phragle

iTrader: (3)

I read on the internet that Briggs and Stratton is sponsoring OPGP......

Matt Trulio

Production-built V-bottoms from Fountain, Formula and Donzi were the backbone of Factory 1 and 2. That segment has struggled, and is still struggling, to come back from the damage done during the recession. And chances are it will never be what it was when Factory-class racing was flush with competitors and companies such as Formula were offered contingency purses for podium finishes. Those days are never coming back.

Also, near the end of the Factory-class hey-day, the battle between Fountain on Formula regarding canopies for Factory 2 took its toll. But really, the general decline in the go-fast boat market, especially on the production boat side, was the biggest culprit.

jusabum

Again, it's not rocket science, but when it comes to this sport, WOW, everything is just way too complicated and heading in the wrong direction, no chance for long term growth....unless the idea here is to have ONLY big boat wealthy racers with a minimal chance for growth.

Will this sport ever be great again? I can remember when there was a time that someone could buy a boat, fix it up to race an entry-level class with the dream of moving up into the larger, faster classes - and hopefully one day into a sponsored bad-ass boat.

There needs to be a real-world marketing strategy that satisfies today, tomorrow and the future. The solution is simple and could be fixed easily and quickly, but these organizations can't see the forest for the tree's....If this sport was organized and marketed properly, to the race teams, sponsors, potential sponsor, THE FANS and potential future racers, this sport would get the stickiness it needs and would become attractive to everyone "AGAIN" and the big pictures would be seen by all.

Xtremeracing

When Merc went from the 500 to the 525 that was the start of the fall of factory class.

Pete B

The 525 was one of the best motors out there! SV SVL and SCL all ran those motors, and with the #6 drive made a bullet proof package.

Xtremeracing

It is a great motor, the problem is when you had 20 plus boat running F1 F2 in APBA , and introduce the 525 and running 500 and 525 in the same classes at the same time. Not so good. We all know the result of that, the 525 boats dominated.

Matt Trulio

I had forgotten that part of the equation. Good reminder. The other elements played a role, but that was a really big one.

It's worth noting that the economy of the very late 1990s and very early 2000s was strong, and right around the time APBA Offshore LLC went down the economy was heading south, especially relative to the boating market.

The role of the economy cannot be denied in the ebb and flow of offshore powerboat racing.

UR2late

So why not take a motor like the 520 and implement it as the motor. Add weight to slow down the open boats. You could run 4 classes with one motor.

I guess the days of a bunch of people buying new boats is gone. Running old boats is prob not safe. Sucks to see as a fan. Why can't you take a class like SVL and everyone run the 520 merc or 580 ilmore ? At that point it would make hull and crew the determining factor.

F1-00 Racing

iTrader: (1)

You make great points, as great as I feel Mercury engines are, (coupled with the prices they charge, they obviously feel so as well) and I have had an opportunity to run a few MV8 570's from Ilmor, the pricing is ridiculous. As Matt said the economy is a huge factor. The only class that has any Mercury influence is the Superboat Vee(SBI), SVL(OPA), & SVL(OPGP). All other classes ie Superboat & Supercat have spec motors that can be built by any engine builder. The Superboat class in SBI has taken off and has been very successful since they dont fall prey to the mercury monopoly. Allowing any engine builder to build a motor to spec added to the proper technical enforcement allows costs to be way down due to the competition factor. Heres a break down of the current rules for the Mercury based classes:

OPA- only the discontinued Mercury 525 EFI rebuilt by Mercury and sealed ( $15,000-$20,000 for used motor, $12,000 for the rebuild)(no tech enforcement)

SBI- discontinued Mercury 525 EFI to allowed specs($15,000- $20,000 for used motor;$5,000-$6,000 for upgrades), Vortec HP3 to allowed specs($15,000-$20,000 for new motor), and a new spec motor built by any engine builder($15,000-$20,000 for new motor) (full tech enforcement)

OPGP- Discontinued Mercury 525 EFI rebuilt by Mercury and sealed($15,000-$20,000 for used motor, $12,000 for the rebuild) and a provision that will allow the Mercury 540 as the 525 replacement($43,000 for the new motor)(re-start up org, tech enforcement not known at this point, claims to be able to provide full)

You mention the MV8 570 it is in upwards of the $40,000 mark

I'll let you do the math as its there in black and white but also keep in mind, seals are plentiful and so easy to come by its sick, but rules are rules. Enforcement is the key and writing your rules to allow future growth doesnt hurt either. As Xtreme stated the 500 to 525 debacle was a huge factor in the Factory classes going away, now its crap or get off the pot for the SVL classes to see what they are going to do with the discontinuation of the 525 EFI(no matter how great and reliable it was, its now gone)

Disclaimer: The above rules were pulled directly from the current rule books of each organization, OPA's is listed as 2014, SBI and OPGP is listed as 2015


Isnt this thread about the Unlimited Class? lolol

phragle

iTrader: (3)

You realize there is another company out there making marine motors in the mid 500 hp range, brand new at a much better price point...... And thats before any kind of deal is struck with them....