Namba vs. IMPBA Thunderboat rules- Why are they so different?

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Mike Luszcz

Well-Known Member
Vendor
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Jul 31, 2008
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4,176
Ok, so one of my near future designs will be a thunderboat, but addressing the IMPBA and NAMBA rules is a tough one as I want to be original with my design, not just a typical shovel nose. Why in the world does one allow a short pickle, and the other not, and why the overall width difference of 22 vs 24 inches? This seems like one of the few classes that have major differences in design. I am going to guess I am not the first one to reference this issue?? "Scratching my head"....Discuss....
 
You're a BRAVE man, Mike... (bringing up IMPBA vs. NAMBA anything, with a "why" attached.
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I wish both were 22" wide and allowed the short pickle. May just do something to fit IMPBA since it makes more sense.
 
It just makes it harder on designers to be creative and fit both classes, that is all that I am hating about this ya know.
 
I could be wrong on this, but i think NAMBA first came up with a class and a set of rules. Then IMPBA came up with their set of rules. I dont see either organization adopting the others rules in the near future. Im happy with the NAMBA rules, as im sure IMPBA is happy with theirs.
 
The rules on the hulls really aren't that much different:

1) NAMBA requires 24" minimum width across the sponsons, IMPBA requires 22". I agree with Mikey in that this was to allow all of the the original Zippkit T-boats to race in IMPBA

2) NAMBA requires the transom be 10", IMPBA doesn't have a requirement

3) NAMBA requires a minimum length of 48", IMPBA requires 47". Both have a max length of 56"

4) Both allow dropped or flush deck sponsons with either a round or chisel nosed design

5) IMPBA allows a shallow picklefork(10% of hull length), NAMBA doesn't

To boil it down, you can:

1) Make a boat that is within the NAMBA requirements listed above, without a pickleforked bow

2) Make a boat that meets the IMPBA requirements listed above, with or without a pickleforked bow

My suggestion is to make a NAMBA hull first, that way anyone can use it. After that, if you want to do a picklefork, go for it
 
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