Whitewater Hydroplane Racing - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cj2112 · 05-26-2003, 05:36 PM

I began racing these boats this year and I'm having a blast doing it. These boats run about 80 mph on the river, using a a lightly modified (flywheel, exhaust, lower unit, and prop) 50 horse Merck. the course varies depending on the river but for instance lets take the Rogue River Course we run 2 laps about 13 or so miles a lap, everyone runs one direction down the river, then we wait for all the boats to arrive at the checkpoint, then run back upriver to the start finish line. This avoids any possibility of a head on collision.
If men could have multiple orgasms....this is what they would feel like!

me and the boat before the race

The cockpit of the boat, notice the required safety gear

the motor for those who were wondering about it

The boat still on the trailer....aint she purty???

The start of the race....total friggin chaos

and me racing

Rippley · 05-28-2003, 11:44 PM

That looks like a blast!!! How do those things handle?

cj2112 · 05-29-2003, 10:42 AM

It's more fun than one person should be allowed to have, the handle like....well a boat, lol these boats aren't really designed to turn tight, they are designed specifically for river racing. the one major turn on the Rogue River course (see pictures above) is at the very start, we run head to head for about a 1/4 mile and there is no bends in the river so we can see where everyone is at.

GSRIDER · 05-29-2003, 11:34 AM

If you don't mind me asking, what does a boat like that set you back?

Did you do all the work on it yourself?

cj2112 · 05-29-2003, 04:07 PM

they are fairly reasonable, you can get into a competitive boat, for 5-7 grand. It's alot cheaper if you decide to build one. The boat I'm racing belongs to a friend of mine....he barrell rolled it on mothers day in a race and broke some ribs, I had done quite a bit of work on it up to that point so he asked me if I wanted to run it for the season. I am planning on building a boat this winter, they are actually pretty simple to build (well, I'm a cabinetmaker so to me it is a relatively simple project), they are 1/4" plywood bottoms and decks w/ a 3/4" plywood cockpit and 3/4" hardwood ribs to stiffen things up.

Atomic Pinkie · 05-30-2003, 05:00 AM

these things look great, what are the chances of flipping one?

BRRRRRRRRRRWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHEEEEEEEEEE

*splash*

cj2112 · 05-30-2003, 04:05 PM

lol...the chances of flipping one are pretty good, I have seen several flip, (please don't tell my girlfriend) typically when you flip one, it throws you clear of the boat, the protective geat we wear works very well. Like I said the owner of the boat barrel rolled it on mothers day, and broke a couple ribs, he broke them on the rocks, but his vest did exactly what it was designed to do. It lessened the impact greatly, and once his body had lost some momentum it rolled him onto his back so he wouldn't drown if he passed out. Keep in mind that no type of racing is w/o it's risks but the American Power Boat Association (APBA) has done a fantastic job minimizing those risks. For instance we have a sweep boat that runs before we do and insures that the course is clear of other boats and swimmers in the water, there is a chase boat that carries a surgeon in case somebody does wreck and needs serious medical attention, and we all have kill switches that cut the spark to the engine if we get thrown from the boat.

05-26-2003, 05:36 PM	#1 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	Whitewater Hydroplane Racing I began racing these boats this year and I'm having a blast doing it. These boats run about 80 mph on the river, using a a lightly modified (flywheel, exhaust, lower unit, and prop) 50 horse Merck. the course varies depending on the river but for instance lets take the Rogue River Course we run 2 laps about 13 or so miles a lap, everyone runs one direction down the river, then we wait for all the boats to arrive at the checkpoint, then run back upriver to the start finish line. This avoids any possibility of a head on collision. If men could have multiple orgasms....this is what they would feel like! me and the boat before the race The cockpit of the boat, notice the required safety gear the motor for those who were wondering about it The boat still on the trailer....aint she purty??? The start of the race....total friggin chaos and me racing

05-28-2003, 11:44 PM	#2 (permalink)
Rippley Insane	That looks like a blast!!! How do those things handle? __________________ roadrazer - 300kgs, 300hp = pure fun.

05-29-2003, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
GSRIDER spurt king Location: Out of my mind	If you don't mind me asking, what does a boat like that set you back? Did you do all the work on it yourself? __________________ No signature at this time.

05-30-2003, 05:00 AM	#6 (permalink)
Atomic Pinkie Addict Location: Chicago	these things look great, what are the chances of flipping one? BRRRRRRRRRRWWWWWWWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHEHEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHHEEEEEEEEEE splash __________________ Where dem bitches at?

05-29-2003, 10:42 AM	#3 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	It's more fun than one person should be allowed to have, the handle like....well a boat, lol these boats aren't really designed to turn tight, they are designed specifically for river racing. the one major turn on the Rogue River course (see pictures above) is at the very start, we run head to head for about a 1/4 mile and there is no bends in the river so we can see where everyone is at.

05-29-2003, 04:07 PM	#5 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	they are fairly reasonable, you can get into a competitive boat, for 5-7 grand. It's alot cheaper if you decide to build one. The boat I'm racing belongs to a friend of mine....he barrell rolled it on mothers day in a race and broke some ribs, I had done quite a bit of work on it up to that point so he asked me if I wanted to run it for the season. I am planning on building a boat this winter, they are actually pretty simple to build (well, I'm a cabinetmaker so to me it is a relatively simple project), they are 1/4" plywood bottoms and decks w/ a 3/4" plywood cockpit and 3/4" hardwood ribs to stiffen things up.

05-30-2003, 04:05 PM	#7 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	lol...the chances of flipping one are pretty good, I have seen several flip, (please don't tell my girlfriend) typically when you flip one, it throws you clear of the boat, the protective geat we wear works very well. Like I said the owner of the boat barrel rolled it on mothers day, and broke a couple ribs, he broke them on the rocks, but his vest did exactly what it was designed to do. It lessened the impact greatly, and once his body had lost some momentum it rolled him onto his back so he wouldn't drown if he passed out. Keep in mind that no type of racing is w/o it's risks but the American Power Boat Association (APBA) has done a fantastic job minimizing those risks. For instance we have a sweep boat that runs before we do and insures that the course is clear of other boats and swimmers in the water, there is a chase boat that carries a surgeon in case somebody does wreck and needs serious medical attention, and we all have kill switches that cut the spark to the engine if we get thrown from the boat.