Anyone ever flipped their cat?
05-13-2002, 04:09 PM
#22
Allergic to Nonsense
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Location: Granite Quarry, NC
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Having backflipped in a tunnels a time or three, there are two words that go through your mind when flipping over backwards...... If you don't know the 2 words........you haven't been there.
As far as cats go........generally speaking..... you probably need at least 110 mph to get a cat over 30 feet to go over backwards...100mph for 26-29 feet......and at least 80mph to blow one over between 21 and 25 feet. Barrel rolls, on the other hand can occur any where over 60 mph........45 if you're "spinning in" and have a heavy nose. A few years ago, one of the F-3 "California Cats" ran in the World's at St Pete. Every time it made the "Pier" turn it rolled way outboard...... (spinning in and nose heavy)....it was screaming (to me anyway)...."I'm going to go over"....and it did...at about 55 mph. It hurt one of the guys on board pretty badly as I recall .......no canopy....but one of those great graphics jobs.......It's a California thing.....$50,000 for paint...... $0.00 for safety.
Be careful out there............water is very mean at speed. For a truly informative example, try this experiment. Look over your boats transom at 25 mph. Try putting your hand down into the water and holding it there. Imagine what would happen at 50-100 mph. Now imagine that actually happening when you're upside down, skimming on your deck, with your body sticking up out of a bolster. ..........
Scary, aint it? Now you understand the reason why canopies are so important.....and why the Factory classes are the most potentially lethal in boat racing...... But, they're the ones with all the sponsoring boat builders....so ....safety can wait until "soon"............."again".
T2x
As far as cats go........generally speaking..... you probably need at least 110 mph to get a cat over 30 feet to go over backwards...100mph for 26-29 feet......and at least 80mph to blow one over between 21 and 25 feet. Barrel rolls, on the other hand can occur any where over 60 mph........45 if you're "spinning in" and have a heavy nose. A few years ago, one of the F-3 "California Cats" ran in the World's at St Pete. Every time it made the "Pier" turn it rolled way outboard...... (spinning in and nose heavy)....it was screaming (to me anyway)...."I'm going to go over"....and it did...at about 55 mph. It hurt one of the guys on board pretty badly as I recall .......no canopy....but one of those great graphics jobs.......It's a California thing.....$50,000 for paint...... $0.00 for safety.
Be careful out there............water is very mean at speed. For a truly informative example, try this experiment. Look over your boats transom at 25 mph. Try putting your hand down into the water and holding it there. Imagine what would happen at 50-100 mph. Now imagine that actually happening when you're upside down, skimming on your deck, with your body sticking up out of a bolster. ..........
Scary, aint it? Now you understand the reason why canopies are so important.....and why the Factory classes are the most potentially lethal in boat racing...... But, they're the ones with all the sponsoring boat builders....so ....safety can wait until "soon"............."again".
T2x
05-13-2002, 04:20 PM
#23
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
T2x,
Funny you mention that incident in St. Pete...We were just discussing that yesterday. I remember that well, as I too saw it coming from three laps prior...I remember that boat teeter-tottering with every pass around that turn. Finally, it happened. It was Thursday's race as I recall.
Funny you mention that incident in St. Pete...We were just discussing that yesterday. I remember that well, as I too saw it coming from three laps prior...I remember that boat teeter-tottering with every pass around that turn. Finally, it happened. It was Thursday's race as I recall.
05-13-2002, 04:24 PM
#24
Registered
I know what you mean!!!
In my younger days I used to do a lot of barefoot water skiing. I did many 42 MPH face plants and it does hurt. I always wore a protective wetsuit which helped take some of the sting out of the fall. I can't imagine hitting the water at 100 MPH, especially without wearing some protective gear. I still think it is a hell of a lot safer than a motor cycle or some of the other land sports that people are doing these days. 
Go fast and be careful!!!
Go fast and be careful!!!
