Hydro test one day before we got snow!

[d&smach]

I just installed exhaust temp gauges and wanted to see how they worked. The hydro in the picture is easily capable of 100 plus and is going 75-80 in this picture. I planned on checking the temp at a moderate speed but instead of looking at the gauge, I didn't feel like it was a good idea to take my eyes off the river because it felt a little high. It really is difficult to judge how high the sponsons are when driving but I had the feeling that I was about ready to blow over. I luckily eased off the throttle before I got a taste of cold river water. A pro racer friend of mine saw the picture and said one more inch higher and it would have blown over. There was a flaw in the trim system, which is locked in place without the ability of changing it under power. Letting up on the throttle at high speed allowed the engine to kick out some and jam into a locked position. It is fixed now and in the spring I'll start in a safe trim and slowly work up to the correct trim.

[OnPad]

Awesome photo!!
Big balls!!!
Be careful Boss!!!!

[Baker343]

I just installed exhaust temp gauges and wanted to see how they worked. The hydro in the picture is easily capable of 100 plus and is going 75-80 in this picture. I planned on checking the temp at a moderate speed but instead of looking at the gauge, I didn't feel like it was a good idea to take my eyes off the river because it felt a little high. It really is difficult to judge how high the sponsons are when driving but I had the feeling that I was about ready to blow over. I luckily eased off the throttle before I got a taste of cold river water. A pro racer friend of mine saw the picture and said one more inch higher and it would have blown over. There was a flaw in the trim system, which is locked in place without the ability of changing it under power. Letting up on the throttle at high speed allowed the engine to kick out some and jam into a locked position. It is fixed now and in the spring I'll start in a safe trim and slowly work up to the correct trim.

Nice save

[mr fun]

gotta get ya some more " Knee Time "

[Instigator]

Are you on your knees or laying down?

I raced kneel down and built a lay down tunnel boat and I lost sensation of angle of attack when laying down.

Was your motor tied down?
Got in a hurry testing on time, to show off to my new boss (Tim Butts) and forgot to tie the motor down.

I let off the throttle going into turn 1, in front of my boss…., the motor kicked up, eliminating steering, boat turned hard left and barrel rolled!

[CUDA]

I knew a racer who had a level gauge from a skid steer, mounted on the side of his cockpit, with a line that he hoped not to pass

[CUDA]

With proper set up trim would be a degree or 2 negatine, I would think.

[d&smach]

Are you on your knees or laying down?

I raced kneel down and built a lay down tunnel boat and I lost sensation of angle of attack when laying down.

Was your motor tied down?
Got in a hurry testing on time, to show off to my new boss (Tim Butts) and forgot to tie the motor down.


I let off the throttle going into turn 1, in front of my boss…., the motor kicked up, eliminating steering, boat turned hard left and barrel rolled!

I was kneeling. Your information about losing sensation of angle of attack was invaluble to me as I have never done lay down. A good friend that used to ride with us a lot got the bug again and bought a three cyl OMC and a hydro from me this fall. He's in his mid to late sixties and cannot possibly kneel anymore (he's on crutches a lot of the time). He says he will absolutley have his rig ready in the spring. I thought about him building a lay-down and it was like a miracle fix for him. It is very good to know about losing your sensation of angle in advance. Now we can start extra trimmed under for him. Big thanks to you for that one!

My mistake on the hydro in the picture was the angle bracket I used for adjustment consisted of a 3/4" heim joint rod end. The long threaded end didn't thread into a hole but slipped into a 3/4" hole on the transom with a nut on the long threaded end that could be adjusted for trim angle. Although the engine was tied down to prevent lifting, the forces trying to lift the motor were great enough when decelerating that the nylon rope was able to stretch enough for the threads to pull completely out of the hole and not go back in, resulting in about 1 1/2" of angle change, way too much for safety. Now the rod end is threaded into the bracket making it harder to adjust the angle due to the fact that I must partially dis-assemble the bracket to adjust it but worth it!
BTW, I have owned Butts hydros (Butts aerowing) if I remember correctly.

[Instigator]

Good for you guys.
Very cool!

And yes, Butts Aerowing.

I worked for him in about ‘1980.

We built a lay down 500/700cc boat for a customer who came out of retirement.
He had never driven a lay down.

We timed him in testing and he was 10 seconds faster than the next fastest boat.

Tim told him to let the pack take the start, stay out of trouble and then pass them on the back straight.

He misjudged speed when coming up from behind them at the start and rammed a boat in front of him.
At WFO!

That boats pipes speared his front deck which blew him over and stuffed the lead boat!
Destroyed both boats.

Neither driver hurt but Tim was fuming!

Heres me at that race.
Close boat.

[hellbents-10]

Wow very cool, thanks for sharing this info about a type of racing I know nothing about too! I am glad you stayed dry and warm!