Nice project Cookie what's the length beam and predicted race weight? Why aren't you using multispeed gearboxes?

[Edited]

Hi Cat, it's 34' and quite narrow although we are still tweaking the drawings slightly. The weight limit for this class is 246kg / metre, so we are hoping to come in as close as possible to 2500kg, the motors weigh 408kg each, and we are using old style ASD6's which are quite light, so it should be possible.

If we get everything just right we are hoping for speeds in the mid 70's, which would be perfect for endurance racing. Patter has been just fantastic and worked with us from the very beginning to get the look that we wanted, and he is now working with Kevin our own guy on the hull, just as soon as they have that all sorted out we'll be starting work!

We don't need the multispeed boxes, they are more money and more complicated, and for endurance racing if I can make it more simple I will!

We will be adding things like double fuel filters, so if one set blocks up we can switch to a new pair, we will also be able to draw fuel from any tank to any motor - anything that keeps us going without any delay is good.

Ummmn - where are the pictures of the best part of the boat?

You mean these?

The hull plug is well under way now, and we have confirmed we will be using Yanmar BY260 diesels, and whilst 520hp seems a bit low for a 34' boat, we are racing in the UK where fuel prices are crazy, and we are aiming for the under 6.5 litre class in Endurance racing - these motors are based on the BMW 3 litre block with a change of mapping and turbo, they are very economical and reliable.

We are also using a pair of ASD6 drives for reliability rather than the standard Bravo drives which a great for leisure use, but for circumnavigating the UK we feel that surface drives win out over conventional drives.

We are still hoping to be on the water for the International Cowes Classic celebrating 50 years of powerboat racing there.

Who's seating do you use?

Keeps us posted,.........the boat looks great!!


Jon

Hope you don't mind my question, But why do the European boats seem to have so many more strake's compared to US boats?

Thanks for the education

Jon

Very nice, cookee and the best of luck to you. I will be following developments of this. That could be a fun boat. :)

We are developing our own as everyone seems to charge a lot of money for those things, our problem is time and we may have to go without for the first boat or buy something in - time will tell!

We got an unbeatable deal on Yanmar diesels - they are based on the 3 litre BMW block and are rated at 260hp or we could get them chipped and they would then be 310hp, either way we are hoping for speeds of around the high 60's or well into the 70's with an uprated pair of motors.

Not sure about the stakes really - the Mannerfelt Bat boats are probably an influence, and we run smaller power here and need all the lift we can get!

The updates are all on the website and Facebook - just type in BananaShark into Facebook and it should take you to our page, become a fan and it will let you know when I put more pictures up - I think! :-)

Here are some photos of how the plug is progressing - the straight strakes are covered in Formica and the curved ones are now painted and nearly ready for polishing, the sides have been roughly cut out and nearly ready for fitting.

Nearly finished stiffening the mould and attaching the turning hardware, we will turn the plug and hull mould over together and get to work on the top half of the boat next. It will be a seamless join where the hull and deck meet.

Nice work! I like the engine compartment vents. Make room for bigger engines and bring that thing to North America!