Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Pleasure boats, Sports, Race, Power and Leisure Boats: => Topic started by: od boating on April 03, 2007, 02:18:21 pm

Title: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: od boating on April 03, 2007, 02:18:21 pm
hi all
 i am quite new to all this powerboating lark. i just wanted to know if there is a cheap way into racing, there are a few racing ic boats at my local lake all that seem to cost £1000s.to be competitive, why is it nobody runs a cheap economy class. not a lot of people have £700 to spend, i know the car boys run a restricted class why not boats ? i know of several others who would also race if you could build a boat for under £200
                  regards steve
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: w3bby on April 03, 2007, 02:44:36 pm
Read this thread   ;)  around £150 for a petrol boat that can be raced, keep it right side up and race well, who knows  :o
http://www.modelboatmayhem.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=2820.100
Basically, the 2 terms low cost and racing do not go together unfortunately. It depends what type of racing you want to do, FSR-V is expensive, hulls, engines, pipes etc if you wish to be competetive.
Cheapest way in for a beginner is to buy second hand, a known good hull and a reasonable motor should get you in there. I'm not sure that £200 would get you there especially if you are starting from absolute scratch, no starter, battery etc.
Car boys restricted class is still "lots of dosh" to a lot of people if you are talking 1/5.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 03, 2007, 03:12:15 pm
hi all
 i am quite new to all this powerboating lark. i just wanted to know if there is a cheap way into racing, there are a few racing ic boats at my local lake all that seem to cost £1000s.to be competitive, why is it nobody runs a cheap economy class. not a lot of people have £700 to spend, i know the car boys run a restricted class why not boats ? i know of several others who would also race if you could build a boat for under £200
                  regards steve
Steve my boat is legal for offshore racing but im not sure about circuite racing ,where are you from ?.i agree an economy class would be a great idea though and if your ever near blackpool ill meet you for a race lol.get her built!!.these engines are still on ebay at15 quid start still a bargain at 25 which is what theyre going for.also the walb carbs fit i got a 167 used on car zen engines on ebay for a fiver  and it fits right on.

]] (http://)http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Petrol-strimmer-engine_W0QQitemZ160101257564QQcategoryZ71277QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Walbro-fg-zenoah-cy-23cc-carb-marder-etc_W0QQitemZ270106057245QQcategoryZ34063QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: BobF on April 03, 2007, 06:41:31 pm
Hi od boating,

If you live down south, how about Z class

http://www.omra-uk.org/index2.htm

Bob
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 03, 2007, 06:59:22 pm
hi mate whats z class then? .
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: omra85 on April 03, 2007, 07:24:48 pm
Hi Steve
The OMRA 'Z' class was brought in for just the reason you describe.  It give one of the cheapest ways into competition racing (apart from building your own boat out of wood).
The 'Standard' Z class is for .12cu in engines without gearbox and with submerged drive.  Engines (ASP, MVVS, & others) are available for about £50 -£60 including pipe.  The total for getting one on the water with 2 channel radio should leave change from £200.
Races take place at Eastbourne (south), Telford (midlands), Southsea (south), Kingsbury (midlands) Weymouth (south) Brentwood (outer London) Bristol (west) Willen (Milton Keynes) and Maidstone (Kent) so there are plenty to choose from.
Have a look at
http://www.boatracers.freeserve.co.uk/ (http://www.boatracers.freeserve.co.uk/)
and go to the Z Class site - all the details and links are there.
Danny
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: Tester on April 03, 2007, 07:52:55 pm
Looks like a nice starter boat on the OMRA site http://www.omra-uk.org/index2.htm (http://www.omra-uk.org/index2.htm) for £125, have a look under the for sale section, may be of  interest

HTH

Richard
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 03, 2007, 10:21:23 pm
looks like a good way for some to get started if they want to race,but i think ill stick to petrol engines from now on, its simpler and cheaper to run!! ;D
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: retro boats on April 06, 2007, 11:35:24 am
hi
 i don't think there is a cheap way to race. last year i watched the z class boys at portsmouth. some of the fasterstd z racers were using old novarossi engines & you could see a vast difference i performance.
 that said it still is the cheapest racing class going!
 i wish the fsrv boys would take a look at cheaper boat
direct drive 7.5cc any hull with engine rules similar to the standard Zs to stop newer cmbs
 make them run on Castor straight (like the old days) for cheap fuel. even go back to running clockwise.
  the boats should be fast enough not to fall asleep whilst runing
          any other ideas
                 steve
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 06, 2007, 01:40:10 pm
I disagree there is a cheap way to race boats if you build them like mine and make em all stock apart from a bigger carb,keep the can muffler then all boats are the same.Like Ian says £150 for a hull engine all the hardware and radio is pretty good and the boat goes pretty well at arround 35 mph.So yes it is possible and the good thing about these engines is they are cheap and easy to use and maintain.I think maybe they should start a class for weedy engines that would be a great way for guys to start out the good thing is these boats would be ideal for offshore too and a more powerfull engine can be added when funds allow.I could race this one in offshore now but im sure it wouldnt be competetive against zenoahs and the like.Racing isnt my thing to be honest but im just saying it is possible on a budget if your prepared to have a go at building your own hull from scratch ;).heres a quick vid of my boats second run and shes pretty decent so far and im sure with a few tweaks here and there she will get better .
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEFk5rwwMPc
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 07, 2007, 10:40:55 pm
hi
 i don't think there is a cheap way to race. last year i watched the z class boys at portsmouth. some of the fasterstd z racers were using old novarossi engines & you could see a vast difference i performance.
 that said it still is the cheapest racing class going!
 i wish the fsrv boys would take a look at cheaper boat
direct drive 7.5cc any hull with engine rules similar to the standard Zs to stop newer cmbs
 make them run on Castor straight (like the old days) for cheap fuel. even go back to running clockwise.
  the boats should be fast enough not to fall asleep whilst runing
          any other ideas
                 steve

Without cost or technical limitations the boats are allowed to develop and builders will try to make changes to improve speeds around the course, which is one of the purposes of racing, as well as having fun.
Looking at it so far it seems that OMRA have the cheapest options for racing, and with the constant variable of open water and waves the driver has a very large contribution to the race times and speeds achieved.

I'm going to give it a go this year, just a shame (For me) that the majority of races are on the South coast.

Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 08, 2007, 06:54:46 pm
I think the reason for that is the weather Glenn i wouldnt like putting my boat in the sea here off blackpool its not very often we get calm conditions here.Not to mention its a long drop from nortn pier lol.You have a good point about omra been a good way of running a cheap boat like mine as its not going to be that many boats running flat out anyway so a boat like mine could be competetive with a decent driver.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: OneBladeMissing on April 10, 2007, 07:30:56 pm
The escalation in costs since I last raced (early eighties) is incredible. I've thought for a while that "Sport" classes using front-induction, side-exhaust engines with polyester-glass hulls and reasonably priced pipes and tanks might be viable. I can imagine an interested onlooker at a race meeting might wish to find out more about having a go at racing, but then being put off when they find out how much FSR-V boats cost. Any class of glow-plug engined boats can easily run up a £1,000+ price tag. How many newcomers are going to be tempted into the sport? A couple of seasons ago I noticed that some race meetings were cancelled due to lack of entries. When I raced I had to get my race entries in during january to ensure I got in at some meetings.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 11, 2007, 02:30:26 pm
Correct, to be competitive you can spend easily into the thousands to get a boat into the water.

OMRA have attempted to produce cost controlled racing (Z class), which seems to be a good choice.

Maybe the MPBA would like to look at an entry level cost limited FSRV class. Not sure if there would be interest from MPBA., but it may well as you say bring in new blood and some old returning blood.

Ultimately though, and I have seen it mentioned on other areas of this forum, what is required is to get kids interested in the hobby. They will be the future of it.



Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: ids987 on April 11, 2007, 05:59:13 pm
I think I read in one of the OMRA newsletters that the £80 price cap has been removed from the "unmodified" Z class - which (if I'm right) is a shame in my opinion - for exactly the reason that Steve / Retro mentioned.
Having said that, for newcomers and any other interested parties, I reckon a bigger class (eg 7.5cc / .45 cu in, or 11cc / .67 cu in) with a price cap on the engine would be interesting - whether for OMRA type racing, or another. I think it would be easier for a newcomer to get some sort of satisfying performance from a modestly priced engine of this size than with a very small engine.
I seem to remember seeing on one club's website, that they run a race series for a particular multi-hull, with a specific engine (I think it was either a SC, or ASP .46 - a sort of I/C equivalent of Club 500 racing.......

Ian
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 11, 2007, 07:12:50 pm
i still say stick to a strimmer engine set up its way cheaper ,the engines are cheaper and the fuel is cheaper and all the hardware is the same as for a .40 .60 size boat.i got my engine for £15 brand new and i know there are some the same as mine on ebay for £25 now.my boat runs at 35 mph and its only had 3 outings so still more to come im sure, plus im using a stock can muffler so a pipe will make it go much better.all ive done is added a walbro 167 carb and i have a clutch too so its easy stuff  ;D.
http://http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Petrol-Strimmer-engine-aeroplane-boat-new_W0QQitemZ130099144531QQihZ003QQcategoryZ139984QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: omra85 on April 11, 2007, 07:39:13 pm
"Club 40", "Club 21" and no doubt many other 'limited cost' classes have been tried in the past, definitely in 'multi' and maybe in OMRA as well.  
The problem is that, although initially the class is usually set up to give a low cost 'way in' to competitive racing, it NEVER stays that way.  Unfortunately, this has now happened with OMRA Z class.  What started off as a fairly specific set of rules has now been changed to allow costs that can be actually more expensive than some of the bigger classes.
It always happens - existing racers "take over" the class for whatever reason, less cost, less competitors, EASIER WINS ::) then after a little while the rules get "altered" to suit the needs of these 'alternative' competitors.
The same thing is happening in the USA with ready to run kits.  Instead of leaving them exactly as they are, the racers are 'fiddling' with things to get more speed - at greater cost!
I have had an argument in the past with a major UK supplier who said that low cost racing was a waste of time because people always wanted a faster boat, so why bother with a cheap class where, if competitors 'move up' to the existing classes they are left with stuff they can't use!!!!!!  I believe that this may well be a contributing factor in the fact that multi (FSR-V) has had the same 'full blown' classes for years (they also appear to have done away with the 'D' class which was 7.6 to 10cc).  All at huge initial expense.
I would love to see a cheap class with IRON CLAD rules gauranteed to remain for the life of the class with NO alterations.  If people wanted to 'move up' to faster, more expensive boats, simply sell-on their starter boat to another new starter.  This would increase numbers which I also believe is essential to keep the hobby going.
Danny
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 11, 2007, 07:57:02 pm
OK then, I will put my hat in the ring and sound out MPBA to see what they say. I will start a new thread here to update when I get a reply.

Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 11, 2007, 10:43:35 pm
Why not start your own why bother with either governing body if they keep changing the rules ,start your own thats what id do.I cant race because i cant travel the country to do so but if there was a local club with members to race id do it.Theres allways cheaper ways to do things and there are places to buy hardware and radio gear pretty cheap if your willing to shop arround.THEY WANT YOU TO PAY MORE MONEY!! dont let em force you to do what they want thats what i say.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 12, 2007, 01:47:07 am
At least with a "governing body" there is some credibility behind it, also insurance, and it can be seen as a feeder class into the hobby and onwards. Plus the events can be run on the back of existing events, rather than trying to arrange a championship or even odd events stand alone.

I have made the initial enquiry and await response from MPBA.

As I said, I will post a seperate thread to update.

Then take it from there.

Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 12, 2007, 07:57:13 am
that was my point though glenn they dont appear to be interested in the little man(typical)they pander to the rich and influential same as in most real motorsports.my point was start up your own class with its own body,i know it would be time consuming etc etc but if enough people were interested it could be done.im sure some local model shops would be interested in sponsoring events etc especially as most would probably be using boats and equipment bought from them.but i wish you luck and lets hope they listen as its important they encourage newcomers into the sport otherwaise it will stay a sport for the select few which is a pitty.i beleive the future of any sport lies with the kids and not many parents will pay the prices required to kit them out with the prices so high.i think a sports class would be a great idea both one for nitro and petrol.i can run for 1/2 an hr or more on a tank of 2 stroke compaired to 5 mins with a nitro boat.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: DaveMarles on April 12, 2007, 08:58:45 am
'Entry' level racing has been tried many times but apart from the Z class in OMRA (which has now increased in cost and is dominated by the 'top' OMRA drivers) those attempts have been dismal failures. We have had several attempts at entry level in FSRV but the reality is that people who go racing generally want the best. The last attempt we had was with a .12 kit class. I think it attracted 2 entries both of whom were existing racers.  I'm sure some are put off by the cost of boat racing, but in FSRV its more the complexity and time necessary to build them that is the problem and even so the entries in FSRV have remained static for quite a few years although entries are now beginning to climb. The level of entries from years ago as mentioned by someone here will never be achieved for many reasons, the main one being that now there are 3 types of IC racing available, Circuit, OMRA and FSRV whereas there only used to be one class - FSRV ( Multi).  
    Entry level racing is difficult to achieve for many reasons but I think its human nature that people see something and want to go with what they see. For example, I used to have a shop selling RC aircraft.  Almost everyone who came in wishing to seriously start model flying, wanted a 6 channel all singing all dancing Spitfire or similar kind of aircraft to start with. We had to practically put their arm up their back and torture them to get them to buy what they actually needed which was a .40 size trainer.  A current example of this is that I sell an unjoined  .90 size FSRV boat made from polyester with nice shiny gelcoat finish for £80.00 and in comparison I sell a joined  .90 size FSRV boat made from vacuum moulded epoxy carbon kevlar for £365.00.  I sold one of the polyester boats in the last  12 months but last year we couldnt make the epoxy boats fast enough.
   In conclusion, although its a nice idea, I would guess that the number of people willing to build a wooden racing boat with strimmer engine etc and actually go racing would be less than the number of people willing to see/hear a one fingered violin player playing at the Royal Albert Hall.

 In my experience the way to get more people racing is to get them to the racing lake or practice lake and then if they are interested don't put them off by telling them
A. How difficult it is.
B. How expensive it can be.
C. How you need to be a World class engineer with full workshop facilities.etc etc.

  I'm sure we've all heard this.

Dave
    
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 12, 2007, 09:43:40 am
Dave i think you just told them lol  ;D hehe,the way to get them interested is to target the kids look at all the nitro kits available on ebay someone is buying them i see no reason why there couldnt be a class made just for them!!.It just needs a few people to get together to make it happen thats the problem,any volunteers  ;D.I think the problem is the powers that be in omra fsrv or whatever just dont give a **** about kids or the people on a budget!!.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 12, 2007, 12:36:32 pm
"i can run for 1/2 an hr or more on a tank of 2 stroke compaired to 5 mins with a nitro boat."
[/quote]

Hi Martin,

Have you thought about a larger fuel tank for your nitro boat?  :-\

Glenn


Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 12, 2007, 04:12:18 pm
lol its a 20 oz tank couldnt get any bigger  ;D its a .61 engine and it drinks for fun i hate the dam thing >:(.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: w3bby on April 12, 2007, 04:32:20 pm
Not too sure about the details but Sweden (and Germany I believe) have 1,8cc and 2,5cc racing on the lines of FSR-V, they also run a special class with the 1,8cc. Whilst the idea is for cheaper racing you have some that buy the "hot" engines and lay down time and money to get improved performance. I'll see if I can find a link or two for you...
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 12, 2007, 04:41:20 pm
Cheers Ian.

Post coming tonight, got the info from MPBA.

Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: OneBladeMissing on April 12, 2007, 05:27:57 pm
I think the Manchester club run a club class using one type of boat (they have the moulds) and Irvine .40 engines.
Dave Marles is right. The numbers of participants these days have been spread out among the different disciplines of racing.
Low cost racing, using the types of boats and engines I suggested in my original post, could be viable at club level though. The rules would have to be strict, and not be allowed to be tampered with to please the 'pot-hunters'.
When Formula Ford 1600 racing was introduced in the sixties, the cars were as basic as possible. Over the years they have become more complex and new 'starter' formulas have had to be introduced. The cars became more complex because they were allowed to.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: Andy on April 12, 2007, 05:53:23 pm
We at Elmbridge run a Atlantor club boat.
The club supplies the hull (£90) that must be built using a 61 front induction/side exhaust and submerged drive.
And has to run for a 10min race.
You are allowed to get the files out and play with the motor.
In all the boat works out to about £350ish, some of these boats are very fast but then the handling becomes very intesting and
motors go bang very often( so, not the fastest always wins ).
It's all for a bit of fun but it has beome a very high maintenance boat.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 12, 2007, 06:15:01 pm
Thanks Andy,

Ian Folkson mentioned you guys were doing that at your club. Sounds a hoot.

Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: OneBladeMissing on April 12, 2007, 07:09:43 pm
"... motors go bang very often..."
What are you doing to them/feeding them on?
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 12, 2007, 07:39:30 pm
We at Elmbridge run a Atlantor club boat.
The club supplies the hull (£90) that must be built using a 61 front induction/side exhaust and submerged drive.
And has to run for a 10min race.
You are allowed to get the files out and play with the motor.
In all the boat works out to about £350ish, some of these boats are very fast but then the handling becomes very intesting and
motors go bang very often( so, not the fastest always wins ).
It's all for a bit of fun but it has beome a very high maintenance boat.

another reason for running a petrol strimmer motor less maintenance and less chance og it going BANG!!!350 quid? thats a lot my boat cost me 150 quid to be up and running.also only took me 5 weeks to get her wet and i built the hull from scratch too!!.the americans have been using weedy engines for years and they are cheap and work very well in a 4 ft boat.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: omra85 on April 12, 2007, 09:39:35 pm
Before I throw my 2p worth in, I'd like to explain where my thoughts stem from (with apologies in advance for the necessary detail)

I started racing in 1975, did a couple of races and then work forced a 9yr gap.
I returned to MPBA Multi racing in 1984 at Maidstone.  I took part in many races, with some success mostly in the South.
In 1987 we moved to the Midlands and I joined Kingsbury club. I served 2 years as the Midland Area Secretary for the MPBA, followed by 5 years as MPBA Multi Secretary and 2 years as Multi Chairman.
During this time, I continued to race boats in most Multi classes, except spark ignition (which in those days was not a popular class) ending most years between 5th and 8th in the National Championships.
I also organised, with the help of others, many LARGE National championship events over both one and two days.
For reasons which I will not go into here, I left multi in 1998 and joined OMRA, which has been in existance since 1967, but of which I had previously been unaware.  I have been racing all over the country in OMRA events and am still doing so.

I say all this, not to try to gain some sort of kudos, but to illustrate my depth of experience, both good and bad, as a racer and as an organiser in IC boat racing.

I am often embarassed when answering one of the inevitable questions from interested spectators that, in all honesty, there is no cheap way into model boat racing to compete nationally.  I obviously try to be as positive as possible, saying things like - "once you have bought the tank, pipe, radio, mounts, they will last years" but I more often get a wry smile and a polite thankyou, as another potential racer heads into the sunset.

IF another "cheap to start and race" class is to be attempted, a number of things need to be considered.  It will take a definite committment on many parts.

The organisation
1. The class must be recognised by a National Body in order that racers have the same facilities and opportunities as the existing classes into which they may well move.  "Club" rules and racing does not give the same 'feel' as open competitions with members from many clubs competing individually.  It does not matter which 'National body' incorporates the new class but based on my previous experience, it would be more difficult to have it accepted in the MPBA.  This would also allow progression to true National Championships.
2. Races MUST be held as part of the same competitions as the other classes running under the National body.  The OMRA 'Z' class is an excellent example of what should NOT be done.  'Z' class races are held on different dates and at different venues and for a different championship than the original OMRA classes.  It has resulted in very few racers taking part in both 'sets' of races, further, as few 'Z' racers want to travel a long way just to race one class of boat, the way was clear to introduce another 'Z' class which meant that racers could now race two classes on the same day, thus the 'Z modified' class was born.
This has effectively split OMRA right down the middle, with few racers crossing from 'Z' to 'AA-D' classes. The very reason it was introduced in the first place.

The boat
3. A RTR or ARTR boat would be preferred by many new racers. It MUST be readily available in whatever numbers may be required and NOT rely on 'special offers' or 'here today, gone tomorrow' suppliers.  If we could get a UK manufacturer to put together a ready built, or as a minimum a COMPLETE kit, plus comprehensive, easy to understand instructions to an agreed specification and price, I'm sure it would be worth their time and effort.  A couple of very popular classes have been introduced in the USA based on a single RTR kit.  I would prefer it to remain a UK based enterprise for ease of communication, spare parts availability, and just because it's UK!
4. The specification would need much thought as it needs to be simple, possibly using a pull-start engine, submerged drive, untuned engines, reasonable price, and designed to go at a realistic speed which would not, obviously, be as fast as any of the 'standard' classes - but this would not matter as the boats would be competing evenly with EXACTLY the same type of boat.
5. NO modifications which deviate from the original rules should be allowed.  Any rule change proposed should mean the abandonment of the class.  Racers who have the ability and money to make this class of boat faster should move on to the existing 'developmental' classes, leaving this class for racers who want the boats and competitions AS THEY ARE.

The racers
6. It is the responsibily of everyone who enjoys model boating, in whatever form, to try to encourage newcomers into the hobby.  With new blood we will grow, to the benefit of all.  It is essential that existing boaters 'join in' to promote the new class, by buying and racing them.  Then as others see the fun to be had, they will want to join in.  
7. It is no use having a class where only a couple of boats are bought/made. Organisers of events do not want valuable water time taken up by a couple of 'new class' racers who use all the event facilities (rescue, lapcounting, PA, OOD) for two or three boats.  WE need to get the boats out there racing first.  Then they will appear in articles in the Modelling press and begin to attract newcomers.  It would also be worthwhile to carry out a 'photo' build/set-up which could be published to help newcomers along with such 'gems' as racing tips, problem sorting, etc.

Previous attempts have all failed, although some worse than others, because of a number of factors, many of which I've indicated above
and I know there are others, but if we could address these 'challenges', I'm sure the time is ripe for the introduction of a TRUE 'starter' class.

Danny
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: DaveMarles on April 12, 2007, 09:49:40 pm
 Elmbridge members..Answer this... The Atlantor class started for beginners maybe but I would like to bet that most running in that class are out and out racers. John Melville, Alan Hazeldean, Graham Morgan etc etc.  How many new people has it brought in that couldnt afford something else or already run in another class?
  Don't get me wrong, I'm not against entry level but I don't believe thats the way to get new people in because in reality it doesnt happen. You might get a few pensioners such as those mentioned  8)  but kids dont want boats like that.   
 Get people to the lake, sell them decent secondhand racing boats if they can't afford new and then look after them and don't leave them to their own devices when they get stuck and especially don't give them a hard time if they drive erratically at first.
  Dave
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 12, 2007, 10:54:48 pm
dave dare i say your wrong kids are buying cheap crap nitro boats on ebay now!! surely a good entry level boat would be just the job ? they do it in the states and its been done over here now with sail boats like the micro magic?.it can be done it just needs a boat designer builder dealer to come up wih a good entry level boat that looks good and runs well.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: w3bby on April 12, 2007, 11:15:39 pm
dave dare i say your wrong kids are buying cheap crap nitro boats on ebay now!!
Then the first thing they do is go on RCU and want to modify for more speed, end of cheap, standard beginner class........... ::) ::) ::)
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: omra85 on April 12, 2007, 11:22:40 pm
Exactly Ian - hence point 5 in my earlier reply.
Danny
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: martno1fan on April 12, 2007, 11:28:16 pm
dave dare i say your wrong kids are buying cheap crap nitro boats on ebay now!!
Then the first thing they do is go on RCU and want to modify for more speed, end of cheap, standard beginner class........... ::) ::) ::)

Ian i get what your saying but my point is they do buy boats that could be raced we just need some rules to keep things fair and equal.the wildthing is a good example its raced in the states and its a cheap boat to build using plywood and balsa.a small nitro(yes i said it  :o) engine with a pull start some cheap radio gear that most kids have nowadays anyway in that car they got fed up of when they smashed it into dads 4x4  ;D and away they go.failing that a cheap glass hull will do of which there are hundreds.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: glennb2006 on April 13, 2007, 01:15:55 am
Oops - I think I will now post a seperate thread.

I am however encouraged by the fact that there are so many opinions.

Looks like Danny has some great ideas and thoughts based on previous experience.

Glenn
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: Andy on April 13, 2007, 11:51:17 am
Dave, the Atlantor class was thought up as not so much as a beginners boat but
a class that was cheap enough to bring the club together with a common boat.
(they also race Club 500)
This does seem to have worked with most in the club having at least one.
If new members/beginners do get interested, most do,the boat is supplied with very complete
construction and set up details. And loads of help and advice from the (pensioners) seasoned racers.

As for kids it's normal that they want the fastest,my son much prefers driving my full race tuned Panther
strimmer boat.
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: thedevil on October 06, 2007, 11:17:41 pm
he we do cheap "club 40" racing at my local club byrn bach parc model boat club. lol im the raining champion so i need good competition   ;D
Title: Re: cheap ic racing boats
Post by: ormer on October 17, 2007, 06:03:04 pm
hi folks
i new to the board so would like to put my penny in this subject
over here in guernsey we run a small class no bigger then a .35  force 21 engines and the dynamite .32s were pretty popular and are in expensive also has to be a deep vee boat
and also just agreed to make a small class max of a 20 size engine as this seemed to be pretty reliable last year when some one put one these boats in to our small class
we noticed smaller boats seemed to offer more fun on our pond and have set up 3 diffrent courses for the smaller classes with an m shape a large oval and a reverse oval course so allowed 1 boat to enter 3 diffrent classes in an evenings racing
this seems to be pretty popular in in the power hungry members try to race

and in a small pond like ours power is nothing as with these boats there not huge boats similar to challenger 21s and sea ducers and if you put a os turbo in these boats damn they may be quick but you loose stability and thats when the others have the advantage so the cheaper engines seem more popular £81.00 average for a force or similar for a dynamite 32