forresterace
Oct 10, 2001, 09:21 AM
Fast Electric boat racing,around the world, is enjoying a steadily increasing popularity for all the same reasons of low noise, lack of pollution, cleanliness and urban- friendliness that has fueled the growth of electric-powered aircraft for decades. The comparisons between it and electric aircraft pylon racing are many and valid.
Basically, organized racing is divided into classes governed by hull type and cell count (voltage). Monohull and hydroplane are the two main class types but there are further breakdowns within these categories. Sometimes there are motor specifications used as well. Generally, the classes defined by cell-count are 4, 6, 8, & 12 with 18 and 24 cell classes recently gaining a foothold in popularity.
The breakdown of motor types is defined as stock and modified. Stock motors use the same designation as car racing - 27 t. plain bearing ferrite can (Roar approved). Modified or Open motors are defined as all others - ball raced, any type of magnet. In the open motor classes, both brushed and brushless type motors are seen with the brushless gaining dominance of late. Plettenburg, Mega, Astro, Aveox and Hacker are the most commonly seen makes. Lately, there has been a rapid rise in the participation in limited motor classes based on the use of only the Speed 700 size motor on 12 cells. The comparatively low cost and respectable performance of this motor has helped to stem the ever-escalating cost of high performance.
Huge strides in battery technology have seen the substantial increase in energy density in both nicad and nimh types. Nicads (mostly RC2400) seem to retain the crown for highest performance but nimh technology seems to making rapid inroads, especially in enduro classes where longer race runtimes are the norm.
Just as the 400 class of motor revolutionized electric power flight many years ago, the rapid rise in popularity of "micro" boats is being witnessed today - www.microhydros.com should provide more information to those interested in this phenomenon.
This has been the most rudimentary look at Fast Electric boat racing in North America today. I hope that this forum can develop as a meeting place for racers and fellow enthusiasts and as a place to exchange ideas and gain information just as it has served the model aircraft community so well for many years. There are many other websites devoted to Fast Electric boat racing but the largest and most popular seems to be:
www.rumrunnerracing.com
We hope to hear from some of you and look forward to this forum becoming a vital source of ideas and information in the hobby of Fast Electric Boat Racing.
Basically, organized racing is divided into classes governed by hull type and cell count (voltage). Monohull and hydroplane are the two main class types but there are further breakdowns within these categories. Sometimes there are motor specifications used as well. Generally, the classes defined by cell-count are 4, 6, 8, & 12 with 18 and 24 cell classes recently gaining a foothold in popularity.
The breakdown of motor types is defined as stock and modified. Stock motors use the same designation as car racing - 27 t. plain bearing ferrite can (Roar approved). Modified or Open motors are defined as all others - ball raced, any type of magnet. In the open motor classes, both brushed and brushless type motors are seen with the brushless gaining dominance of late. Plettenburg, Mega, Astro, Aveox and Hacker are the most commonly seen makes. Lately, there has been a rapid rise in the participation in limited motor classes based on the use of only the Speed 700 size motor on 12 cells. The comparatively low cost and respectable performance of this motor has helped to stem the ever-escalating cost of high performance.
Huge strides in battery technology have seen the substantial increase in energy density in both nicad and nimh types. Nicads (mostly RC2400) seem to retain the crown for highest performance but nimh technology seems to making rapid inroads, especially in enduro classes where longer race runtimes are the norm.
Just as the 400 class of motor revolutionized electric power flight many years ago, the rapid rise in popularity of "micro" boats is being witnessed today - www.microhydros.com should provide more information to those interested in this phenomenon.
This has been the most rudimentary look at Fast Electric boat racing in North America today. I hope that this forum can develop as a meeting place for racers and fellow enthusiasts and as a place to exchange ideas and gain information just as it has served the model aircraft community so well for many years. There are many other websites devoted to Fast Electric boat racing but the largest and most popular seems to be:
www.rumrunnerracing.com
We hope to hear from some of you and look forward to this forum becoming a vital source of ideas and information in the hobby of Fast Electric Boat Racing.