TBPNews #62 - June 20, 2004
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>>>>>> Tunnel Boat Performance News >>>>>>>>>>>>>> (now over 5000 members!)
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In this issue: 
1) MERCURY RACING DROPPING THREE ENGINES FROM LINEUP
2) Worlds largest marine store opens
3) Bombardier: New name, new personality
4) Mercury seeks to settle class action suit 
5) Guido Cappellini wins Lake Como F1 Race
6) Jimboat writes Features in HotBoat & World of Powerboats mags
7) 'Powerboat' magazine - Save 52%! 
8) ** NEW ** 'Tunnel Boat Design' Software - Version 7.7
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1) MERCURY RACING DROPPING THREE ENGINES FROM LINEUP: Once the backbone of the Mercury Racing engine line, the HP500EFI will be discontinued in 2005. Also on the chopping block are the HP575SCi and Scorpion 377 power plants. Despite the discontinuations, however, the Fond du Lac, Wisc., company will continue to stock parts for the engines. 

That value  and consumer response to it  played a significant role in Mercury Racing's decision to discontinue the HP575SCi. With a Bravo XR drive, the HP525EFI retails for $45,216. An HP575SCi engine with the same drive package costs $56,403. Approximately 25 hp or less separates the two engines. Plus, the HP525EFI features closed cooling and SmartCraft technology. The only other Mercury Racing engine with SmartCraft is the 1075SCi. 

The elimination of the 575 will leave Mercury Racing with a significant gap between its 525-plus-hp HP525EFI and its supercharged 1,075-hp HP1075SCi engines. Mercury says the company is currently developing an engine to fill the void. A stronger performer in the field, the small-block-based 377 Scorpion never performed well in terms of sales. Its chances for success dropped further when MerCruiser, a separate company from Mercury Racing though both are under the Mercury Marine umbrella, introduced the 320-hp MX 6.2 MPI engine two years ago. 
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2) Worlds largest marine store opens this week

West Marine Inc. will hold a grand opening celebration this weekend at its new flagship store in San Diego.  With nearly 30,000 square feet of floor space, West Marine says its new facility is the largest marine retail store in the world. It will offer more than 50,000 products  from rope to apparel to marine electronics.
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3) Bombardier: New name, new personality

Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. launched its new brand and signature, and from now on will be known as BRP.  BRP was purchased last fall from Bombardier Inc. by a group of investors that includes the members of the Bombardier/Beaudoin family. Executives say the new BRP brand is based on a combination of leveraging of its rich heritage of entrepreneurial spirit and innovation, and a renewed focus on the BRP experience.  BRP says it is now poised to go further, providing new waves of consumers with innovations that deliver the BRP ultimate fun experience. 
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4) Mercury seeks to settle class action suit 

FOND DU LAC, Wis.  Outboard engine manufacturer Mercury Marine has proposed to settle a class action lawsuit filed against it in spring 2003 by owners of 2.5- and 3.0-liter OptiMax engines from model years 2000, 2001 and 2002.  Those who filed the suit  Lazo vs. Mercury  allege that these engines contain fuel injection and power head component defects, according to a legal notice Mercury Marine plans to post in Field & Stream magazine next month. 

Through the proposed settlement, settlement class members may be eligible for an extended warranty on the direct fuel injection and power head components. Those members who paid for repairs of the components and/or whose engines required three or more warranty repairs of the components may be eligible for rebates on the purchase of Mercury and Quicksilver parts and accessories and on the purchase of a new OptiMax engine, the legal notice stated. 
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5) Guido Cappellini wins Lake Como F1 Race

Lake Como, Italy, June 20, 2004... Strong winds and large waves continued relentlessly leading to a postponement of the race from three to six pm and a review of the course by the UIM officials, who were concerned with the safety of the drivers.  Finally, sunshine broke through the clouds, the water settled and twenty one boats roared into action for the start of the Grand Prix of Italy.  With more than 50,000 spectators lining the shores of the stunning Lake Como, the course was perfectly set for the most exciting and dramatic action - bringing the boats just inches from the edge of the inner harbour.

Pole position winner and current eight times World Champion, Guido Cappellini, looked impressive from the outset putting in one of the fastest laps of the race at 48.44.03 seconds.  Chasing hard behind, fellow Italian Fabio Comparato demonstrated he was a force to be reckoned with, holding off both Scott Gillman and Francesco Cantando until lap 20.  By lap 21 Cantando however decided to show his true colours.  Benefiting from a small mistake by Gillman he seized his moment, overtaking on the inside and passing Comparato straight into 2nd place.

With just 19 laps to go conditions started to change - with a slight increase in wind speed drivers were suddenly faced with even more unpredictable wave formations.  Unphased and typically used to more offshore conditions, Gillman pushed past Comparato and despite a damaged Picklefork moved into third position where he held his course until the chequered flag.  By lap 35, Cappellini was riding high with a clear lead ahead of Cantando.  Crossing the finish line he was clearly relieved - delighting in a win after a break of 51 weeks since his last success.

The UIM F1 Powerboat Championship heads East to the Grand Prix of Shanghai on July 31 - August 1, 2004.  Racing will stay in Asia for the next six races visiting Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Bali - providing an even wider audience the chance to enjoy the thrills of the F1 Powerboats first hand.
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6) Jimboat writes Features in HotBoat & World of Powerboats mags

Check out the NEW high-tech, high performance powerboating feature articles just published:

WORLD OF POWERBOATS (UK) - 'Rocket Science' - "...an article on high performance powerboat design and the technical opportunities for performance improvements in aerodynamic design" [editor-WOP] http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/WOP_winter04.html

HOT BOAT (USA) - 'Flight Path' - "...Jim Russell explains the aerodynamics of powerboat design" [editor-HB] http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/HotBoat_April2004.html
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7) 'Powerboat' magazine - Save 52%! 

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

Powerboat Magazine covers performance Outdoor Recreation, technical innovations, marine accessories, water skiing, race events, industry and personal profiles and more.  Issues per Year: 11 Cover Price: $4.50 Regular Price: $49.50 Brandsmall Price: $23.50
 
http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/boating%20magazines%20discounts.html 
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8) NEW 'Tunnel Boat Design' Software - Version 7.7

We've just released the new Tunnel Boat Design Software - version 7.7. This is the best release yet - with the most dynamic and plentiful new features ever! Includes new "Auto BlowOver Check", Design-versus-Design comparison graphics, HeadWind & TailWind feature, Nine (9) new design Wizards!  Check out new features at http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/tbdp6.html, or download the summary of new features at http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/New%20in%20TBDP%20Version%207.zip
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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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