New boats for 2008?

[epugh66]

The boat has fat, round sponson tips and a tight fitting rear engine cowl.

[epugh66]

David, to answer a question you had, this is how they wanted the Machined Components steering hub mounted. The cables run under the deck till about half way down. The cockpit has space for a small dash board if you want one too. Nice and roomy with the foot pedal for the pipes in place.

[Al Peffley]

Euro Hull Cowl Design

Do you have a picture of the entire cowl installed on the hull (front view to show the air intake scoop) to share? I noticed from recent pictures from European races that the Italian Mostes and Betta cowlings are attached to the coaming via pegs and chords at both ends, instead of using swivel pins on the front of the cowling (like many current US boats.) Is that cowling attachment method preferred by UIM for safety concerns about quick cowling separation, by racing drivers and crews for better maintenance/access reasons, is this method just "cultural", or for some/none of these reasons?

What would be the dimension differences in a O-350 vice a O-250 hull? I am looking at my two boat trailers (one covered, one open) to see if either trailer will carry one of the O-250 hull designs without significant mods (I travel very light)...

Thanks again for the great pics! Impressive work as usual, Gary.

Al

[epugh66]

Gary went to Marietta, OH. for an APR race, he should be back Monday or so.

[HRTV]

New Pugh, the future of Pro boat racing here in the states wow!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Al Peffley]

Thank You for the Assembled View Pics

Great pictures again! It sure has an interesting cowling intake (quite high above the front edge of the cowl compared to the latest pics of Mostes and Betta cowlings on the Web.) Is that air intake configuration a customer-specified feature, or a design that Gary and the motor dealer/manufacturer have developed through a little math & R&D? Maybe I'm asking too many personal questions about your customer's new boat? Hope he is enjoying the pics too...

Al

[epugh66]

Thanks for the compliments. Gary can answer more specific questions when he pops in. I'm pretty sure the air scoop was just carved out of foam till it looked good though.

No one commented yet, but the boat is perhaps the first Pugh hydro built without front air fences. Gary moved them to the rear chines so as to not break with too much tradition.

The boats are now on there way to the Netherlands, they should arrive sometime around the Depue weekend. Hopefully, James will get one on the water soon enough so we can find out if it floats.

[Al Peffley]

Noted Deck Changes

I did note the missing air fences, the narrower air ramps, and I see now that one hull has different sponson edges on the deck. I assume that the bottom is also adapted for the UIM LeMans starts by adding back lift pads or similar aft contours and maybe a shallow wedge in the aft tunnel in front of the motor's foot. Also, I like the steering wheel lines at the bottom of the hub to reduce torque and high tension on the coaming pullies in tight turns. It woud be interesting to hear how they perform (control, lift, tight corner turn, plane achievement, etc.) in initial testing...

Al

[Dave M]

Nice Looking Euro

Gary,

Nice looking boat, I like your cockpit design. Placing the straight walls inside of the curved certainly looks like it should add a new dimension to saftey. Thanks for sharing some photos of a new boat in progress. Not many builders are willing to do this to the general public. I almost certainly gleaned a couple ideas from those pics. If one looks at enough photos and compares to own ideas, we can make a safe hull eventually. I hope your new hull works out for James. Knowing James, he will work it out in short order.

Someone mentioned a couple points I liked. Cost being one. These new designed cockpit walls are expensive, period. Expect to pay the asking price for this new design, and it will be more than traditional boats. Not many racers want to fork out over 4K for a hydro, but it seems this is going to be the norm in a few years. We all know builders don't make a lot of cash on building boats unless they build a ton of them each year, probably over 50 hulls a year to make a living at it. On average it takes about 40 hours to build a hull if you know a little about building.

Another important note was driver ramps we rest on while driving a laydown. In my opinion those of you that lay on the floor of the boat with little more than a small cushion to elevate your head to see over the sides are asking for trouble. You need to have a ramp that is above your steering system. If you ever stuff the boat your head meets steering hub and wheel and cable. Guess what, your neck is not nearly as strong as those parts. In my two latest designs the driver is well above the steering system in case of a stuff, or even a collision that would eject them through the front. In no way do I want them to be in contact with the steering system. Your helmet and kevlar will protect you from the shards of a windshield and a one layer front cowl. My front cowls in my design will break off most likley in the event a driver exits through them. The ramp is positioned to "ramp" them over the cowl anyway, and if any part of them hits it, it will be legs I hope. And one point I like to make, is my ramps are solid with padding added. When you impact something to eject you through the front, your weight is bearing down on the ramp, simply only a cusion is going to compact and not elevate you above the steering system.

These are just some of my opinions and observations, take them or leave them, your choice. These opinions are not pointed at ANYONE in particular, builder, racer, or spectator.

[gpugh6]

I did not put ramps in because in my experience, no matter what shape I use, the driver will want something different. So until there is somewhat of a consensus, I leave that up to the driver.
I am somewhat amused at all the concern about having a free exit through the front of the boat, guess what? Going head first into the water isn't going to be any picnic, I really don't recomend it.
I think that is why we builders have designed boats to try and prevent the nose dive, and I can't really recall many or any since the 80's
gary

[Guest]

Kurps

I did not put ramps in because in my experience, no matter what shape I use, the driver will want something different. So until there is somewhat of a consensus, I leave that up to the driver.
I am somewhat amused at all the concern about having a free exit through the front of the boat, guess what? Going head first into the water isn't going to be any picnic, I really don't recomend it.
I think that is why we builders have designed boats to try and prevent the nose dive, and I can't really recall many or any since the 80's
gary

A blow over can launch the driver thru the front cowling upon impact. I did it in '89 and still have the injuries 19 years later.
Kurps

[David Weaver]

Rear Cowling

A blow over can launch the driver thru the front cowling upon impact. I did it in '89 and still have the injuries 19 years later.
Kurps

Bill,

That is interesting.

I always assumed (incorrectly) that you nose dove in that incident. I am curious to hear any ideas/opinions regarding how rear cowlings are attached to boats. On my Pugh, the cowling should break-away in a flip, thus allowing the driver to exit (for better or worse). I see many cowlings strapped on tight, thereby almost assuring that the driver will remain in the boat.

David

[Guest]

Bill,

That is interesting.

I always assumed (incorrectly) that you nose dove in that incident. I am curious to hear any ideas/opinions regarding how rear cowlings are attached to boats. On my Pugh, the cowling should break-away in a flip, thus allowing the driver to exit (for better or worse). I see many cowlings strapped on tight, thereby almost assuring that the driver will remain in the boat.

David

In my case, my rear cowling was held in place with 4 small diameter bungee cords. I laid on the boat's floor board with my upper body supported by a wooden wedge structure covered with 2” of close cell foam. The front of the wedge was about 4” tall, tapering down to the floor board.

The blow-over occurred at a speed over 100 mph. I landed the first time upside down still in the boat, all seemed OK. The second impact drove my right knee thru the floor board and boat bottom causing permanent damage. At the same time my helmet crashed into the middle of the steering wheel as I was launch thru the windshield and front cowling. My Bell helmet was ripped from head. I tried to hang on to the steering wheel with my right arm which extended the arm causing permanent nerve damage to hand, arm and shoulder. The boat right sponson air dam broke into my right leg causing a deep cut that was about 2 ½ feet long. I was picking wooden splinter out of my leg 6 months after the accident.

A couple of years later I tried to drive a lay-down using a foot throttle without much success. Two years after that I started construction on the capsule hydro.

[bh/]

I did not put ramps in because in my experience, no matter what shape I use, the driver will want something different. So until there is somewhat of a consensus, I leave that up to the driver.
I am somewhat amused at all the concern about having a free exit through the front of the boat, guess what? Going head first into the water isn't going to be any picnic, I really don't recomend it.
I think that is why we builders have designed boats to try and prevent the nose dive, and I can't really recall many or any since the 80's
gary

I do not see o/b hydros 'stuffing' the way they used to.
This one I drove 40yrs ago in A/B alky stuffed twice on me. 1st time it had a small wind screen which left me with minor fore arm cuts; -2nd time we had dispensed with the cowl, and I ramped forward clear of the wheel and boat.
I think today we would have used a smaller wheel and mounted it lower. That Kainer was all I had then.
This boat stuffed going down wind, and as it was only 10' long, I was not able to get back far enough in it, and pack more air.
NB; -much progress in driver safety equipment over the last 40yrs,

[Dave M]

Euro

Gary,

You are so right in ramp placement and configuration. Better left to the driver for comfort, as comfort will prevent an accident as much as design can.

Thanks again for the nice pics of that boat, I think the rear cowl gives that boat a very sweet look, nice job.

Tell Art we all say hey.