TBPNews #56 - March 10, 2004
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>>>>>> Tunnel Boat Performance News >>>>>>>>>>>>>> (now over 4500 members!)
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In this issue: 
1) Antique boat club receives OMC grant
2) New Powerboat Racing Movie - 'Madison'
3) MERCURY RACING RELEASES MOST POWERFUL ENGINE
4) Miss Budweiser team to attempt World Kilo Run Speed Record set in 1962
5) Feature Article - "Aerodynamic Lift - where does it come from?"  
6) 'Hot Boat' magazine - Save 51%! 
7) ** NEW ** 'Tunnel Boat Design' Software - Version 7.5

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1) Antique boat club receives OMC grant

The OMC Foundation has awarded a marine industry grant to the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club.

This substantial award, given on behalf of the former employees of Outboard Marine Corp., is intended to promote a youth development program. The money will be used to develop a nautical soap box derby, according to Wilson Wright, executive director of the Tallahassee, Fla.-based club.  OMC says the award will provide a meaningful opportunity for the next generation of boaters.  Visit the Chris-Craft Antique Boat Club Web site at http://www.chris-craft.org 
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2) New Powerboat Racing Movie - 'Madison'

New action/drama - true story of the river town of Madison, Indiana, and it's legendary efforts during the hydroplane racing season of 1971.  The thrills of 180-mph flat bottm boat racing.  Starring Jim McCormack (Jim Caveizel - 'Thin Red Line', 'Angel Eyes', 'High Crimes', 'Pay It Forward', 'Frequency') has left the dangers of hydroplane boat racing behind, in favour of a wife, family and job.  But the dream of once again, piloting the community-owned Miss Madison lives on.  Miss Madison is the oldest name in hydroplane history, but the boat is in constant disrepair - a shadow of its former self, and her competition, like Miss Budweiser, have huge corporate sponsorships, top-of-the-line equipment, round-the-clock maintenance and huge, well-paid crews.  Also stars Jake Lloyd ('Anakin Skywalker' in 'Star Wars - The Phantom Menace'); Bonnie McCormick ('Private Parts'); Bruce Dern ('All The Pretty Horses', 'The Glass House'), and John Mellencamp.

Download the Trailer (16.7MB) at: http://www.madisonthemovie.com/media/madison.mov
Check out website at: http://www.madisonthemovie.com/ 
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3) MERCURY RACING RELEASES MOST POWERFUL ENGINE

Rated at 1,075 hp, the Mercury Racing HP1075SCi engine was unveiled today at the Miami International Boat Show. The new supercharged, fuel-injected engine was displayed at the Mercury booth, as well as in several high-performance boats including a 42' Fountain and 38' Cigarette Top Gun.  

Two years ago, the company announced the release of the HP1050SCi engine, but the powerplant never made it into production. "It's unfortunate, but that engine didn't pass validation," said Fred Kiekhaefer, president of Mercury Racing. "But it's better to hold back a product that isn't right than release it to the public." Full-scale production is underway at the company's plant in Fond du Lac, Wisc. The engine should be available to boat manufacturers this spring. Pricing has yet to be announced.
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4) Miss Budweiser team to attempt World Kilo Run Speed Record set in 1962

The U-1 Miss Budweiser team will attempt to break the World Speed Record for a Kilometer run set April 17, 1962 in Guntersville, Ala., by Roy Duby in the Miss U.S. I. The record of 198.17 mph for a kilometer run in an Unlimited Hydroplane boat has stood for 42 years. The Miss Budweiser is the most recognized and respected Unlimited Hydroplane boat in history and will begin its 42nd and final season later this year. The Miss Budweiser uses a T-55 L-7 turbine engine rated at 2,650 horsepower. 

Driver is Dave Villwock, the Miss Budweiser and the Miss Budweiser crew along with team owner Joe Little, president of Hydroplanes, Inc. Villwock is the most successful driver of the Miss Budweiser in 41 seasons; 2004 will mark his eighth consecutive year in the cockpit for the team. In seven past seasons with the team, he has brought home six series championships. Villwock has seven World Championships, 41 race wins and five APBA Gold Cups to his credit. Villwock began his boat-racing career in 1970 at the age of 16 in the Cracker Box class. 

Attempt will be made Saturday, March 13, 2004  Beginning at 8:30 a.m. Pacific Time 
Sunday, March 14, 2004 (if needed); at Thermilito Afterbay, Orville (Sacramento) California. 
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5) Feature Article - 'Aerodynamic Lift - where does it come from?'

We have had many questions about how the tunnel boat generates lift.  The following summarizes some of the background.

A tunnel boat must count on the sponsons for some of the lift for the hull, just as a vee boat must depend on its narrow running surface (pad) to support its weight.  The tunnel hull however has the additional advantage of being able to further reduce the water drag drastically by supplying lift from it's aerodynamic surfaces.  

A properly designed tunnel hull is considered, at high speeds, as a wing in what is known as 'ground effect', (even though it's water that it is 'flying' over).  The important point to note here is that every pound of lift that can be generated by this "wing" is one less pound of lift that doesn't have to be supplied by the sponsons.  So, the trick becomes to squeeze as much lift out of the tunnel and deck surfaces as we can so that we can take some of the load off the sponsons. 

The 'air-lift' of the Tunnel Hull is what sets this type of hull off from all the rest.  Although the many factors affecting the aerodynamic forces generated make this a complicated matter at times, the effort is clearly worth it.  So, let us look at what factors are involved in creating the lift generated by the tunnel and the deck surfaces, or this 'wing' we have talked about.  The main ones can be summarized as follows: 
(a) Airspeed 
(b) Angle-of-attack 
(c) Surface Area of Tunnel 
(d) Aspect Ratio of Tunnel 
(e) Height of mean camber line above the water surface 
(f) Aerofoil shape of tunnel cross-section 
(g) Surface condition of exposed areas 

The design and performance effects of each of these contributors (ant others) are outlined in detail in the STBD book.  For now, as an example of what this aerodynamic lift can do for us, let us compare a tunnel hull and a vee hull design of equal weights.  Each of these boats must generate, in their own way, the same total lift to support their weight.  The vee hull will produce virtually all the required lift as hydrodynamic lift.  The tunnel hull however, can contribute an amount of aerodynamic lift, leaving a smaller part of the total to be made up as hydrodynamic lift by the sponsons (running surfaces).  

By reducing the wetted area of the water planing surfaces, a significant reduction in drag is realized - and maximum velocity is a function of only the drag and available power.  

Water drag in any type of hull is what most heavily affects the ultimate speed, and so we can see that the tunnel hull with its aerodynamic lift and reduced water wetted surface will have an advantage, when properly designed.
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7) 'Hot Boat' magazine - Save 51%! 

We have obtained great deals on Powerboat magazine subscriptions. This month we have a great deal on the popular 'Hot Boat' magazine. 

Hot Boat is prop and jet driven boat enthusiasts bible. Each issue featuring tests, technical and product reviews, adventure travel, outboard and drag racing coverage, high performance tips, and outboard RPM tricks.  11 issues Published: Seasonal; Cover Rate: $54.89; 
Our Rate: $27.00 (Save 51%)
http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/boating%20magazines%20discounts.html 
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8) NEW 'Tunnel Boat Design' Software - Version 7.5

We've just released the new Tunnel Boat Design Software - version 7.5. This is the best release yet - with the most dynamic and plentiful new features ever! Check out new features at http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/tbdp6.html, or download the summary of new features http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/New%20in%20TBDP%20Version%207.zip
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NEXT ISSUE:  Feature Article - "Step by Step" (step design in powerboats)

See you next time!

/Jimboat

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Note: The articles presented in TBPNews are edited excerpts from the "Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design" book, by Jim Russell, published by AeroMarine Research.  The STBD book explains the theory in full, and outlines example design calculations, step-by-step.  The "Tunnel Boat Design Program", software, does all the force calculations, dynamic force balances at all speeds, and reports the analysis automatically, including complete graphical performance results for any tunnel or modified vee hull design.
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