If You Wanted To Race?
 

I didn't put this in the General Race section because I wanted opinions of other's who haven't raced in Offshore also and may be thinking about getting into it.

The only boat racing I have done is in "KneeBangers" years ago and RC:D. My wife and I were considering buying the old IN M'OCEAN package when Jerry had it for sale in Keywest after the '02 World's, but then illness hit and we didn't do anything for over two years (way too much boat to start with anyway).

I have read every rule I can possibly think of and still have not figured it out. There is OSS, SBI, APBA, OPA, POPRA, etc. Any boat legal to run in all?

Finally to my question:

If you were starting from zip, (thought about stripping the Scorpion and running it, but the guys from CatCanDo convinced me that running with my wife means a canopy boat period), what would you do? Criteria, as I see it;

1. The boat must be legal for P Class in OPA/POPRA and P Class in SBIP/APBA (possible?). The reason is to run more races with minimum travel.
2. Must have a canopy, (Batboat?/Canopied Cat?).
3. Should be able to be repowered and run in the main classes after a year or two? (Once again in multiple organizations).
4.? Anyones input.

My thought is a P5 boat to stay in the 30' range for $ and ease of travel, then repower for a class such as ?, but P5 in OPA is single or dual and P5 in OSS is single only. Is all of this just a figment or is there a way to do it? Thoughts?

I raced in an "A" boat from 90-94. I now own a 38 Donzi Comp and have no plans of racing. I love off-shore racing but the maintenance and upkeep can be staggering. You also have to look at insurance and lack there off when racing. That aside,
If I could afford to competitively race again, I would definitely run a canopy boat with harnesses and air. I broke a few ribs, and almost got tossed more than once in the old open boats.
Being new to racing as you are, I would recommend a V-bottom to get started. For single engine, the Bat boat could be good but I would look more at an Activator or Superboat. I had a 29' Kryptonite and would highly recommend that but I don't think they are making them right now and they never made a canopy boat.

Buy a canopied Super V Lite with a SEALED 525 and race it ANYWHERE you want. There is a husban wife team "UNDER DESTRUCTION" racing with OSS. Tem Wild Card in OSS has a stock 2003 525 in the boat that has NEVER been apart. Good Luck & Be Safe. I would love to tell you to buy a twin outboard boat but it is not the best starter class.

You can race any boat in P -Class .

Just need a GPS and VHF RADIO, Helmets and your good to go.

And your wife will be fine inany boat if she realy whants to race.
They had an all ladies Team in F1 ( Twisted Chix )
They raced a 30 foot Phantom ,open cockpit at 85 + MPH.

Hell, i sell you mine.
Complette race ready fresh motor and # 4 SSM. Incl. everything you need.

Not sure which class this is, but if you want competition this seems to be the class to be in. Easy to transport and if they use sealed engines then that "should" keep costs down.

Those are OSS Super V light like Beckley said.

Buy a P Class boat they are cheaper and less expensive to operate. No sealed motors which need to inspected (sent to Mercury). More races, races closer to you. Next year you will have 3 OPA races in your back yard. More boats to race against. 15 boats in Class 5 is normal. No entry fees, $750 annual registration fee. Race with at least 8 Michigan Teams. Finally, P Class racing will always be around.

I also have a bat boat for sale with a Merc 337 Scorpion and Bravo One on an Aluminum Myco Trailer for sale at a great price. Perfect Class 5 or 6 boat. Fast, small enough to put in your Garage and safe enough to run with your wife. You could have the whole thing for the price of just the power in a Vee Lite.

Hell, I'll be your dock hand if you need one! Ive been looking for away into racing since I was 18...There's a really nice Phantom in the classifieds but it has no power and is a big boat!

Gimme a shout if you need help...
hill_ryan at hotmail.com

SVL, race it P or spec class.... gives you the chance to race wherever and whenever you want.... canopy, long lasting 525, easily towable....

Best bang for the buck and safest is an SVL run a STOCK sealed motor and change the OIL & FLUIDS and you'll be good to go. You can run a SVL boat in P4, P3, or SVL. In OSS svl the race have no entry fee and good prize money and you ONLY race boats similar to yours with the SAME motor. You don't have to "WORK" on your motor for it to be competitive in OSS SVL and last but not least you have Mercury at the races to work on it an Mercury's per race & yearly contingency.....

If we were going to do it again. I would not change a thing.

A canopy is a must if your wife is in the boat.

A SVL boat gives you the option of racing in any org.

The 525 is almost bullit proof. A 525 might cost more but also hold there value + Mercury support

How fast does your wife want to go?

How tough is she?

We debated on running OPA vs OSS. If you only plan on racing a few races its a good place to start, and some races are close to home for you.

If you plan on racing hard and don't like speeding tickets OSS all the way.

I thought the Bat Boats had a Lease program a few years back for race boats. I thought that was a really cool way to see if you want to race with out laying out the dough right away. Just a thought??

Will

You can "rent" a seat in a bat boat a selected race contact Chris Reindl about it......

Chris Reindl
One Design Racing, LLC
(513) 706-3199
(480) 593-0407
9600 Whitegate Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45243

I'd recommend attending a few races so you can see the difference in the way the events are run. See what's more to your liking. The next OSS race is in Lake of the Ozarks at the Horny Toad on Sept 26 -28.

Vee Lite is the biggest bang for the buck and you can also race it in OPA or SBI in P4 class. OSS offers no entry fee racing to the Vee Lite class and still pays out a purse. Typhoon walked away with over 4k in Orange Beach for the VL win. Overall, we payout a $50,000 purse at every race. The purse money is broken up based upon the number of boats in the class, so the more boats in your class, the larger the payout.

If you would like a document showing the benifits of racing with OSS, just send me an email.

Thanks
Ron
[email protected]

I thought P5 had to be 30' or less, perfect conditions no more than 75 in OSS/OPA and 72 in SBI/APBA?

It looks like SVL is the class everyone says is best starter class. The boats would be legal for P5 with power which would allow it to not exceed 72mph in SBI/APBS and 75mph in OSS/OPA? Then legal in SVL with a sealed 525? It looks like the SVL's averaged over 90mph in Havasu and around 80+ in the offshore races.

Real question, not my usual sarcasm; Why are all the SVL's Phantoms or Extremes, (1 Lavey?) and there are no Fountains?

Thanks, Will try to make it to LOTO. We've been to the world's several times, the old Grand Haven races when the Silver Cup was going on, and to St Clair this year.

Thought about it for St Clair when he said he had a couple left.

The LOTO race last year was off the hook, and this years will be even better with racing Sat and Sun, the heat concept was awesome in Orange Beach..

Fast for her is relative. She falls asleep in the Scorpion at 70+ in 2 to 3's across the back seat, but hates running 70+ in the same water in the Empress.:D Of course 23' with a 18 degree bottom vs 39' with a 24 degree bottom.:rolleyes:

I like the speeding ticket comment, T2x would be proud of you.

Thanks, our garage is 44 by 60 and has all the boats in it now.:cool: Why is a BatBoat not legal for SVL?

just to clarify, there is no p class in oss, if they race together, its under opa, popra or sbi/apba (well maybe not :drink:)

and a svl in p class would be a p4 or 3 boat, and i believe octane won in st clair p4...

svl or superstock would be the two best boats... do you want a vee or a cat?

svl is 525/bravo merc, bat boats run smallblocks and drives of different varieties.... it may not be big enough either?

I was thinking the 28'. Attached an old link to Forbes article.
http://www.forbes.com/2001/02/19/0219feat.html

If you had one built with a 525 Merc package or modified an older one?

Someday a cat, start with a vee.

the 28 isnt canopied though, so not svl or OSS in general, legal.... although Chris wants to build one. :drink:

I was thinking Armada built some canopied 28's? Didn't they race the 28 canopied in Europe?

The Bat Boat IS NOT legal for SVL. Years ago the hulls proved to be TOO GOOD to compete against V hulls.

Talk to Seroff about his Phantom race boat for sale. A Canopied 30' Phantom would NEVER be legal in P 5 class as I understand it.

That's what it looks like to me. Probably P3 against 40'+ boats with twins? Why would the 28 Bat Boats be illegal? It seems to fit all the rules if it had a 525Merc and Canopy?

The Bat boats are illegale due to a "wing" which provides lift.

Thanks.

The hull is "TOO EFFECIENT" to compete against normal V hulls. It relies on it's "WINGS" and narrow wetted surface to make it run better. The is not a full canopied 28' in the States anyway other than mcCombs tandem canopy in Sarasota that has seen better days. If you want to keep it simple and NOT re invent the wheel buy an Extreme or a Phantom there are a few out there for sale.

Because of the wings.
Most svl run P-4 with OPA, P-3 with SBI, and in big seas it is obvious the bigger twin engined boats will fare better, Although one "Stickerboy" AKA Ryan Beckley had to run P-2 in his 24 ft Skater and did fairly well. If you want all out get up and go, race OSS, limit your speed p-class. remember with OSS you would be facing the "ruler of the seas"

http://i257.photobucket.com/albums/h...9/099db311.jpg

Don't see that name on there?:evilb:

ask randy

So if I have this right, there is no boat that is legal and competitive in all associations unless you run in the "P" classes? Or do all associations recognize twin outboard and one boat would fit all?

Not sure why Beckley warned you off, but I'd rather be in a cat outboard than a SVL any day. Two 280's vs a single sealed SVL motor? And it is a cat and not a V??? Someone enlighten me...:cool:


BTW I am the patrol boat that offered a free tow to the SVL at Kenner that was drifting near the rocks but was afraid to use the tow boat. Twins rule.:ernaehrung004:

Probably because it is a little more expensive, didnt warn anyone off just saying for a new team under a tight budget SVL would be the way to go.

Anything with twins that races is twice the money and can be twice the headache

Probably doesn't want to see us upside down.:rolleyes:

I wasn't there, but myself and I'm sure everyone who has witnessed SeaTow thanks you.

My Extreme the blue one with flames above is available, with or without power. SVL is a great class! and the cheapest pure race class to run. Don't know why the superstock outboard cat class isn't bigger here, this is also a great class, overseas 20 plus of theses boats make the starts, and is the only truly international class with all racing bodies following the same basic rules, canopied twin outboard cats 28 upto 32 ft, and is probably the next cheapest class to run. All boats fit into a P class, as P class is basically determined by the speed of the boat.