Actually it was supposed to be locked for 3 years so about due for an update.

Hey voyage,what boat do you race? Have I met you

The rule book was printed 3 yrs ago, conference calls and class votes have amended it in some ways.

Regarding Dougs suggestion to limit HP, that is not the direction OPA has chosen to go, plus it would increase cost with required tech.

We use prop calcs, common sense and run the boat to place it in the proper classes.

Probably. Ran in a few races under MotorCity Offshore and make it to most. Planned to run the open phantom but could never pull the trigger on making it a dedicated raceboat. Finishing it as the pleasure boat its been so I can sell it and move on. Hope to be out more this year.

One advantage to having it locked down for so long. Everyone understands the rules, and in many cases are now building boats for the class, as opposed to building classes for the boats. Now that the three year limit is up, there may be some tuning. We'll see. Smitty

Dean,I think if any of us had any common sense we wouldnt be racing boats lol.It doesnt take much to tech a sealed 525 and the prop calc is what it is

:food-smiley-007: :drink:

Seals are very cheap and many builders offer "sealed" motors. We have seen how that works already in other organizations. "sealed" innovations vs mercury and "sealed" SBI vs OSS. OPA is run what you brung unless you are in the SV or SVL class.

SV rules are in the works right now and SVL will be right after them.

Bring em ALL out, we have a class for it!

When's this conference call?, new Hull on the way it be here Friday need to get this thing figured out.

Im with Eddy. Lets get a call together this week and get the rules done for the next 3 years. What do you think Smitty? Class 5 guy's need answers to plan for the 09 season.
MD

Doug I feel what you are saying about canopyed boats. Im not sure what the average racer thinks happens to your boat with a lid on it. Still same 27 feet with the same 525 motor with a prop that you cant go faster than 75 mph. Sounds like a factory 1 boat that many of us race in class 5. If you cut the top off its still the same boat except you may get hurt if you get ejected. If twin big block 30' boats are ok then I dont see any big deal with a 27' 525 canopy boat. I would rather see your boat in class 5 and no new twin boats. It would make more sense if the class was restricted to single power nat. asperated gas pump boats.
MD

no twin new boats...typical randy...if they fit put them in the class. Smitty has always been good to the racers
thats why opa has a better following then any other org. deal with it. or go to OSS and spend more $$ and have less fun

Exactly, dont over complicate things. Thats the beauty of the OPA. Run whatya brung and have a ball. The better the competition the more fun it is.Were going to run a bout that will be strung out at 75 against other boats that really have the acceloration factor going for them. The more boats the better.

Okay I have a 35 fastech with 500 efis runs 80 LIGHT on fuel does it fit in P5 NOOOOO rules are rules make the boat conform to the class not the class to the boat or it is going to be way off course. The team that says they can't afford to put power in the 30+ boat should not race because if you can't do that then you can't commit to a healthy boat for the season you are gonna race 1 and done and the rules are changed to fit one team. Truly OPA has made a standard stick to making the boats conform to the classes no bending the rules is a good rule because in the end people will build to compete and stay.

hey randy thanks for the back up.Sounds like hannibal doesn't like you.Did you beat up on him all season or something?

No offense,but Randy is 100% right...the proof is in the past when single io and twin ob vees were forced to race twin io vees in the old USO A-Class.It did not work;the boat count dropped,and eventually A-Class was changed back to single io/twin ob vees only.The twins were moved up to B-Class.I think the current OPA Class 5 mirrors the the old USO A-Class.

No doubt..but you cant expect a twin i/o 30 foot boat to just move up to class 4. They wouldnt have a chance

I have been stalling on the conference call. For the simple reason, I figured I would wait and see where this thread goes. Before we blow some head gaskets, I'll get with Waterboy in the am, and get the call going. Great reading by the way. Shows all the passion you guys have for Offshore. Fear not we'll find a way to make Class 5 even better. Smitty

Well ,,i quess first of all the boat is 32' ,,,if u have a 29 foot fountain its realy 26 but still counts as a 29 !!!!!

Second of all i run a 32 single in class 4 !!!! Now do u think the 2 feet make that much of a diffrents ??:party-smiley-004:

+ i have a 10 inch notch at the transom ,,,does that make it a 31 ??
Come on ,,stay sirius with the length ,,,a 32 foot Sunsation is 32 FEET !!!

A few years ago Smitty "inherited" a broken racing club and built it into what it is today. One of the reasons for the success was simple bracketting rules, combined with a few parameters (length limits) and placing boats into the right class. This led to fair racing, which led to higher boat counts, which led to great OPA success.

Smitty is caught in a dilemma, let a boat run in a class where it meets the speed but not the length, or put them in a class based on the boats length.

Smitty/OPA has always maintained race "integrity" by showing no "favoritism". OPA has DQ'ed boats if they broke out based on GPS readings. Just as the rules have speeds set in stone, length limits have also been set. The problem with allowing a boat that exceeds the class length limit is that it sets a "precedent". Its not just about how fast you go, but how well you go fast. If XXX Sunsation 32 can race in class 5 due to speed, does OPA then allow a 28 Pantera with stock power race in class 6?? Where does one draw the line? The line has already been drawn-in the rules. As a racer, I like black and white rules. Several have said; "Build a boat to meet the class, not a class to meet the boat. I hope the guys with the Sunsation do come out to race! I'm sure everyone will welcome them.
I think highly of OPA and respect what they've done, I'm sure they will make the right decision!!:drink:

Then again ,,,the chance thing . THAT IS BULL .

In a race i understand the speed bracket is top (4) + 85 MPH,,,a 75 MPH boat has a chance ,,turns wtare conditions and sofort .
Plus i think that a 32 foot suns. with stock power can easaly be helped an other 3-6 MPH with all the GOOD people we have at the races.
And i hope aswell that he will race with us and we will gladly help him to get his boat where it needs to run.:ernaehrung004:

No, Randel hasnt beaten on anyone. But i do know that smitty is fair. i also know if panther can run his 30 twin engine big block, or a super boat with 2 outboard mercs, or toasty with 2 i/os those boats arent setting speed records and are being beat by singles. It just seems that some racers are trying to pay their bills and want less competition in their class. you dont see the joker boys on there complaining every 2 min about rules and classes. Suck it up and deal with it. This isnt the OSS where every "pro" racer can have a say and minipulate the rules. just go with what has been working; and the past has been working. Class 5 is the biggest of the series are you really going to let randy screw with that?!?! Smitty stick to your guns stick to what works well. dont feed into someones ego. although offshore racers its kinda hard to put the egos away

I agree with you on this, i wasnt talking about the Sunsation.I was talking about the twin i/os already in class 5. You cant just move them up.

I think I had this conversation a couple years ago when I first looked into racing my 65/67mph stock Scarab. No "rule" manipulation was made for me so I went out and built a boat to fit a class.

No one wants "selective enforcement” in our rule book and that is what your asking.

With that being said I think it might be an interesting idea to allow a “to large” of boat race class 5 or 6 for a nominal insurance fee; but not be eligible for the purse or trophy. This way you could get your feet wet so to speak.

If you take the door off the top of a canopy boat does that than make it an open boat?

I would not even think about that ,,,,,very UNSAFE !!!!!

+ i dont think so ,,it still is a canopy ,,just without the hatch.

I dont see what you guys are afraid of. Last year Octane showed for two races. St Clair and Patchogue. They finshed First in St Clair and 2nd in Patchogue. Against the so call Big power twin v's. Of coarse the ocean would be a different story, thats why we keep a mix of rough and calm races. It evens things out if you are in for the points.

As far as a boat too long for the class running class 5, the rules will not bend. Not by an inch. The twins vrs single is up for debate.

And the Octane Boyz ran a SMART Race. Remember, On Any Givin' Sunday you can either win or loose!

Smitty,We all know the adrenaline rush that is achieved when you look off to your sides and see boats 2 or 3 deep within yards of each other or even inches sometimes.This rush is what drives us all to keep coming back for more.Unfortunately,the only time I experienced that was in the 1st corner and, when all the class 5 boats started catching and passing me on the 4th lap.Maybe its my lack of experience or maybe its the size of my boat,maybe its the lack of horsepower.Whatever the reason I dont feel that I can be competitive in class 4.I would like to race with class 5 where I feel I might be able to compete.It wont take long to see if the canopy is that much of an advantage.If so Put me back in class 4 and I'll give it hell.As far as the Octane boat,just because we both ran as SVL w/ another organization doesnt mean that the boats are comparable.The only thing similar is the canopy.He has 4' of hull and a ft of beam and weighs about the same.Somebody mentioned common sense,prop calc,length of boat and even running the boat.Common sense? I race boats duh! prop calc?is what it is,boat length? actually 26',I would be happy to let you run it and make your decision based on that.You have done a great job with this organization and I will honor your decision.Augie dont take it personal,I'll still let you do theh cookin!

None taken Chris.

Check your Email............Smitty

Any update on the conference call?

Ask your Pop

Ya i was just about to edit that...:drink:

Hannibal who are you? What team are you with or do you own a boat? Those are some big ideas about telling me what I should do and how I have no right to voice my opinion on racing in OPA. I think you should man up and post your pic to the racing community so we can hail you as the spokes person for class 5. If you cant at least do that then I think you should either spend as much money as the rest of the class 5 teams and do it for lets say 10 years OR you could stay out of a topic that most likely has nothing to do with you. Thats as polite as I can say it.
MD

Son, i was racing offshore before you heard your 1st big block race boat on the beach in diapers with your mommy holding your little hand. I appericate all racers and what they put into the sport and all the $$ all you spend the money all that money goes right out the pipes. But whats right is right. so i give this to you see, Its not about racers now or past or ever. Its about being good. Dont limit the OPA then it becomes a john c. deal like the big mess of sbi, apba whatever...Dont put a cap on racers in a certain class cause you want to juice it.
Let smitty do what he does, hes been a fair person and a good person at all the races. Dont worry about who i am, i am a nobody, but i will tell you this- i did spend $$ on racing long ago. Once you start getting wacky noone will give $$ for sponsership. Thanks to all the messages i got within the past few hours you all are kind people to an old salt.

Now lets all go racing and make kids smile on the beaches with their hot little mommies .

Now i am going to watch our new president wave his magic wand on the TV and make all the bad go away.

What was the question here?

Who cares we got the answer .LOL:party-smiley-004:

Do any of the class 5 racers have a problem with this boat running with you? Class 5 racers only please!