I flew in a BAT BOAT!!!! Thanks TOM!!!
 

Bat-Boat Tom drove all the way from San Diego, up to Long Beach last Saturday with his hot-rod Bat Boat in tow to take myself and Kevin on rides!!! I didn't think he was going to ever make it since he's never been up there, but better late than never!

Anyway, we met him at the dock in Long Beach, and OMG!!! That boat is mucho smaller than I ever imagined! When he started to pull up to the dock, I was starting to really wonder what this boat was all about.....I mean, it is only something like 22 feet, with about 600+ HP???? What am I thinking, what am I doing?

My worries lasted about 2 seconds!! :) :) Tom docked his BB and we finally met and talked about the boat while I put on a full LifeLine suit. I have never been in a boat where you are harnessed in with a cockpit and all, so this was quite the adventure. I crawled in, snapped the 5-point belt on, put the helmet on, plugged the intercom in, put the neckbrace on, fastened my hatch, and I was ready for action!!!

We idled out of the no-wake zone while I was telling Tom....."Hey Tom, you don't need to impress me.....okay?" :D :D

He hit the throttle and the boat jumped on plane. The boat is somewhat difficult to see out of, so he asked me to tell him of any boats I saw. So I did........I pointed out the 70 foot Catalina Flyer cat heading towards us, and mentioned that it throws off a pretty good wake. :) My mistake......next thing I know we're heading for the wake at about 70mph.........YAHOOOOOOOOO!!! We flew about 2 boat lengths and landed perfectly. We headed out past the breakwater to the nasty stuff and the BB flew straight and level. Quite the experiance.

Thanks Tom for the experiance. It was really something and we hope to see you in San Diego next month when SCOPE comes down!!!

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Here's TOM!!!

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Very cool ride, did it a few years ago in Sarasota. I was very impressed.
Might want to think about switching life vests tho, you put that think upside dows, however unlikely, and you'll be pinned to the floor in those things. Take a look at the Switliks.

Hey Tom,

What's the status on the boat?

Kevin

Do you mean these? What type?

http://switlik.com/graphics/militaryjackets.gif

http://switlik.com/graphics/alvs.gif

Yes, mr_velocity is quite right...
Any flotation in a canopy/enclosed boat is very bad. Yes a Switlik is good also we make an AirVest for canopy boats. Go to this link to view more. http://www.benhedrick.com/srp-lifejkt.htm
In the event of being upside down you will have to swim down to go up, and any flotation will make this nearly impossible.
Thanks and great write up, I too have driven and race several of the Bat Boats, quite the ride.

Take care, Ben

Nort,

Glad you liked the ride. We will be in Ventura for the race Sept 26th if you know anyone interested in leasing one for a race. I remember my first ride, I was in shock for a few days at the way it handled myself.

www.reindlpowerboats.com

Chris Reindl

Hey Chris!

Well, as you may know......Kevin and I were thinking about it for Ventura. LET"S MAKE A DEAL! But......we don't want to race alone! :D :D

Chris, et al..

The San Diego Thunderboat Regatta (Unlimited Hydroplanes) is scheduled for Sept 19-21 in Mission Bay. That would be a great place for you to show off that toy. Since there is some dead time between heats , Hydro Prop might let a group of you put on a show. Hell, last year they even had some kneel down guys running about between heats.
If you can get into the show, I'll really save my $$$ and make it out there from Orlando..
Think about it!! Fans & future customers would love it!!

About the life vests
 

First of all thanks Nort for postign pictures and describing your experience and thanks again to Kevin for saving my boat!

When I bought the boat I was told by Lifeline that the vests were designed for canopy boats so that you can swim out when flipped. I wanted to buy the Switlik vests, but was told if I ever wanted to race I had to have Lifeline. This was before Chris got involved so it is not his fault if I was led astray.

ARe you all saying that Lifeline mislead me? What kind should I get and how much are they?

Thanks,
Tom

The new SRP air vest is the way to go, if ever needed they have lifting handles in the shoulders, and leg straps. to keep you from falling out the others dont offer this. hopefully you will ne have to use them in such a manner. and SRP can do a batboat logo on the front as well.

Too Old ,
You should look chris r up he usually gives demo rides, at all the races.

If you were bigger than 34 waist or are over 6 feet tall forget it. Even then you need a shoehorn to get in. Sometimes you bang heads together so you better weear a helmet in the rough stuff. Visibility is questionable and if you let salt water through the transom you are in deep ****. Other than that they are great! I am always amazed how tiny they are when next to even a 24 foot regular boat.

I can vouch for that..........I'm a 32 waist and nearly 6-foot, and it was snug. :)

Now thats comedy Folks!!!! Don't you mean 3'2" and a 6' radius

:D:D:D lol

We ran the Switlik Helicopter Crew Vests in the canopy boat. I think most of the canopy boats are running the same vest. Worked perfectly too. Only thing is if you do need it only pull one tab, pulling two just gives you too much floatation and damn near chokes you.

Re: About the life vests
 

Although it's not what I wear normally. The vest you're wearing in the picture above is the same as the vest I wore for this years dunker test. You can still swim out fine with one of those on.

As far as room goes, I'm 6-2, 215 and fit. (sort of) :p

You people suck!! :D :D :D :D :D

Size issue. Tom's boat was built by Armada and still has all their old seating in it.

I am 6'5" 250+ and fit just fine. Greg "Boomer" Hukari also raced One Design and fit just fine.

We did a few things to adjust the room in the cockpit. First we lowered the floor and used Carbon Fiber and Kevlar to keep the boat strong. Then we tilted the seats back at 22 degrees which was recommended for back support anyway. We then changed the entire dash and moved it way forward. That is the bulk of it, but let's just say Anthony Munoz was our celebrity racer (NFL Hall of Fame offensive lineman) and he fit as well.

So no matter the size, I am sure we have a race boat for you.

Chris Reindl

Bat Boats in Cincy
 

Chris - I had a great time at the race and got a few pics of your boats
Thanks for all the hard work putting this event on.
Maybe next time around I can get some seat time.

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Chris said those changes were the bulk of it, but from my viewpoint he took a great idea and made the execution work which in my opinion Armada failed at. I didn't know about the seat changes, but from what I hear Chris is making an excellent boat with major improvements over what I got originally from Armada. Still putting those tiny engines in though.;) (I know, APBA would not approve a 500HP since it is faster than factory 1 boats, actually mine at 100 is faster than factory 2 as far as I know) No matter what they are a blast to drive.

Chris has also been a great help advising me on the many changes to get all the bugs out of mine and I didn't even buy it from him.

Just for the record, Nort is roughly my size ( 5'11" and 180) and a great guy from my personal experience. I expected to see a flock of women though. I think he was hiding them.

Thank you BTJ88 for the lifeline feedback. I think I will stay with them for now since I really like them.

180 okay...but 5'11"? Tom? Come on man? And yes Norty is one Hell of a guy...But 5'11"? What did you do, drive the boat upside down and stretch him out 13 inches.
I always look for the flock of women when Norts around..And I look.....And look....and dont see any, but I keep looking....and searching. Its like they are the ones hiding.

All in jest Norty, we think your great..and tall!!! But the ladies do hide, its true!

nice to see the bat boats getting their due!!!!

Here is the final t-shirt for ours, I will have them early next week.

The proceeds from each shirt sale (for the first 200) will be donated to the Jack Stoerle Memorial Fund.

You can email me on [email protected]

Rick

Sweet Shirts Rick, I will take a bunch. Talk to you after the race in St. Claire this weekend.

Buoyhunter - you forgot this one. (We were hiding downriver as a Patrol Boat on Sunday, but were parked in the dry pits all day Friday/Saturday.

Chris,
Who is Ryan?

Rick

C-spray -
Sorry I missed you - wound up working the weekend and only made it there Sunday. Met some great people, and the turnout was incredible. Those boats are incredible just to watch, - gotta be amazing to run one.

Bouy

Rick,

Great shirts... My thoughts were most likely on the new shirts Ryan Beckley just did and my fingers outran my brain...

C_Spray,

Thanks again for coming to Cincinnati for the race. We woud like for you to make it an annual trip.

Chris