If you look at the rules for OPA and SBI the max speed is limited to 150-155mph at anytime. This should allow piston boats to compete competitively. I believe early on this was P-Extreme class.

I agree spectators want to see the big dogs. Running turbine and piston boats in the 150-160mph speed range would give the fans what they want to not exclude participants.

whats the bigger picture?

there's a difference between a nisance and having unsustainable costs.

Since the N2 (power turbine) governor is set to full open position it is definately "Mongo's Magic Throttle Arm" that keeps the engine from over speeding, especially since a turbine would tend to lag behind rapid throttle movements. (which just gives me that much more respect for those guys)
In layman's terms the engines are actually quite simple. They usually have two sets of turbine wheels. One called the "gas producer" which does nothing more than drive the compressor in the front of the engine and the "power turbine" which drives the prop. (these two sets of turbine wheels have no connection to each other whatsoever which is why they are called a "Free Turbine") The N2 governor controls the speed of the power turbine (prop speed) by changing the speed of the gas producer (compressor). As the prop becomes loaded and begins to slow down the N2 governor senses this, adds more fuel, and speeds up the gas producer (which increases the air flowing through the engine and increases the speed of the power turbine) The opposite is also true for when the prop becomes unloaded (less fuel= less air past the turbine wheels=slower prop) With the governor out of the picture the throttle man has total control of the N1 and N2 speeds (gas producer and power turbine) and must keep an eye on exhaust gas temp, torque, and turbine speeds (times two engines).
I must admit I like the sound of big piston engines in boats more, but in the world of racing power to weight is key. The T53 used in the UH-1 produced about 1400 hp and 1700 ft/lbs of torque all for only 550 lbs (which equals abt 2.5 lbs/hp).
So there's your quick layman's answer...........I think I'm going to pour myself a drink:drink:

To have a sport - do what they do in Europe, less classes and more smaller boats = more boats period. They have heads up racing and people like that, 12 classes here with S's, P's, 6's, 2's & F's (you know what I'm saying here) all running around here is stupid!

I like some here started racing in the early/mid 80's and was there for when the US sport was at it's biggest when near 100 boats could be at a race - it was and still is possible.

If there were no unlimited class boats the veiwers would never know.

I think people/fans related to the 4 engine superboats more than a turbine boat, they made noise, had commonality with the "boat you drive to work everyday" ie NASCAR. A turbine boat is "look at that it's cool" a psiton boat is "hey, I could get those headers or blower for my boat too". Agree, though the costs keep these boats to a min and that hurts everyone else not help them.

In Europe they have more outboard classes, we need that here as well, you have cut the courses down to nothing but a short track oval anyway - race the right boats on them.

Really does anyone think people really want to see 40' cats racing on a 2 mile oval in the middle of a river - the only people that do are the people that own the boats themselves, their familes and some people that come out 1 time to watch and then say "this is boring" - oh I forgot there are 12 additonal people who come out every year because they have nothing else to do!

And all this bracket racing you have today in the lower classes is BS, this will never be NHRA and people do not go to the NHRA events for bracket cars they go for heads up. Bracket racing is more for the racers than the viewers and if what you've done here is for the racers than you got what you wanted - a sport that the public thinks is foolish and doesn't care to watch!

just my 2 cents

To expand on HJ's comments:

I think the speeds of the boats matter relevant to the course size. I don't care if the course is 2,4 or 20 miles. It needs to be spectator friendly.

I could watch 4-6(or more) SVL's race and be fine with it. It it didn't take them FOREVER to circle a long course. Make the races heads-up. Put like speed boats out at the same time(OC and SV) or whatever.

Nothing ruins racing(for me) more than having nothing happening while a 60ish mph boat is 4 miles away running a course. Maybe if the slower boats ran shorter courses you could hold interest. And confine the viewing area.

When the BIG DOGs run, have them run farther and you get the same interest level. Maybe even have MULTIPLE screens set up in the original smaller viewing area.

I could go on but I'll probably get flamed for this anyways.

Cash Bar - well said!

I feel old and cranky and one more ***** - I could take my then 14 yr old son in an APBA JS and race but can't take him in an offshore boat even as a navigator or as we had years ago a "rider" like in PTM Express the fourth guy who was right behind Phil was to wipe his azz I thought (really I would have given anything to be in that spot!!) - if you can't have family involved and start kids early there is no future sport. Look at all the father and sons who have raced, I bet not too many people here can name them all! If we had the little outboard classes or the 24' classes like Charlie was pushing you could get your kids into it as well if the rules changed.

How many 16 or 17 years want to go to a race and watch daddy run the boat? They rather stay home on Xbox or update facebook then sit there like a hump.

Well you sure deserve a drink after all that typing. :eek: :drink: You are the MAN. I'm gonna send it to myself in an email so I can save it for all time. :D

Oh and thank you for taking the time to increase my knowledge of turbines and how they operate. :)

I agree with the 3 or 4 classes idea.But without the big budget guys and a forum for them where would or technology be,straight six tower of power and a plywood boat.

Can anyone tell us about the exploding turbines?