Lets see those Outboard Hydroplanes!!

[Titan22]

I've had that Land & Sea cataloge (SP) for over 20 years and have always wondered about that hydro. Glad to finally know it's source .

[Rayzor]

Pictures of me when I was about 2 years old sitting in "Miss Molly Bee", Ron Jones cabover hydro that my dad drove back in the early '70s. His best pass was 117mph - that was before ET was recorded. The picture of it running was not with him driving, but rather Molly Ballou - the wife of owner Ken Ballou. I believe it held the world record (with Mary driving) for outboard drag boats back in the late '60s for a short period. My dad only drove a few races in it for the owners (Ken and Mary), as he lost a blade off one of the props at a race and almost went over. It scared him, and he told them that he wasn't going to race it any more because he had a young family to take care of (me!).

[rude tim]

Very few outboard hydros I see pictures of lift the tail completly out of the water. My guess it prop RPM is not enough on an outboard? I know that the fuel hydros spin the props about 20,000rpm and the Pro Mods are turning props about 18,000rpm.

[capnzee]

I think the reason you do not see the aft end of an outboard out of the water is because it is riding on the air traps, believe me, when at speed the rear of a good outboard hydro is running free and clear of the water as are both sponsons. The prop shaft is running very neutral and often tucked under a bit to keep the whole rig from "flying away" .

[Tom Foley]

Very few outboard hydros I see pictures of lift the tail completly out of the water. My guess it prop RPM is not enough on an outboard? I know that the fuel hydros spin the props about 20,000rpm and the Pro Mods are turning props about 18,000rpm.

It's clearly a horsepower issue !!

[proprider]

I can't hardly keep this one on the water!

[afr]

Very few outboard hydros I see pictures of lift the tail completly out of the water. My guess it prop RPM is not enough on an outboard? I know that the fuel hydros spin the props about 20,000rpm and the Pro Mods are turning props about 18,000rpm.

this one i converted did not have any trouble keeping it up

[Instigator]

I can't hardly keep this one on the water!

Killer shot. Turbo charged too, correct?

[Mark75H]

It's clearly a horsepower issue !!

Tom is correct. Also a design to use issue. Outboards don't turn very well while running on the prop, so prop riding outboards are generally straight-a-way boats. Most people never see straight-a-way outboards even though quite a few were made.

Has nothing to do with prop rpm. The famous 107 mph speed record was set with about 85 hp and 6,500 prop rpm.

[jaydee]

It would be awsome if someone could/would compile all of this great history of hydro racing into a pictoral book with all the fascinating stories that go along with the boats. this kind of history should be documented in print.
this is great stuff and needs to be re- told!

[proprider]

No turbo Gary, naturally aspirated. Let me know when your ready to take it for a spin!

Killer shot. Turbo charged too, correct?

[Instigator]

Let me know when your ready to take it for a spin!

Now!

Couples yrs back I came REAL close to getting back into it and that's the class I was looking at.
My problem is (among others) I'm out of friends that think standing in cold, waist deep water, in high top shoes full of gravel all weekend is fun

I remember back in the day there was a guy that towed his D Mod Hydro fully rigged behind his Volvo Wagon and backed it in at the ramp and never got wet!
I thought he was God!

[mercace]

Here's my Sun Valley at Harrisburg Pa in 1999. I sold it a few years later to a guy in Agusta Ga who was going to run it in ODBA. Never saw it again

[Dave S]

Way back in the Dazzz a guy had a 140 rude... with 1/1 gears and could not hook up....lent him a 21 3 blade record bronze prop......kept the rss down but he hit a sunken boat....messed my prop up...that was on a 13 foot Ron jones hydro....... My bad....a 90 cid.......With his wife in the back....broken blade.

[PARKER RABE]

lets see some pics...!