TBPNews #67 - October 22, 2004
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>>>>>> Tunnel Boat Performance News >>>>>>>>>>>>>> (now over 5000 members!)
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In this issue: 
1) Campbell Wins Race, Seebold Takes Season Title in 2004 Finale 
2) RingProp joins propeller association
3) Toledo Champ boat Race on TV
4) FEATURE: Australian undertakes Rotary Outboard Project
5) NEW - Mercury Outboard Trailer Hitch Cover
6) Jimboat writes Feature articles in HOTBOAT & F&PB magazine
7) 'Hot Boat' magazine - Save 51%! 
8) ** NEW ** 'Tunnel Boat Design' Software - Version 7.7
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1) Campbell Wins Race, Seebold Takes Season Title in 2004 Finale 

San Diego, Calif. (Sept. 19)  Jason Campbell completed a near-perfect weekend on Mission Bay Sunday, winning the 50-lap final in the last race of the season for the Champ Boat Series presented by Mercury Racing.  The Thunderboat Regatta was the last of eight races in this years series.

Campbell, who also was the fast qualifier and won a heat race on Saturday, claimed 592 of the 600 points possible in the event. Still, he came up short in his quest for the season championship, which went to Tim Seebold. Seebold finished second Sunday and clinched the 2004 Champ Boat title by a margin of 49 points.

Seebold came to San Diego with a 79-point lead in the series and finished within sight of Campbell in each of the weekends events. Seebold qualified second and finished second and fourth in the heats on Saturday.  Campbell started his Production Enhancement Technologies tunnel-hull on the pole in the 50-lap final and streaked from the field, building up a 10-second lead by the halfway point. But his propeller threw a blade midway through the race, and Campbell said he was unable to use his engines top end for the final laps. He averaged 109.928 mph in the final.

Seebolds Bud Light boat closed to within three seconds of Campbell by the checkered flag. Greg Foster of Anaheim Hills, Calif., who hounded Seebold throughout the event, was third for the Sherwin Williams Racing Team, just five seconds behind the winner.

The final was run without a red flag. Campbell lapped all but the next three finishers. Max Toler of Baton Rouge, La., sponsored by his hometown Advocate newspaper, was fourth, the final driver to complete all 50 laps.  Terry Rinker of Riverview, Fla., was fifth and locked up the third spot in the final series points. Rinker won the 2003 Champ Boat Series championship for Rinker Boats.
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2) RingProp joins propeller association

RingProp plc of the United Kingdom has joined the U.S.-based National Marine Propeller Association.  The first models of RingProps ringer propeller for outboard engines will be available in the United States this November and introduced to NMPA members and visitors at the associations annual convention Nov. 5 to 7 in Las Vegas.  http://www.ringprop.com  
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3) Toledo Champ boat Race on TV

Champboat Series Racing - From Toledo, Ohio is on The Outdoor Channel - Speedzone.  
Wednesday, October 27, 2004 thru Saturday, October 27, 2007 Time: 09:00 PM EST. 
Check out more at http://www.champboatracing.com
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4) FEATURE: Australian undertakes Rotary Outboard Project

Orlando Cobalti is a motor mechanic by trade and currently the owner of an Italian restaurant in the suburb of Templestowe in Melbourne Australia.  I came across his unique project through a high performance web chat forum.  His initiative deserves to be communicated to all those interested in the personal challenge of go-fast boats and engines.  

Orlando previously started a paragliding company and conducted a flying school and has been involved in everything from flying planes to micro lights and hang gliders, from cars to motorbikes, to boats and scuba diving. Orlando has a burning desire to bring innovative ideas to reality.  He has recently taken on a personal project of designing and building his own high-performance outboard engine based on a Mazda 13b Rotary engine.  There should be more entrepreneurs like Orlando, with a dream to go faster  with more power!

Here is his story, as he told it to me recently

The idea for my project hit me during a phone conversation with a friend over what the ultimate OB would be. The conversation sparked from my interest in a project by Marine Turbine Technologies to fit a gas turbine on a Mercury2.5 EFI offshore lower unit.  The turbine engine cost is, however, very expensive and I felt the urge to try something new.
 
We were discussing the down side of reciprocating parts in an engine, and then it struck me. Rotary! I got on the phone with the most prominent name in Rotary racing in Australia, Anthony Rodriguez from Maztech of Melbourne, and discussed the possibilities of fitting this motor upright on a leg.  I learned that this concept had been tried some 10 years ago, successfully ironing out the major bug - the rear main seal not being designed to retain oil in the upright position. I put my Promax 300 for sale. This was a year ago now.
 
At this stage, I have acquired the leg (lower unit) tilt trim mechanism.  I approached Castlemaine Rod Shop for my bell housing and we decided to go the casting way. We have now finished the pattern and we are perfecting a few details before machining. Im casting two - one to build the inleg sump, all the necessary adaptors, and the starter motor. The other goes to Maztech where we start assembling the motor, and all the adaptors, manifolds, turbo, intercooler, etc. This is an exciting time, after a year of planning, drawing and brainstorming, it is finally starting to take shape.
 
The finished product will have the following specs: 13b Mazda Rotary, turbocharged, intercooled (water to air), fuel injected. The mapped ignition fuel curves for different boosts will be controlled from the dash. The power is expected to be 350-400hp to start with, and the engine in full tune has the potential of over 700hp. 

I am now in the market for a new hull whereby I can take full advantage of this power plant. The difference is that with the forced induction the torque keeps building with the revs, and doesnt die off.  Hence the faster it goes, the harder it wants to pull.
 
The oiling system is a dry sump with a 3-stage pump. 2 scavengers, 1 pump. This will prime the original pump, and ensure minimal oil rests on the rear main seal, which itself will be modified. The sump is a stainless steel insert sandwiched between the bell housing and the leg. This will hold about 7-8 liters of oil, for a low center of gravity. The starter sits low for the same reason.  

Exhaust is straight out of the turbo. (In future we could fit a titanium muffler to tone it down). Inlet manifold is hand-built, but I have every intention of casting it in the future, even using carbon fiber sections to keep the weight down. 

The gearbox is probably the biggest power-limiting factor of this project, as it was never designed to take the torque this motor can generate. It will determine the maximum output. Plans are to manufacture a special set of gears to take more load. 

Orlando Cobalti, September 2005

Orlando has spent Aust$21,000 so far, and expects another Aust$15,000 before his project starts testing by February 2005.   Congratulations Orlando, on a truly exciting undertaking!  I will update our TBPNews members on Orlandos progress, as he lets us know.
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5) Christmas is coming! Are you ready?  

Get your 12th edition "Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design" book, and NEW "Tunnel Boat Design" software, Version 7.7!  We are shipping new versions now for Christmas delivery.  Order TBDP software now, and we will send your copy to you immediately - and we will include at no extra charge, the 12th edition STBD book! http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/shopping.html

NEW Mercury outboard trailer hitch cover!  A stock Mercury Trailer Hitch Outboard Decoration for most any commonly owned trailer hitch. Make Waves with this Realistic Boat Motor Hitch Cover!  This unique item is not found in stores, so Order now! Watch the propeller spin you down the road! Only $26.95.  http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/mercury_hitch_cover.htm

Also NEW Chrome Propeller hitch cover!  Only $23.95.  We are shipping new versions now for immediate delivery.  http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/shopping.html
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6) Jimboat writes Feature articles in HOTBOAT & F&PB magazine

COMING SOON!  Jimboat has an article on "Winterizing your Performance Outboard" in the Dec/Jan2005 issue of Family & Perforamnce Boating.  Check it out!

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

"What a Drag" - Trim Angle & Engine Height Can Reduce Drag and Increase Speed", by Jim Russell, author of "Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design book [editor-HB].  See September 2004 issue of HOT BOAT Magazine.  Or get your own copy of the feature article at: http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/HotBoat_August2004.html

"10 Safety Tips" - The author of "Secrets of Tunnel Boat Design" offers ten safety ideas for high performance go-fast boats [editor-HB].  See August 2004 issue of HOT BOAT Magazine.  Or get your own copy of the feature article at: http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/HotBoat_August2004.html
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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' Magazine - High-performance boaters bible featuring tests, technical reviews, adventure travel, racing coverage, product reviews and tips. 11 issues, Cover Rate, $54.89; Our Rate Only $28.95. That is 47% off!
 
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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