I see what you're saying I just want to make sure that people stay hooked after that first season. Having a true shot at the podium really keeps the season exciting and motivates teams to leave their home area in search of the checkered! HP limit may just be enough to do that.

Randy,

That is a great question. It is my understanding that class 5 is a single engine under 30' class. Maybe the next step is to say stock power.

Most of these boats have one of the following engines, 525EFI, 500HP, 496HO, etc.

Maybe it makes sense for he class to list "authorized" engines that are stock with stock intake and exhaust.

Thus the bottom line is, if you have a custom built engine you are going to run P4 at a minimum, which based on what I have seen, most custom engines are greater than 525hp.

Just a thought.

Rick

Maybe P-5 modified and P-5 stock?

just a quick after bar response but I like OPA because we are not a "spec" engine organization nor do we create more classes than needed. I'm sure the powers to be will make the right call. '08 has the makings for an amazing season.

P-5 Limit Horsepower to weight,Make the horsepower rule to fit the Majority of the class already mostly stock power, No twin engine boats period!
Tech the boats and seal the hatch do the prop inspections before and after the race.Positivlely indentify limiters. And lets not make veiwing GPS results a secret all classes should have a random group (Draw numbers) of atleast 3 teams present for reading.Most important enforce the rules and don't bend them for any reason such as a show for the fans! If a boatrides around the course and is last place but eveyone broke-- broke out-- or GPS failed last place wins! I bring that up because it is not always like that. Entry level means start the class where your wallet allows you to. Everyone has some expierence at performance boating I don't think anyone just woke up clueless and said today I am gonna be a boat racer.AS for stock or Modified that would be a sin to divide the class in two.No fun racing a few boats 10 plus is good.

I agree, no more Classes.

Should I stop building my new twin aluminum small blocks now?... I do see the need for some minor adjustments in these 2 classes but they are very good now. Maybe limet class 6 to HP500 and let the 29 and 30 with stock 496 in.
Smitty mention one time about limiting the revlimeters, that the big HP engines need lots of RPM to develop the hp. The success of our classes has been not having to rebuild do to constant rule changes. I would say keep the twin outboards in and grandfather the twin inboards.

What size prop do they allow in p5?I have seen a lot of former p4 boats move down to p5 using some built up motors,I guess its ok if it can keep people interested,just can't let it get too expensive(thats what happend in the old apba a class) or the sport will suffer,seems like the sport just goes in a big circle.The p classes have brought out a lot of racers and they need to continue to make it grow.Now i need to figure out what class to race my 30 superboat in,i thought p4 but now if everone is racing there 26-30ft singles with big power in p5,i guess i need to put a small prop on it and make sure i don't break out.

Not that much power, 800 would put you in class 4, JC is running a single in class 3. Most boats that moved from class 4 to 5 was do to the development of class 6.

What do you guys think about starting up the conference calls like we did last year in the off season.

When Paul Abreau / APBA tech'd a boat he'd always figure best possible scenario as far as engine , drive , boat , speed. It worked everytime. Example:

A P4 boat rolls in and it's 30 ft long and has single 700 hp / dry sump motor w/ a Bravo 1 drive. We all know WOT w/ the biggest prop it would spin = P3 , end of story! It wouldn't take long to get the parity straightened out and deck to deck racing would be more frequent! This would allow HP 500's and 496's back into racing and it would be affordable also. Just my
.02 worth.