Tohatsu in Yukon 800

[Arcticracer]

I thought you all might be interested to see one of the Y800 boats running the Tohatsu engine. That is, with the standard mid and lower unit w/nosecone, etc. There is only one running at present, the rest are Yammies. Thinking it is the same powerhead as the D engine but not sure, 42.5 ci triple.

[Gootz 142M]

That Boat

Just might be right for Top "O"

[Arcticracer]

Top "O", maybe not....

Well, these rigs have long legs, takes awhile to get spooled up and floating. They need the air under em to fly. If the turns aren't really tight they would do very well. In the tight stuff maybe not.

[MGallagher]

Add one more race to the list for me!

[ram95]

yeah.... them are som kooool photos. My guys wanna know who the chic is in the light blue shirt juss to the ryte of 77.

But seriously.... if that's possible... How long are those boats and how fast do you get them to go. Man... that's a long drive up there from Richmond Maine.
The MAD RUSSIAN 12A

[Arcticracer]

Y800 Boats

Hi Ram95-

About the boats, they are required by club rules to be 24 feet long. Some have been as long as 26. Speed? Highest true GPS speed I have heard is 78. Do the math..... Course is 800 miles (400 on day 1, 400 on day 2), downriver run record is 5:36:22 (71.35mph), day 2 upriver record 6:10:39 (64.75 mph), overall record 11:52:43 (67.35 mph).

I perfect run means NON-STOP, (not a typo) with about 45 gallons gas. When I first moved here 20 years and came to my first race I could not believe what I was seeing. They are quite a bit faster now. Lots of homebrew ingenuity, engineering, trial and error, guts, and river knowledge by guys (and gals) who grew up on the rivers. The river system is the main transportation system of most of Alaska, no roads.

What is amazing to me is that the total weight of a rig starting the race is about 1500 lbs with 3 people on board. The end of the run they are a couple hundred lighter. It is surface area and lift helping to unload the weight and aerodynamics that make em fly and run that kind of speed with only 43 ci and stock.

I am just a bench racer who loves hanging around the sport, have done remote checkpoints, radio work etc. I am sure the club would welcome outside racers coming for a visit or better yet, bring some boats!

[Dave M]

Gear

And to boot they carry a rifle to pursuade the bears to not board the ship ! How cool a race is that ? Love it. I have a video he sent me of this race from a few years ago, it is very popular out there. And yes, he is right, knowledge of the river would be key. There are sandbars to hang up on, and shortcuts you can take, but don't take the wrong channel off the main or you might come to a dead end, etc. Lots to the race not just running down the river. The scenery in and of itself woul dbe like a dream come true.

[14-H]

Xtra Gear

Dave: Actually, carrying a firearm is REQUIRED by the rules! An extra powerhead is optional, however, for this race.

[wildstormfilms]

Are there any DVDs of the Yukon 800? I am interested in watching it.

[Arcticracer]

Y800 Video

There are no "professional" DVD's of the Yukon 800. There is however, the DVD I put together from older VHS television coverage, aerial footage from a plane, and my own video from the 2006 event covering the start, a couple interviews, some stuff from the many fans and pits, color, and the first few boats finishing. Also a little video from the 2006 Tanana 440 finish, a little ol' 440 mile race.

Dave and Darrell have the DVD, and I would be happy to send more out. Just contact me for a DVD at no cost, PM or Email me at (powell at mosquitonet.com)

The race is held on Summer Solstice weekend which is around June 21st. All racers (or bench racers) welcome, come on up, with or without boats.

There are a few Youtube videos too:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d9W7Z0gumU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nyg2wK65tKE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OHsPqALdaRE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Netlxbtm2Qg

My short clip from the DVD:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cf1vetwBfKE