play day with a stepped hull. It was his own design and ran a lot better than I expected. It also appeared to turn very well.

My ASR is an older kilo boat with a wide bottom. I am quite a bit over weight and I am a bit slow in normal conditions but when the conditions get rougher I can run with the pack except for the one really fast boat.
kk

[Tim Kurcz]

Stirrups for sure

Gotcha all - LOL! Was just having fun with the sit down idea. Dale snapped the pic while fitting the wheel/throttle and dared me to post it. No way I'd want my legs under the command station in case a quick exit is needed.

We're targeting 25% hull cord for CG. First will see how the boat behaves, then cut D-shaped stirrups in the best/most comfortable location.

[Yellowjacket]

a couple quick thoughts…

first, I agree with Mark. I’m not sure fully sitting down would be advised. However, with that said I’ve seen some guys put their fuel tank in the cockpit and straddle it (to use it as a seat). Something like this might help take the pressure off your lower back, butt and quads.

second, check the rule book on foot throttle. I don’t know for sure, but I don’t think they’re legal in stock…. I could be wrong though.

Foot throttles are legal in stock.. This is from the rule book, first page

SAFETY RULE 5 • OPERATION

1. Locked throttles are prohibited in competition. While getting on plane, drivers must keep one hand on the throttle and one foot in the cockpit. No driver may assume a driving position which requires that he/she remove his/her hand from the throttle. A foot throttle may be used in lieu of a hand throttle, but it must be operated in the manner described for hand throttles.

Another thought is that if you wanted to sit, a power trim might be a good thing, and relative to stock outboard the following applies....

11. Engines must remain firmly clamped and/or bolted to the transom at all times. Stock Outboard hulls utilizing reinforced cockpits with the driver harnessed in a seated position, may use a power trim system. If power trim is used, the propshaft depth shall be measured with the trim in the “full out” position.

So if you want to sit and use power trim you've got to be strapped in, but that might not be a bad thing if getting bounced out is an issue anyway. Just something to think about....