TBPNews #71 - December 30, 2004
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>>>>>> Tunnel Boat Performance News >>>>>>>>>>>>>> (now over 5500 members!)
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In this issue: 
1) APBA Hall of Champions for the 2004 
2) A happier holiday for some ex-OMC workers 
3) NEW YORK CITY POWERBOAT RALLY 2004 on TV
4) Mercury wins key decision in dumping case
5) R/C Powerboat Attacks Bystander
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) APBA Hall of Champions for the 2004 

The American Power Boat Association announced the names of the inductees entering the APBA Hall of Champions for the 2004 racing season. The following racers have been selected due to their outstanding racing achievements during this past racing season. The official induction ceremony will take place in Atlanta, GA at the APBA Annual Meeting Banquet on January, 29, 2005. 

INBOARD - George Kennedy, Jr., Bear, DE; Jimmy Shane, Havre de Grace, MD
INBOARD ENDURANCE - Doug Lightfoot, Lomita, CA
JUNIOR CLASSES - Brent Tate, Canton, MI; Brent Dillard, Dalzell, SC
MODIFIED OUTBOARD - Jeff Thompson, Mansfield, MA; Brian Palmquist, Diamond Lake, IL; Mark Miskerik, Howell, MI
OFFSHORE - Mitch Miller, Cornelius, NC; Bob Bull, Merritt Island, FL; Jeff Stevenson, Winneconne, WI; Joseph Skrocki, Howell, MI; Keith Herbott, Lake Harmony, PA; Mike Barry, Lake Harmony, PA
OPC - Jay Fox, Bay City, MI; Vince Voisin, Altanta, GA
PRO - Chris Hellsten, Orlando, FL; Allen Thorsen, Newberg, OR
STOCK OUTBOARD - John Palmquist, Boca Raton, FL; Dean Sutherland, Saline, MI; J. Michael Kelly, Jr., Auburn, WA
UNLIMITED HYDROPLANE - Dave Villwock, Auburn, WA
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2) A happier holiday for some ex-OMC workers 

Relief has come to a hard-pressed area of western North Carolina four years to the day after the Outboard Marine Corp. bankruptcy put 429 people out of work there.  Altec Industries, a manufacturer of equipment for utility trucks, will reopen the long-idled outboard assembly plant in rural Yancey County, creating as many as 300 jobs, according to a report in the Ashville (N.C.) Citizen-Times. 

The newspaper said the county unemployment rate exceeded 10 percent for practically all of 2001 and 2002, and even now stands at 6.2 percent. It indicated those figures dont tell the whole story, because jobless benefits have expired for many people still looking for work.
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3) NEW YORK CITY POWERBOAT RALLY 2004 on TV
 - Discovery Channel "Monster Nation" Episode #29; January 13 @ 8:00 PM & 11:00 PM; January 31 @ 5:00 PM - http://www.nationalpowerboat.com/
 - Powerboats on TV in December - http://www.apba-racing.com/Events.php
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4) Mercury wins key decision in dumping case

Mercury Marine won an important decision today when the United States Department of Commerce ruled Japanese manufacturers have been  dumping outboard engines in the United States.  The decision could lead to an import duty of nearly 19 percent on engines imported into this country from Japan.

The Commerce Department found that Japanese producers/exporters have sold outboards in the U.S. at less than fair value, with a margin of 18.98 percent  slightly lower than the 22.52 percent reported in a preliminary determination in August.  Todays ruling paves the way for the U.S. International Trade Commission to make a final determination on whether U.S. outboard manufacturers have been injured by the Japanese pricing practices. The ITC decision is expected around Feb. 17, 2005.  The Commerce Department decision means Japanese manufacturers now will have to post a bond of 18.98 percent for each engine they bring into the U.S. until the case is finally decided. If injury is found, the Japanese no longer would have the option of a bond, according to Mercury, but would be required to post cash.  If the ITC rules that Japanese imports have damaged the U.S. industry, the Department of Commerce will issue an anti-dumping duty order. If it decides there has been no injury, the investigation will be terminated and no order will be issued.

Mercury filed the petition last January through parent Brunswick Corp., accusing the Japanese companies of grabbing market share by undercutting the domestic outboard engine companies
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5) R/C Powerboat Attacks Bystander

As reported in the BBC News, this unlucky soul was enjoying a sit in the park, minding his own beeswax, when a radio-controlled boat leapt out of the pond at top speed and hit him square in the head. He is quoted as saying, "I could have been blinded." I find this irritating. I am sure he is right, which means that my First Mate was right when, many moons ago, R/C vehicles went on her list of banned Items That Could Put a Kid's Eye Out. Me, I always just thought they were pretty neat, and the odds of blindness occurring were even less than those of being hit by a tornado in Antarctica. Interestingly, the writer fails to mention whether or not the theme from "The Twilight Zone" was playing just before impact.

http://powerboat.about.com/b/a/131182.htm?nl=1
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6) Jimboat writes Feature articles in HOTBOAT & F&PB magazine

"Winterizing your Performance Outboard" - Jimboat has new article in Jan2005 issue of Family & Perforamnce Boating.  Check it out at: http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/F&PB_Jan05.html

and Recently 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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