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Old 26-10-2013, 12:06 AM   #1
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Race boat experiences

I was reading the Unipart thread and it got me to thinking. Many of us on this site have been lucky enough to own / drive small single engine race boats. This is, however, one of the few offshore powerboat communities that is fortunate enough to include members that have owned / driven some of the most iconic powerboats ever to have existed.

I'm thinking of some of the big cougars, CUVs, Buzzi's Cigs, as well as some of the other class two 4& 6 litre cats and phantoms (modern and classic) and marathon boats. it really would be fantastic to capture some of the first hand experiences of those that have been lucky enough to throttle / helm some of these boats.

I was just thinking that if we dodn't start to capture some of these experiences we might miss the chance... Which really would be a travesty. So come on you lucky buggers... Tell us how it felt to open the taps on several hundred ponies in an offshore race situation

I for one would love to hear of some of the thrills and spills...
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Old 27-10-2013, 03:37 PM   #2
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Surprised there hasn't been any replies so perhaps someone could help me with my quandary to push this thread along.

To fly a helicopter you need:
One foot on the left pedal & one foot on the right pedal to control left and right yaw
Left hand on the collective leaver & throttle to climb & descend
Right hand on the cyclic stick to steer left, right, go backwards & go forwards
All can be mastered by one pilot whilst navigating and talking to fight control

Lets be honest here, virtually any one person can pilot a powerboat with some degree of success with minimal and even no instruction.

So perhaps someone can explain why it take two people to pilot a one of these iconic crafts that Docta refers too, when it only takes one person to pilot a helicopter that is way more challenging to control than a boat.

Or what’s the history of this one person steers and one person throttles thing?
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Old 27-10-2013, 04:07 PM   #3
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helicopter = nice smooth air and by your self
power boat= bloody big waves inches from another powerboats
and anyone can pilot a powerboat but winning a championship is a whole different matter !
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Old 27-10-2013, 04:25 PM   #4
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helicopter = nice smooth air and by your self
power boat= bloody big waves inches from another powerboats
and anyone can pilot a powerboat but winning a championship is a whole different matter !
Year I know, I've done both.
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Old 27-10-2013, 04:31 PM   #5
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so you know the answer to your own qustion
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Old 27-10-2013, 04:32 PM   #6
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A helicopter isn't usually racing other helicopters over an ever changing terrain...
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:01 PM   #7
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Not proud of this...... but then when the right foot does nt know what the hands are doing, plus the Nav is saying make your move later it can all end in disaster............. memories......

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Old 27-10-2013, 05:10 PM   #8
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I’m not trying to offend anybody here. What I’m trying to say is you have to do many tasks at once in a helicopter and indeed in a single engine race boat to get the best out of them, but it can be done. So why does it take two to pilot a larger boat? It’s a genuine question. Perhaps it is a simple as big waves makes it physically impossible to do it solo. I don’t know, I’ve never piloted a large multy engine race boat before. I would like a genuine answer as I’m sure many other people would. And what’s the history behind it? who was the first to do it and realise it gave them an advantage.
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:24 PM   #9
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We only competited in RB8 and 1 CTC so not that much experience.

The boat was a 10 meter non stepped Hunton Rib with twin 425's so not that quick. Your correct 1 man can do both, however if you really want to push the boat and fly over the waves I will either steer or throttle and never do both.

Remember you have to trim the boat and we found that the driver has more time and feeling. Throttle man has to concentrate looking for the big wave that comes along.
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:27 PM   #10
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Not proud of this...... but then when the right foot does nt know what the hands are doing, plus the Nav is saying make your move later it can all end in disaster............. memories......


That’s kind of my point, I think!

You had all the controls with one brain making the decisions and got it wrong. So it must be even harder to read and react to what the other pilot will do. Or can the other pilot correct or compensate for his co-pilots errors? Does that make sense?
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:29 PM   #11
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I don't think it's because it's impossible for one person to throttle, trim, steer and navigate a larger boat... I think it's because 2 people working together can do it better. One guy concentrating on keeping the boat trimmed properly and throttled while the other takes care of navigation and steering makes much more sense than trying to do it all yourself.

Also a twin engined counter rotating boat is somewhat self-levelling roll wise. On a smaller powerful single you have prop torque, meaning steering and throttle input play a much larger role in keeping the boat flying straight without twisting - therefore easier for one person to handle than two.
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:34 PM   #12
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x-cat

when i raced an x-cat the throttle man had throttles x2 trim x2 and all the dials to keep an eye on (tacho"s, trim gauges, water pressure, fuel pressure, water temp, all x2) and the all important waves, the driver had the start run and the course + all the other boats to worry about, you could pilot an x-cat by your self but its a good bet you would be slower ! there"s probably more to think about than flying a helicopter,
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:36 PM   #13
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It's called "teamwork"
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Old 27-10-2013, 05:45 PM   #14
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Some good replies thank you, any more?
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Old 27-10-2013, 07:46 PM   #15
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Do a basic race and find out yourself. You have the boat. Do the shakedown race.
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Old 27-10-2013, 07:47 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Paul E View Post
I don't think it's because it's impossible for one person to throttle, trim, steer and navigate a larger boat... I think it's because 2 people working together can do it better. One guy concentrating on keeping the boat trimmed properly and throttled while the other takes care of navigation and steering makes much more sense than trying to do it all yourself.

Also a twin engined counter rotating boat is somewhat self-levelling roll wise. On a smaller powerful single you have prop torque, meaning steering and throttle input play a much larger role in keeping the boat flying straight without twisting - therefore easier for one person to handle than two.
Didn't John Clarke throttle and drive??
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Old 27-10-2013, 08:04 PM   #17
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Didn't John Clarke throttle and drive??
Yes, I believe he did, which only goes to prove it's a 2 man job.
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Old 27-10-2013, 08:09 PM   #18
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Do a basic race and find out yourself. You have the boat. Do the shakedown race.
Paul
Think that was meant for me but did six seasons in the Honda series - 130's, won the 150's and raced 225's so know how close and challenging boats can be. Just never understood why it takes two pilot a boat but I now have a clearer understanding.
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Old 27-10-2013, 09:00 PM   #19
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No problem with throttle and drive. Did it in RB 2008 and still do.
Think Dean Gibbs drives his 2000 hp Fountain with footthrottle.
Didn´t Jackie Hunt do that also in the P1 Arpro?
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Old 27-10-2013, 09:25 PM   #20
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No problem with throttle and drive. Did it in RB 2008 and still do.
Think Dean Gibbs drives his 2000 hp Fountain with footthrottle.
Didn´t Jackie Hunt do that also in the P1 Arpro?
Mikko do you use hand throttles? What about trim and ballast tanks?
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