Re
rehistoric outriggers
first of all, with a .21, the motor mount is a big issue when deciding the size. If I use a four inch. Then I can use my mold for my .90. It is set up for four inch. Most people over here use a TRK 80mm mount. It is a little bigger than 3 inches wide. (sorry, I'm terrible at math)
For the length, We make them any were from 700mm to
800mm long. We like to have the turnfin more to the back of the boat, so we put the fly wheel of the engine forward of the CG and the leading edge of the turn fin at CG. You will have to slide things around to find the perfect balance. People do have different prefs though.
For sponson lay up, I think the most important thing about sponson layup is that the riding surface must be between 4.5 and 5 degrees down agle in relation to the bottom of the tub. The rear points should be 2.5 to 3degrees. That is the rule of thumb here.
I have put Jaguar sponsons on my boat before, just for kicks. They were fine for the conditions that you guys run in. Actually if you are going to make your first boat, I will make one suggestion, Go to Tidewater, or one of those hydro makers, they will sell you just the sponsons.
Jaguar sponsons are about 45 or 50 dollars. ( if my memory is correct) Sponsons are a real pain in the rear to make, and if you construct them in the same way you do with wood ones, like I do. It will be more economical to just go ahead and make them out of wood. Or use the wood ones when you race. This will save you the crying when you crash.
I wasn't really sure what you meant. " What is the layup for the sponson sheeting?" Do you mean, How many ply? If so I use 4 for my .90, but I think 3 will be just fine for a .21
It took 7.5 yards of 50inch wide 3kx3k carbon to make
the boat that you see in this forum.
For a .21 I would imagine that you will need at least 5 yards.
I don't recommend using carbon to make turnfins. I just was playing with my left over carbon. It looks cool, but when I ran my boat for the first time yesterday. I didn't have enough courage to try it out. I used a stainless
turnfin. For a smaller boat, it might be okay. I use carbon turn fins on my AC models Wave Slave. They work great, But the engine is only a .21.
When I first wrote this article, I was ignorant to conditions that we in Japan vs. those of you in the states have to deal with. I have changed my thoughts. about the prehistoric outrigger. If you bring the best over here to race we will beat you guys, but on the other hand, I feel that if we went there to race you, You would beat us. We run on much rougher water, we don't have lane rules, our course may be a bit smaller than yours. The only rule we have that is similar to a lane rule is, that if some one is trying to pass you cannot block him.
In the states, I think you will do just fine with the mentality of an American racer. I still want to continue sharing my ideas and talking to the guys in this forum. I think there is a lot of benefit in it for me, too.
The Japanese are also very interested in what you guys are doing. so I'm kind of the library that they turn to, since I'm the only foreign member of the JMPBA.
I will go and take some pics of my mold and mail them to you. This way you will get a better idea about what I'm talking about.
If you have anymore Q's then shooooooot!
Thanks, Hammer
