Rounded Pickleforks

[arltralite]

Here is a pic of Steve French's boat that i just rounded the pickles on. I also added the window. I have already built one boat with rounded pickles (wait till Ocoee to see that one) and will be building all my boats with rounded pickles from now on.

[arltralite]

its easy to do, round the end fill the void with some glue

[kws]

That has to be safer than the pointy ones dont you think?

[Brian10s]

Thank You

I want to be the first to say Thanks!!

I did not think any boat builders would start doing this on their own but I have already heard from a couple that have. And for doing it, I want to thank you personally for all the drivers who run against your boats.

You have made racing safer by your actions.

Thanks again.

Brian Williams

[bill giles]

Just to let you all know, I have been making rounded pickles for several years. The first one to do it, I believe, was Mr. Karelson from Washington. Steve Roskowski, who works at a wind-tunnel company, has stated round is better than pointy from his work point of view. Hope it catches one with all the builders. May prevent the APBA BoD from making more wise moves, aka A class.
Bill Giles

[kws]

i have a feeling there are few boat builders that wouldnt make you "roundy" if it was that or no sale. just a thought

[rocky peterson1]

If it was not at least as areodynamic, would the inboards and the unlimiteds do it?

[Bill Huson]

Mr Bill Giles is right . . .

At the speeds we travel, a rounded entry is better than a sharp entry. I've even used blunt, round leading edges on the hull, and used a cowling that resembled the blunt front ends on bobsleds. Drag reduction on a bobsled is critical.

Truth is, a boat designed for least drag might be considered *ugly* until said boat kicked butt, and then she would become beautiful :-)

[STEVE FRENCH]

Matt,

Looks good!----Thank you!

Let me know if you can transport to Ocoee and possibly back to Hunters if I'm unable to find an empty bunk going north afterwards.

Will make contribution t'wards exspences.

If not. let me know and will make arrangement to pick-up or meet you on your way south?

19P

[STEVE FRENCH]

Thought this worth re-run.
Hope pic still avail---Dan?

19P

[Composite Specialties]

In order for the pickle to collapse, you have to design the pickle tips with the weight of the boat, motor and driver in mind. The tunnel hull pickle tips are made of .0625" to .125" thickness fiberglass, which is sometimes enough thickness to keep the tip mounted on the boat during race conditions as well as being able to break away under impact. If you tried to use that same format on a light weight hydro, I do not think that the weight of the boat, motor and driver would be enough to have the tunnel hull tips break away, therefore I think you need to just round the pickle tips during construction and use a lightweight bulkhead on the tips. Even Balsa, foamcore or spruce for the tip will work, as long as there is not a point to punchture another object. See the attached pic for the old format and the suggested new format.

[HRTV]

Thanks Marc great information, everyone should also take a look at the Giles boat in the photo below.

Hey Marc when do we see inside the shop ?

[David_L6]

Arltralite with rounded sponson tips.

[AOFoffice]

I stopped racing in 1974. Why? Because I was T boned in A Stock runabout by a fiberglass extremely pointed boat. (Red Rursch's boat, if anyone remembers him). I was speared. Of course I had on the Gentex life jacket (no side protection)and no kevlar. We have come a long way. Just think, if we had had all of the safety measures back then that we do now I might not be the crippled up fat lady that sings. I might still be racing A stock runabout!
Connie

[DougMc]

Thanks for the photo. That is much, much different than what I thought was meant by rounded pickels.