Bass Brothers Press Release

[14-H]

Add: Also, isn't it a little inconsistent to support the D Stock Runabout Class where the height restriction for the Tohatsu will remain at 3/4" below the bottom with a gearcase "that was designed to run above the bottom of the boat"? Indeed, on the runabout, which has no air traps, this is effectively much deeper in the water. Yet, Bass Machines supports this height restriction for the runabout. Ed Hearn.

[HRTV]

New post have been added

[nbass]

One More Time for Ed

Add: Also, isn't it a little inconsistent to support the D Stock Runabout Class where the height restriction for the Tohatsu will remain at 3/4" below the bottom with a gearcase "that was designed to run above the bottom of the boat"? Indeed, on the runabout, which has no air traps, this is effectively much deeper in the water. Yet, Bass Machines supports this height restriction for the runabout. Ed Hearn.

A runabout can usually use a little lift, and a D-class runabout usually displaces some water rather than float on an air bubble. Therefore there is automatically more stability. If I had a choice, I would run the D-runabout at 0-inches as well, but the class rules in 2004 and today call for ¾-inches. The drivers in the NW have proven that works on a runabout, but does not work on a hydro. Had the d-stock rules been 1-inch deep when we proposed the engine and prototyped it, we would not have a complaint. But, that was not the D-stock rule in 2004 and it is not the 44xs rule today. Once again Ed, why do you assume Bass Machines, Bob Wartenger, and numerous NW racers (not all of which have a reason to support Tohatsu) are choosing to tell a big one? You should listen to competent experienced racers like Bob Wartenger. He as an engineer understands the hydrodynamics and has far more racing experience than anyone I can think of. The NW has no hidden agendas in this whole discussion.
Neil Bass

[nicf14]

Why wouldn't this lower unit work at 1/2" below the bottom? In pro we have no transom heights, but we run anywhere from 0" to 1" below the bottom depending on the class. Sounds like you need to work on the lower units. Does anybody have a picture of the units? Just curious.

[nbass]

Mr. Wartinger sent that information to me as an APBA member and not as a the head of the APBA Safety committee. Morever, Mr. Wartinger has never asked in his capacity as Safety Chairman that the APBA BOD intervene in this matter like he did with the ASH tuck rule. Interesting that Mr. Bass did not include any of the responses to this email that followed. The bottom line is that Mr. Bass wants his engine to go faster so it can be competitive with the Mercuries. I understand this and remain committed to ensuring this will happen. I have never guaranteed that it will happen on his timetable, however.

Mr. Bass: If you would like me to withdraw the request from the APBA BOD to approve the change for this season, please let me know. I'll do it. The height will then remain at 1" below the bottom with unrestricted timing for the rest of the season.

Also, Mr. Bass: you might run your press release by your company's lawyer and insurance company. You have just exposed your company to liability and possibly yourself to personal liability with these statements and your "release" will not prevent such liability from being imposed in some states like California where you have stated that you believe that you know that this is a hazardous set-up and you sell the engine for use in that condition anyway.

Note: I disagree with Mr. Bass that the engine is unsafe at 1/2" or 1" as I continue to believe that the trend towards lowering engines on the transom is in the best interests of saftety for competition outboards. The Stock Outboard Category of the APBA has been the leader in this area. All other Categories and Organizations have followed the lead of SO. Ed Hearn.

We are doing everything we can to tell our customers that running the Bass machines Lower Unit deep on a hydro is not a safe idea, don’t do it! We are concerned about their well being over an above selling an engine. We are requiring all purchasers to sign a notarized waver of liability that explains the requirement to run the unit on a hydro at 0-inches.

You, in your official capacity, are telling our customers it is OK, it is safe, do not follow the manufacturers recommendation. You are saying you are not interested in their well being but only interested in not letting the 44xs get beat. I am not an attorney, but it looks like your rule making over the recommendations of the manufacture and an experienced safety representative puts you and APBA in the liability arena.
Neil Bass

[14-H]

*** I am not an attorney, ***

That's right.

[pro350hydro]

Why wouldn't this lower unit work at 1/2" below the bottom? In pro we have no transom heights, but we run anywhere from 0" to 1" below the bottom depending on the class. Sounds like you need to work on the lower units. Does anybody have a picture of the units? Just curious.

Nic, The Bass lower unit is a very nice lower unit. However, due to the larger size of the gears the case is wider that our pro units that you and I run. These larger gears are required to hold up under the larger Mod motors and the monster 8" props some guys are running under the OMC 3 cylinders. Also, (in my opinion) this lower unit provides slightly more lift than say a Yamato hatchet foot.

I have ran a FE with a Bass foot (not at 1") and they handle great. The bass lower unit to the Mod category, is like the Yamato to the Pro category. It is a great lower unit, and we all need them. If I was running mod, I would buy a Bass in a heart beat.

Oh yeah, they are also made in the USA and available.

Mike Sattler

[nbass]

What have we learned?

So what have we learned? I am not an attorney and Ed is not an engineer. Bass Machines is concerned about liability. So we have made it clear to everyone that there is an unsafe condition and have warned against running the Bass Tohatsu on a hydro at a depth below 0-inches. We have effectively removed the Bass Tohatsu from running in D-stock hydro because of this concern. Ed says I have put Bass Machines in a liable condition because we have warned our customers. I say Ed has put himself and APBA in the liable condition for making the below 0-inches ruling. What a standoff. I used to talk with Ed over the phone. Now I am afraid to attend an APBA race, and I doubt Ed will ever talk with me again. Ed you won this battle, boat racing used to be fun.

What will history show? I have all the cards on this one. The truth will eventually be clear to everyone as the Bass Tohatsu is raced across the country in AOF, NBRA, and APBA Mod. I have not been holding back information or telling tall stories just so we can beat the 44xs. Unfettered, the Bass Tohatsu is very competitive, but has not yet blown away the competition when raced unfettered. (Lots of NW testimony on that subject) I thought parity was what the SORC wanted, but not what Ed wants, or at least cannot see it or will not hear it. Yes I want the Tohatsu to blow away the 44xs and take over all the records and national awards. It may some day, but not this year.

Dan thanks again for moderating this issue. Emotions have been very high. I can only hope that Ed you will see the truth in the matter and quit second-guessing the facts as presented. Ed, why not wash your hands of the issue, give it to the whole SORC to rule on? Over and out,
Neil Bass

[DeanFHobart]

Won The Battle Not The War

Neil,

Ed has won the battle but not the war.

__________________________________________________ _____

Message To Mr. Ed Hearn:

Why don't you quit arguing like an attorney and go boat racing?

[ricochet112]

liability issue

Neil, please speak to a lawyer about the liability issue. One cannot think like a rational, logical, moral person when it comes to liability litigation. One must think like a thief with no accountability, or a prosecuting attorney. Thats not a slam on you Ed, just the truth about corrupt, greedy humans.

It would be a shame to have a law suit because someone crashed their boat and sued you. Have a lawyer draw up a legal contract for you.

[QUINAULTRACING]

Where Are You Coming From ????

Note: I disagree with Mr. Bass that the engine is unsafe at 1/2" or 1" as I continue to believe that the trend towards lowering engines on the transom is in the best interests of saftety for competition outboards. The Stock Outboard Category of the APBA has been the leader in this area. All other Categories and Organizations have followed the lead of SO. Ed Hearn.[/QUOTE]


Ed, To disagree with someone, you first have to understand the problem. This is not about engine heights, yes it is nice to get your engine as low as possible. This is not about towers. And yes it would be nice if everyone had 2", 4" or what ever size tower they wanted to help get the center of gravity as low as you can. This thread, I do believe is about a gear case designed with a bubble large enough to handle the size gears it takes to with stand the torque that large displacement gas and oil engine put on one. In doing so it (at speeds to run properly) will plane on its own. Lifting the rear of some hulls (mostly D stock hydro) out of the water, making it unsafe to drive. If the height rule in DSH has been 0", why change it for a new unit designed to run at 0" ??? If there is something I am missing something please let me know. Steve August

[nicf14]

I still don't see why the unit won't work. With the 500 - 700 we run big units with big gears 3/4" below the bottom. Sound's like the unit needs work. I would not use a lower unit that I could not lower below the bottom of the boat.

[14-H]

Keep it going?

It is hard to keep arguing with you, Mr. Bass, when you continue to ignore the fact that IT IS ABSLUTELY LUDICRIOUS TO SAY THAT HIGHER IS SAFER. While I see no problem with 1/2", I will NEVER vote to put your engine at 0.0. In fact, I will not even call a meeting to order where such a proposal is on the agenda. Quite to the contrary, if more parity is needed, I would look to lowering the Mercuries on the transom. You can argue your design all day long. But I have run boats long enough to know that higher on the transom reduces, proportionately, stability in handling of the ride of a race boat. Additionally, it is interesting that you failed to tell anyone that you claim that your lower units are unsafe running with a height restriction when you submitted this engine for acceptance by the SORC.

Moreover, you have ignored the point that you support the lower restriction on the runabout for your SAME LOWER UNIT but not on the hydro. And you have also conveniently ignored those who say they run your unit near the 1/2" height in other classes and categories with stability and find that they lose stability as they go higher on the transom. You have not provided one explanation for this other than to attack, personally, one of the individuals who suggested this was the case (and there have been others). And you have ignored the point that all of these "unsafe test boats" that have run your engine on them were not designed for your engine: they were designed for Mercuries; and you have ignored the fact that this same phenomenom came about with the introduction of the 45SS on a hydro in Stock and Mod (instability) and it was not until the engine started being run on boats specifically built for the 45SS engine, that stability came to those outfits.

You can complain as long and as much as you would like. I do grow tired of re-hashing the same points over and over again. But, I can keep it up as long as you do. Everyone knows that your motivation is to make the Tohatsu go faster so it will beat the Mercuries and win the Nationals. "Safety" is just the vehicle to get you to that point. How convenient.

[f8andbethere]

ED, solve the freaking problem!!!!!

Stop being a freaking lawyer for just 30 seconds and solve the problem.
The problem is that there is not an effective process for submitting a new engine. FIX THE PROCESS!

The Basses have been jerked around far too long by the SORC and the Mercury Mafia. If you want the sport to grow, then fix the problem. If you need to talk to someone who can help you, I can give you references with other motorsport agencies such as the AMA or SCCA etc.

But if you want the sport to grow -- and let's face the fact that over the last 20 years we have seen a decay of membership that directly correlates to a lack of viable engines -- FIX THE PROCESS.

This will take you and those who are to come after you off the hot seat and allow engine manufacturers to support the sport with the fear of political reprisals.

f/8

[nbass]

Ed is wrong

Ed, you are just plain wrong! Time will bring out the truth. I too am done trying to tell you anything, after all, you already know more than anyone else. Re-think your motives and quit worrying about my motives.
Neil