| I have always been curious about high | | | | between the ages of 9 and 16 years of age. The |
| performance race boats, but I must admit I had | | | | engine sizes range from 9.9 horsepower (7.4 kW) |
| never had a chance to experience a boat race | | | | to 50 horsepower (37 kW) with speeds from 30 |
| until a few weeks back at the Pepsi Racing Power | | | | miles per hour (48 km/h) to 90 miles per hour |
| Cup Challenge, the Hydroplane boat racing event | | | | (140 km/h). |
| on the Missouri River. Being in the boat supplies | | | | When it comes to the precision high performance |
| business has left me curious on the high | | | | boat supplies found in these machines you have |
| performance aspect of championship boating and | | | | to start with the engines. |
| tickled my need for speed. While these machines | | | | Racing Engine Boat Parts |
| are high precision, high performance and incredibly | | | | When it comes to racing engines you have a wide |
| fast, the sport has not caught on as much here in | | | | variety of standard made mercury Engines to |
| the US. | | | | shops that take OEM engine bases and custom |
| It is however a very popular sport in other parts | | | | make them to fit your racing needs. The most |
| of the world and it is classified into a few | | | | common engines for hydrofoils are big block |
| different categories. | | | | Chevy engines, mercury Engines and Japanese |
| 1. Limited racing - They race under several classes | | | | Yamamoto engines that have become very |
| and are very Affordable to race in. They can | | | | popular in the USA. |
| achieve speeds of 100 mph (160 km/h). | | | | Hydroplane body boat parts |
| 2. Unlimited Light Hydroplanes - These are | | | | When it comes to racing, weight is a key |
| hydroplanes (20' up to 26') that run big block | | | | component to success so the lighter the |
| Chevy motors and travel at speeds between 130 | | | | hydroplane is, the faster it goes so most of the |
| and 160 mph (260 km/h). | | | | hydroplane's body is made of fiber glass or wood. |
| 3. Thunder boats hydroplanes - The Thunder | | | | Cockpits are made from carbon Kevlar. |
| boats have two classes of engines, (G-575) and | | | | The Japanese have pushed the weight issue to |
| (G-468), which have superchargers that create | | | | the point where they have capped the driver's |
| high power and speeds over 100mph. The Boats | | | | weight to 50kg for males and 47kg for females, |
| are from minimum 25' 0" up to 28' 0" maximum | | | | any boat found to be lighter with the driver has |
| length. Weighing minimum from (G-468) 2,800 lb | | | | more weight added to it to create a balance with |
| to (G-575) 3,600lbs | | | | the other boats. |
| 4. Unlimited racing - The unlimited hydroplane has | | | | Safety boat parts |
| much fewer restrictions than with limited | | | | The hydroplanes require standard safety harness |
| hydroplane racing. These 30 foot, 6,800 lbs boats | | | | systems, the cockpits are made from carbon |
| run primarily with a T-55 L7 turbine boat and go | | | | Kevlar and side impact protection for safety to |
| over 200mph. | | | | the driver against crashes. Boat Fire Extinguishers |
| 5. Stock Outboard Racing- Stock Outboard Racing | | | | are always readily available and fire crews are |
| utilizes both hydroplane and runabout or | | | | always on standby in case of an accident. |
| monoplane hulls with racing engines that utilize a | | | | All in all I learned quite a bit from the race even |
| service outboard power head and a racing lower | | | | though I was spectator and would have loved to |
| unit with a direct drive (i.e. start in gear). Racing in | | | | take a lap around the course, maybe next time. I |
| this form ranges from classes designated as | | | | must say my curiosity is so peaked am looking to |
| follows: A Class, B Class, C Class and D Class. | | | | building a hydroplane as my next project. |
| There is also a Junior or "J" Class for kids | | | | |