Hi and thank you for your interesting input
To answer the questions asked:
I am talking about the overall all up racing weight of the boat, assuming C of G in the correct place.
I am interested primarily in the boats that race around oval courses as opposed to an "M" course requiring tight turns. Including those with surface drive and submerged drive.
Although all contributions and considerations are of interest to me here.
I totally accept as I am sure all will agree, that the light weight boat has a big advantage in terms of better acceleration, compared like for like.
However on a big oval course (such as the ones we have in BMPRS events), does that advantage come at a cost?
The reason why I question this, is that throughout the many exciting 2014 races, although we had great dry weather in the main, there were plenty of occasions when the wind was extremely blustery! And there were memorable occasions of wind getting under the hulls of boats of all sizes and shapes leading to some spectacular flips and somersaults!
So as I see it, my train of thought is that a boat with extra weight as low as possible in the hull could be beneficial as follows.
1) Less top heavy means less chance of flipping over.
2) The natural extra inertia may help reduce the impact of a sudden gust of wind.
3) Similarly in the event of a small collision with say a buoy or another boat, less chance of the boat being violently knocked off course and a potential stop.
4) If the extra weight comprises of reinforcement materials in the base of the hull, extra strength and stiffness is an added bonus.
Now of course I am not suggesting that boats should resemble tanks, because tanks are known as being slow! Some might say that heavy boats will naturally be slower, but my thoughts are that so long as the power plant gets the hull riding sufficiently on plane so that the wetted area is identical to a lighter weight counter part, the straight line top speed should be just as good. Debatable perhaps?
In terms of acceleration, the other consideration other than going from zero to 60mph, is change of velocity in respect of turning ability. The lighter boat may require less force to turn it especially in a sharp turn. I say "may require less force" because if comparing two identical boats, the turning force needed for the heavier of two identical boats will depend upon where the extra weight is distributed. If the extra weight is all at the bow and transom, inertia will require more force to turn it. If the extra weight is all around the mid section of the hull perhaps the boat might be more likely to spin when not wanted in a sharp turn?
Tell me please if you disagree as I am only thinking aloud here. My feeling is that weight could be used to big advantage in terms of making a boat more capable of winning races.
Having sought your opinions in my opening topic, I thought it only right to give my take on this which is much open to discussion.
Enough from me as I have rambled on long enough!
Craig