At the risk of getting flamed, the biggest problem ive seen with class 5 and 6 is "sandbagging." Plain and simple. OPA has done a great job with creating a viable set of rules and classes. It is up to the racers to man up and run thier boat in the appropriate class.
Another issue is the talk of p-6 or 5 being the "entry level" class. There are some experienced racers running in both of those classes. That may be the case, but 5 and 6 are also the classes for racers who dont have fat wallets either.
The last thing we need to do is make a spec class out of p-6. Most guys running those boats are on a tight budget as it is. The added expense of having to purchase a Merc or any other factory motor is not needed.

I hate to say it but it is easier to add more power then it is easier to break out and maybe break a motor and not finish it could go either way. I just built the boat for the rules in the class. The Dukes killed everybody for 2 years until George and I came along ( what if we did not come along ) and we ran with them the first year but our boat was horrable and could not take the beating so we corrected the problem with a new Joker we ran the same motor. The Dukes, myself and that Bad Boy 24 that was in Cambridge this year all have 650-700 HP The bat boats have 320 HP And the Undertow has 420 HP. So that means Undertow steps up to 650 HP and the Bat boats get to run 2 Small blocks at 320 HP each.

No need...just needed to get that one 320 running right!

Quick question: Can any boat in class 6 Run class 5 speeds with a prop change?

Problem is many teams or boat in class 6 have run competitively already in 5. When class 6 was created it was made as an entry level class; allowing teams that ran and competed in 5 to drop down to 6 opened this can of worms.

I think all forms and levels of racing need a feeder or entry level class, a place were teams can get there feet wet and maybe step up to the bigger classes once they gain experience and confidence. That’s what #6 was originally designed for originally.

Class 6 was for the smaller single engine boats to run in like mine.

So what happens then if I get a 900HP engine, do you all
have to step up to my level? Where is the practical limit.
I don't mind building a 650 HP motor, but what happens
when someone builds 800?

As far as class 6 being entry level, entry level to me means
least expensive. 26' or less boat, single engine, appropriate
top speed. You can't have a class only for new guys. There
are not enough of them to support the class.

Rich
Undertow 611

Tyler,

Please do not take anything written here as personal. We have never met and I have heard nothing but good things about you.

So if class 6 is for boats under 26' foot with 600+ hp, where I am suppose to run?

It was not that long ago that the bat boat would run against F1 boats (500-525hp) competitively. Now I am being told that Class 6 is a 600hp class with almost the same boat as the F1 although no weight rule. Thus an F1 boat is at a disadvantage in class 6? This is getting too complex.

Thus let me ask a different question (a personal one). It was my intention to replace the shot engine in my boat with the 383 Stoker that Mercruiser is putting out (350 at the flywheel, just like the 377 offered). Is that a bad choice if I am going to run class 5?

Should I get a pumped up SBC? I know of a host of dry sumped late model race engines that would (detuned) give me 500+. Or shoudl I just go to a SB2.2 at 9 to 1 pulling 750+ (you know one built by Childress and/or Hendricks)?

I am still confused how a single engine boat with 600+ hp should not be running P4 though. If an F1 can run 80+ with a 525, how does one with 600+ justify running anything lower than P4.

Please help me understand.

Rick,

I was following you all they way up to the last post. Now you've confused me.

J

Look, the rules are very close now just maybe some small modifacation, it's not NASCAR, and the F2 boats and the twin big blocks are running Class 4 along with the SVL

Class 6 evolved because the 26 corsas the sunsations and smaller boats were not able to compete with the 650 hp+ Panteras and F1 boats in 5 class. All the classes are entry level depending on your wallet. If you think that class6 should be all beginners thats not gonna happen. As for the higher horsepower in Class6 and 5 it should be adressed and capped.
I have a 500 efi F1 boat that frustrates me cause I can't accelerate like some others what to do? Whipple it?
I ran the undertow corsa my first 2 years and was pretty happy in the back most of the time until all that Big power started to break thus bringing in some 1st, 2nd and 3rds
But I do agree it should be closer.