Silvestri's New MJR 20/CSH

[Dick Tyndall]

Nice boats........

Marc, GREAT looking boat! I like the way that you built the center section and then build the rest of the boat around it..........a step forward in boat building, for sure.
David, how about some info on the boat that you have pictured in your post. Is this one of Matt's boats? A CSH, maybe? When was it built?
Great looking stuff, guys.

[Bill Huson]

my thoughts . . .

Hey Marc in your opinion would this be the next best thing to a capsule so far as side impact to the driver ? Of course the driver is not sitting or straped in but this might be the next best thing so long as the driver stays in the boat during a wreck ?

I would have a composite cockpit in a race boat. Has to be way better than wood. I used graphite stips to beef up a wood CSH outside cockpit wall to prevent the ol' butt-slam cracking in hard turns. The driver of that boat was inside in a turn when the outside boat broached and went right over his boat. I caught a glimpse of the broaching boat's turn fin aimmed right over the drivers head and went YIKES! No injury. The turn fin hit the beefed up cockit rail and sheared off!!! That made a believer in better cockpit structure.

The drawings on the table when I quit building boats had high cockpit walls and a cockpit that was airfoil shaped, as in wider at the shoulders of a kneel down driver and skinny at the transom. The plan was to have the driver INSIDE the cockpit, no arms hanging to grab the throttle. I had modified my 15ssH boat to use an inside throttle - worked, but a bit cramped in a standard layout cockpit, which prompted a New Plan. Never built that boat.

Marc is on the right path for sure. I like his composite structures.

[STEVE FRENCH]

Marc,
What is approx delivery time on a rig like this. I know Joe was shopping after Franklin so this rig was built quick or are you keeping/making a few avail?

Joe,
Where is first run for this?

19p

[jsilvestri]

I just picked-up the boat last night and the picture doesn't do justice to how nice this boat is. The finish is beautiful, the construction is flawless and the design is unmatched by anyone. The amount of thought that went into this boat is amazing. I can't wait to get home, rig the boat and get my first ride in it, which will be Alexandria, Kentucky. Thanks Marc!!!

[Andrew 4CE]

I'm just curious here... my mechanical minded brain at work. I do believe mixing of composite materials into boats in the right places can make a stiffer, lighter, safer, yet still relativly affordable boat.

But my question/comment is... at the last couple races I saw a few guys crash and when the boat landed the driver went through the coaming. This absorbs/releases a lot of impact energy. Just wondering... do you think we'll reach a point in design in the future (we haven't yet I don't think) where the boat is shaped such and so strong that it is more common that you start braking ribs, collar bones, hips, arms, legs, etc...? Something has to absorb the energy... is it the driver or the boat? Ideally the water I think. If the driver is fit snuggly that would help as the energy would pass through them, like a proper fitting helmet works. But that might hinder the drivers control during racing. Maybe this will keep advancing until someone figures out a neat way to harness the driver but still let him move around? Like a helmet restraint system, but for the body connecting to the boat? Don't racing go-karts have a body restraint system somehow? Maybe I'm dreaming...

Anyway, I dunno, just thinking out loud I do know the next boat I build will have a great amount of composite materials.

[jsilvestri]

Andrew,

As of right now, I don't know of a better way to make cockpit sides more impact resistant than the way Marc is building them. However, Marc did show me a couple of sketches he is working on for cockpit sides that will make them more impact resistant than the way he is doing them now. Our sport needs more guys putting safety first when designing and building boats. And, more racers could think safety first while out racing. For example, be sure to look over both shoulders before entering a turn. Give the driver behind you the benefit of the doubt when determining if you have the overlap or not. This doesn't mean you have to give the driver behind you two lanes through the turn either, but atleast one lane if needed. Know the limits of your equipment and your driving ability. Finally, this is a sport we compete in for the thrill of speed, competition and fun. Keeping these things in mind while racing will help a lot. And, I think you will agree.