Double post

looks like puerto rico circuit doesnt care what make or model or length the boat is,as long as it passes the safety check.

People said the same thing when the idea of a Class 6 was brought up....and now look at it six years later;it has more boats than any other class in offshore..and growing!

In my opinion, 21-23ft single outboard or single small block inboard vee to 65mph makes the most sense.

sounds good to me,i bet they could get 8 or more boats in a class like that,better than 2 of the same boats in a class race after race.

They tried it a few years back and only one boat showed up ..

But if you have 5-8 boats show up at an event and all ask to run 65mph in a single OB class I would be willing to bet Smitty would be willing to work with you.

Class A back in APBA in the day had boats like the 22 foot Velocity racing. I first met Art Lilly in Key West in 1987 when he was tying the 22 foot Velocity up after finishing the race. Art was BEAT up in that little boat. That's my point of concern, look at the damage to the class 5 and 6 boats in the rough waters of Ocean City this year. Even Bob Teague had damage to the Amsoil boat. I'm not trying to pee on anyone's Cheerio's here, it's a cool grass roots idea, but OC at 65 MPH in a 22 foot boat?

I think it would be an idea for certain races only...Mich, Solomons, etc

Heres how I see it. Its the same ol thing everybody says
” build a boat for a class ” not build a boat then find a class that it closes fits.

Brian dont you think it may be easier to part with your current ride & find a class 6 boat than it would be to keep your boat & find potential class 7 racers?
Theres a couple 24 sb for sale right now that are close to race ready for $10

The problem for somebody that has the attitude of ” ya races are coming to town, I think ill run my boat” are 1. $$$ the opa fees, lifelines, gps . I think that will drive away a casual potential racer & 2 safety, a ” weekend warrior ” not as familiar with racing that wants to do some hot rodding in front of local friends can quickly become a liability imo. But I guess that could be the case in any class.

Im not sure where im even going with this blablablah anymore....lol
Point being those that want to race find a way by building / buying a boat to fit in.

OR......
Go get 3 or 4 ” class 7” racers, mail in opa forms & checks.
Smitty seems like a good business man. I'm sure he will accommodate.

Maybe the best place to look would be s& f

MD

Both APBA and US OFFSHORE had a small boat class;and they ran at all of the races.In some of the very rough ocean races the speeds were in the 50s.And they ran alot further and longer than any of the current classes do today.Many of the teams that started out in the small boats moved up into bigger boats and higher classes over time.Maybe based on a 5 mile course...5 laps or 25 miles would make sense.