LohringMiller
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jan 25, 2017
- Messages
- 875
Or you could buy a Zenoah for less than $200 with a can muffler, a Zip Kits tunnel kit for $160, the above radio and accessories and still be around the cost of the OS outboard alone. All that's missing is the lower. The insane unit is around $500, and the Lawless is around $400. Most gas tunnels use home made versions of the Insane style lower. The best thing is no special fuel or other accessories. It would be pull start like a a real outboard. Gas engines in other stock gas classes are proving a low cost entry into model boats. The same comparison can be made for the P limited electric tunnels at probably an even lower cost.Mark, I am working on the tunnel hull part. I have fiberglass 20 Lynxs in stock for $325 and Leecrafts for the 40 and 60 class for $360 and these are RTR, ready to rig so the $500 tunnel days are over...What Lennard is talking about is the pure stock class that required a complete unit and box stock power head. Good idea that work well for a time. But, no one wants to run stock anything anymore. Even if the complete engines were still being made it would be a dying class, just for that reason.
Super Sport or "outlaw" is a great idea. I have seen internally modded .21 outboards with no tuned pipe run as fast as mod boats. I see no problem with a class that allows any power head, any lower and no pipe.
The problem with the outboards now is the cost. At the risk of ruffling feathers, upwards of $500 for a tunnel hull does not help. That takes the "hobby" out of it real quick. There were a lot more racers as well as non racers running outboards when the engines were $100 and a boat kit was $50. Those days are gone. Hate to say it but it is a fact.....when the tuned pipes came out for outboards that put them into a new performance level. Up until then they were the slower, door slammer hobby class of RC boats.
2018 Tower catalog lists the O.S. 21 XM VII Marine for $449.99, ad at least $150 for a decent radio and servos, and you're looking at $725 to enter NAMBA's A OPC tunnel class and you still don't have a starter, fuel, equipment. So, you are correct,"the $500 tunnel days are over."
JD
Lohring Miller