Racing Opinions
 

What a great 3 days of watching all the KW races. I'd like to do this some day. From my computer my opinions are

1) Racing in a cat (any cat) looks dangerous (and I'm a cat owner).... I thought the Vees looked more stable. Every race today "almost" had a cat blow over.

2) I like the racing where all boats are subject to the same limitations...i.e. money can't buy you a win (sort of). The Superboat class is my favorite followed by the SB stock. Really my least favorite is the SB unlimited. It seems like even people who throw millions of dollars out still can't hardly finish a race.

3) Superboat Extreme - puts on a really good show. I like the fact that they are big, fast, loud, and they finish the race. It seems this would be a more expensive class the SB stock but less expensive than Superboat. 6-8 of these guys going at once would be fun to watch.

4) All the racers had to get the crap beat out of them today.

Lot's of fun to watch and I'm glad there were no tragedies (I really thought Geico was going over).

.

I went back to the recordings and wow, that was a sight to see!

Video Credit: http://superboat.com http://new.livestream.com/sbi/keywest2014 click on "Sunday Race #3"

http://i1238.photobucket.com/albums/...9at64004PM.png

That Lucas Oil boat flew so level was quite amazing to see. Interested to see how it would go as a pleasure boat now, and if it will get any interest especially after it's showing today.

I thought Geico was going over. My hart stopped an I lost my breath. Love that team. Artie

Did they announce they are selling?

Would it work for SB Extreme?

the announcer said 1000 hp, imagine if it had twin 1650s?

In the water they had today, I bed they could of pulled off a 1st place finish if they had the 1650's or even 1500's. The power difference between them and the big cat teams was pretty huge.

@Orthobam

http://www.silverhook.com/Models.html

That was scary, those guys took a beating today. So Orthobam what are you thinking racing a V instead of a cat?

With zero experience and no knowledge but a very absolute budget I would say SB stock, SB Vee, or SB Extreme.

I have spoken with one of the Superboat teams and their budget is about 3x what my budget would be....except I would only want to run 3 or 4 races per year. I would not want to travel away from my perfectly good summer LOTO home to beat myself up in a race boat. I would run the spring and early summer races then KW. So with few races and fewer expenses I might be able to swing the Superboat (if a viable used one came available). Oh, except that that is waaaayyy to much boat for me (especially in water like today). No matter what I would want an experienced throttle guy to lead me along.

I'd like to rally some of my LOTO troops, pool our resources and go out and just have fun. Split the seat time and expenses. Keep an established throttle guy the whole season and rotate drivers.

Just dreaming now but having fun looking at options.

Bam- it's not Poker running- the fun part is COMPETING AND TRYIN TO WIN!! :)

If you're on a budget, build a bracket boat and race OPA. More boats in the bracket classes, a race at LOTO, etc.
www.oparacing.org

Bret:
In the past, I have raced in "V Extreme", "P1", and for the past 5 years SV( SVL). Give me a ring this week and give you some insight on some options to consider. We find LOTO is the ideal place to get dial in a race/poker run boat.

Having done it for a few years and if I were to do it over, I would build either a Super Stock boat or Vee Lite.

SS has the best fleet, rules, and was the funnest boat I ever had.

SVL is a thrill on a budget but they are always whinning and cheating or accusing each of it.

:ucas Oil is a Vee bottom rudder boat?

They said Lucas oil has a little over 600hp less a side then geico, that boat was just flat out impressive in the water conditions on sunday. Never saw them even have a sketchy moment, hammered down and rocked through with ease.

I like the P3, P4, and SVL classes, it would be awesome to do P3 in a 35 or 38 staggered fountain. Budget wise unless got a great sponsor, P4 would be about it for me, and thats not really in my budget lol. Not saying superboat unlimited and superboat classes aren't cool, but the budget is insane.

Oh and how about Snowy Mountain Brewery, that outerlimits is legit. They said they made them lower the drive height an inch to slow them down, that boat ran trimmed out on the edge all the time, hats off to them.

They will build Silverhook race and pleasure models for a prospective buyer. Nigel owns the company, Silverhook Powerboats, and is eager to build more boats.

No it's too heavy

The Lucas Oil boat is an Ocke Mannerfelt design, based on the same hull as the V-24 "batboats". Through hull design and weigh distribution they have a tendancy to fly pretty straight and level. They like the rough water allot. Vector Powerboats make a pleasure boat based on the same design. Chris Reindl races V24's and won the OPA National and World titles this year in Class 6.

Sorry about the hijack.

Junior and I talked to Nigel Hook, the owner and throttleman, in detail a couple of years ago when he had it at the Shootout (static display at Captain Rons). His company offers a full race build on this boat. Nigel started his racing in a V24, like several others.

I think slv or another production class would fun. After that just seams to be most money wins. Also being a drag car bracket racer it's fun knowing you can bust the speed and lose.

One nice thing about bracket racing is there isn't a class that you need a new, $200,000+ boat to win with. Look at us, boat from 1982 and doing fairly well with it. It's fantastic, and has to be some of the closest racing in offshore. We've had some epic battles over the years with new and old boats.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSduiml0fjA

SB extreme could be really cool with more boats. They said one of the fountains was going down next year, so that makes three. Looks like the cat 750 and OB class are the most competitive.

I'm sure the bracket racing is fun for the participants. Not a huge fan of watching though.

Nigel's boat rocked. Would have been awesome with 1500s+ in it to make those big cats work for it. Might have been a blowover though!

Does anyone know where the Sunday race 2 video went? It isn't on the site. Did something happen?

Long before he got into a bat boat, Nigel started racing in a 21' Superboat in California and prior to that he had raced outboards in England. I drove for him a few times in his 26' Scarab in California.

Speaking of newer designs possibly race boats, isn't AMF (Geico) supposed to be building a new hull off of a Gary Stray design for next year or the year after?

SilverHook Powerboats - Superboat Extreme
 

She's not too heavy! This first SilverHook hull was purpose built for the rough water races in Europe (so yes, this one is a little on the heavy side).
That being said, the reason Nigel is not racing Extreme is because of the back-to-back rule changes forcing an engine change so now there isn't anyone to race against (in the Extreme class). Nigel supports a spec engine class, but until 3 other boats are showing up regularly, why buy new engines and spend a bunch of money re-rigging to just race against nobody?

If you're interested in building a SilverHook to race in the Extreme class, give me a call or email me.

Janet 619.733.1428
www.SilverHook.com
[email protected]

" I'm sure the bracket racing is fun for the participants. Not a huge fan of watching though."

Then you must not have watch the AC race this year. Just sayin

Hogie roll
check out: opa, port Huron race 2014, class 6. Start.
you might want to change your mind.

Brett, just step up and buy a 32' Doug Wright and race SS/OB cat class. By far the most bang for the buck and they are actually a tight and fun group of racers.

Look at the lap times for KW, even from Sunday, and tell me that doesn't read like a blast. :champs:

Monohulls are definitely more stable and safer than cats
 

Watch our onboard video and decide for yourselves... I'm pretty sure the Cat guys were not placing orders for tea!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MomYlkHJJT0

That was awesome Nigel and team! The motors sounded great and the boat was flying perfect all race!

No matter the class in offshore racing, north or south, bracket or spec, racing is wallet racing. Down to can you afford a bravo 1 prop(s) or that fancy Herring 6 blade. Can you afford to send the prop(s) out 20 times to dial it in right with your boat? Some can and some cant. Props are just an example, you can add, blueprinting bottoms and drives, the list could go on and on. I am one of the few that race on both sides of the fence and have a great time at both places for different reasons. The one drawback to racing bracket classes is that I dont care if you have 100 boats in your class, you are just racing a computer(gps). Does this take skill? Absolutely, however the trick is build huge stupid power and get to your number, run 1/2 to 3/4 throttle hoping you dont go over the speed limit. Being a throttleman in the brackets, I really never saw any racing going on, not because there wasnt, it was the fact that I had to stare at a GPS screen the whole race and since i was on such a tight rope with the speed limit, I couldnt afford to look up. I did once and got DQ'd for going .04 mph over my bracketed speed(not fun). On the spec side, per the letter of the rule book, you have equal power and similar boats, it boils down to driver/throttleman skills which determines the winner, however spec takes tech in order to make sure things are equal. Offshore doesnt have the Nascar/Indy budgets to give complete tech, some groups dont even have any tech, but thats not a bad thing, the racers are happy with that.... The one huge drawback to SVL right now is that the rules are based around a discontinued motor(525 EFI) SBI is working on a new motor package that is similar in spec to the 525 with the opportunity for any engine builder to build them. Everyone is still awaiting the rules for this new package. It doesnt make to much sense to buy a new boat and be forced to buy a 5-10 year old motor....

Yeah some negativity above, however the racers are a great group of people, I wouldnt trade it in for the world, being involved with the JD Byrider Vee team this past week and how everyone rallied around us even to the point of giving me a choice of motors to chose from, you cant replace the comradery. And to even see arch enemies put aside their differences and work side by side cleaning up the mess, I was in total awe. Its a feeling that really cant be put into words...

Good luck if you chose to join the racing ranks, the are all kind of options. Once you speak with Doc, I am sure he will steer you in the right direction and help you chose your best option(s)

Nigel it sounded like you were having fun. Congratulations on the finish.

Getting closer to becoming a reality......

Nice! We will be in LOTO for the shootout if you would like to take a test ride in one of our boats or talk racing! 702 228-2628
Chris Reindl

Bret
Can chat at LOTO Shootout.
Put a team together to either Compete or Dominate.... .............do your homework and set your sights on the later........

Doc

It's finally going to happen.

Performance Boat Center finishing the boat up Tuesday and headed to Cocoa Beach.

Nothing like a shake down run, first time in the seat at the event....


http://superboat.com/2017/01/m-con-06/

[QUOTE=Orthobam;4553928]It's finally going to happen.

Performance Boat Center finishing the boat up Tuesday and headed to Cocoa Beach.

Nothing like a shake down run, first time in the seat at the event....

SAWEEEET!! Good luck guys!!!


[url]http://superboat.com/2017/01/m

That is fantastic! Hopefully the live feed will be working so that we can watch the races live. It will be great for you to get this first one under your belts.
Be safe..........but give it hell!

Be Safe!!!!! and Have fun!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!