TBPNews #84 - August 8, 2005
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In this issue: 
1) FEATURE - Dirty Little Secrets of Hull Design
2) Mercury Racing Introduces the OptiMax 225 Sport XS Outboard
3) Man Loses Life In Drag-Boat Racing Accident
4) Villwock Out of Retirement
5) U-16 Miss Elam Hydroplane Flips, Breaks In Half On Detroit River
6) Torrente doubles his pleasure - Cincinnati ChampBoat Grand Prix
7) Powerboat Racing on TV
8) Jimboat writes NEW Feature article in F&PB magazine
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1) FEATURE - Dirty Little Secrets of Hull Design

2005: Reprinted by AeroMarine Research with permission by Stephen M. Hollister, June 2005

There is nothing more flexible than a piece of paper, a pencil, and the human brain. Once you begin using a computer for hull shape design, you are forced into the limitations and idiosyncrasies of the program and its underlying hull geometry technique. In exchange, however, you get ALOT more!

Get the full article FREE at:  http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/free_downloads.html
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2) Mercury Racing Introduces the OptiMax 225 Sport XS Outboard
 
FOND DU LAC, Wis. (July 18, 2005) - The newest member of Mercury Racing's OptiMax family is the 225 Sport XS. Based on the popular OptiMax 225 Pro XS, the 225 Sport XS comes equipped with solid upper and lower mounts and the race-proven 1.62:1 Sport Master gearcase, making this outboard capable of powering a single engine, lightweight hull to speeds in excess of 85 mph. 

With the Mercury exclusive PCM 03 microprocessor, the 225XS Sport has the ability to match - and even surpass - the fuel efficiency of many of today's large four-stroke engines. When compared to traditional two-strokes, the 225 Sport XS uses up to 45 percent less fuel for the same running period. Just like the Pro XS, the 225 Sport XS runs on 87-octane fuel, indicated by the green flag graphic at the rear of the cowl. 

Like the 225 Pro XS, the 225 Sport XS carries a three-star Ultra-Low California Air Resources Board (CARB) emissions rating. The 225 Sport XS comes with Racing's standard two-year warranty and available one-year protect protection plan. 

The Mercury exclusive PCM 03 microprocessor provides the ability to optimize fuel, spark timing and knock control for each cylinder independently, enhancing engine running quality and performance. The PCM 03 also operates the electronic multipoint lubrication system. A network of sensors and actuators, proactively monitors and controls multiple engine functions and enables the PCM 03 microprocessor to provide real-time engine function data to accessory SmartCraft gauges, including speed, RPM, engine trim level, fuel consumption and range. 

Unlike other DFI systems, OptiMax uses an exclusive 2-stage process. A burst of air (at 95 psi) shoots through the fuel, breaking it into a fine mist. This fine mist creates more surface area for combustion and stays suspended in the cylinder longer, resulting in a more consistent and complete burn. The 225 Sport XS features a higher air/fuel pressure differential than production engines, enhancing running quality. 

A production 225 Pro XS, updated with the Mercury Racing solid mount kit and accessory 1.62:1 Sport Master gearcase , is featured in Bass & Walleye Boats Magazine 's recent 225 shoot-out. The Sport XS configuration bested the Yamaha 225 HPDI and Evinrude E-Tec 225 HO in all categories. Read the results for yourself in the June issue of Bass & Walleye Boats magazine. 

Check out the 225 Sport XS Specs at:  http://www.mercurymarine.com/optimax_225_sport_xs
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3) Man Loses Life In Drag-Boat Racing Accident

July 11, 2005; OKLAHOMA CITY - A 31-year-old man was killed Sunday after his boat crashed during a drag boat race along the Oklahoma River in downtown Oklahoma City.  The driver was pulled from the water around 5 p.m. by emergency divers working at the event and transported by ambulance to the OU Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival, said Oklahoma City firefighters. The driver's name or hometown weren't immediately released.

The victim showed no signs of life when he was pulled from the river and had massive trauma, said Cook, who was on bike patrol with another EMT when the accident occurred. Witnesses to the crash said the driver was ejected from his boat and slammed into the side of it.

The inaugural Ozarka Bricktown Nationals drag boat races were held Saturday and Sunday along a stretch of the Oklahoma River just south of downtown Oklahoma City.
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4) Villwock Out of Retirement

Dave Villwock, who retired last year with the Miss Budweiser, was back on the Columbia River on the August 1/2005 weekend - at the helm of the Miss E-Lam, after J.W. Myers was fired by the Ellstrom family after flipping in the Gold Cup race two weekends ago.

For more hydro news, go to: http://www.hydroracing.com/hydros/news/story/6770589p-6659459c.html
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5)U-16 Miss Elam Hydroplane Flips, Breaks In Half On Detroit River

July 15, 2005 - The driver of a hydroplane escapes a crash on the Detroit River Friday morning.

The U-16 Miss Elam blew over during its second lap of testing for the Gold Cup at about 10 a.m.  Driver J.W. Myers was at full speed entering the Roostertail Turn near the Detroit Yacht Club when the crash occurred, ABRA reported. The U-16 broke in half as a result of the flip and impact on the river. Myers appeared to come out of the boat feet first as rescue crews rushed to assist him.

See ABRA web site for story and video: http://www.abrahydroplanes.com/
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6) Torrente doubles his pleasure - Cincinnati ChampBoat Grand Prix
 
Sunday July 17, 2005 Shaun Torrente did what no other driver has done in powerboat racing history.  He started the day with a win in the SST 120 class' 30-lap final. Two hours later he dismissed the country's most elite powerboat racers for a victory in the 50-lap Greater Cincinnati ChampBoat Grand Prix on the Ohio River in Newport.

Torrente was the top qualifier in Saturday's heat trials and earned the pole heading into Sunday's 18-man ChampBoat final.  That he earned the pole at all was a surprise, since he was only filling in as the second man in Todd Bowden's East-West Express team.  Torrente returned to his SST-120 class, the class below ChampBoats, to race his Tropical Lawnmower craft in Sunday's first race.  After staying ahead of second-place Bill Rucker for the win, Torrente had a brief respite before his first full ChampBoat final.

Torrente bolted from the dock as the red flag came down and never trailed in 50 laps.  Lamb Tech's Jason Campbell, who was third in Saturday's qualifying, was in second place for 18 laps before he succumbed to technical problems.  Hooters driver Chris Fairchild was in third place until lap 15, when then-fourth place driver Tim Seebold collided with him on a turn.  The hit put Fairchild out of the running and disqualified Bud Light Racing's Seebold.

Before the ruling, Seebold and ChampBoat points leader Tim Rinker jockeyed for second and third place. Rinker overtook Seebold on lap 25 and set out to catch Torrente.  But Torrente's lead was too great. The Florida State grad finished the 50th lap to cheers.
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7) Powerboat Racing on TV

* Friday, August 12, 2005 Time: 6:00 AM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone - ChampBoat Series - From Bay City, MI
* Saturday, August 20, 2005 Time: 5:00 PM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone - ChampBoat Series - From Pittsburgh, PA
* Friday, August 26, 2005 Time: 06:00 AM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone - ChampBoat Series - From Pittsburgh, PA
* Saturday, August 27, 2005 Time: 5:00 PM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone - ChampBoat Series - From Cincinnati, OH
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8) Jimboat writes NEW Feature article in F&PB magazine

*** NEW *** 
Jimboat writes Feature article in Family & Performance Boating magazine.  'The Bottom Line'-"Why does a Pad make a vee Hull faster?" is the FEATURE in the F&PB September 2005 issue.

Get your copy of the full article at:  http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/Vee%20Pad%20Design.html
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and Recently published...

Jimboat writes Feature articles in HOTBOAT & F&PB magazine
"10 Smokin' Speed Secrets Revealed..." - Jimboat has new article in February 2005 HOT BOAT magazine. "If you don't want to make expensive modifications to your hull or engine setup, then here are some tips for getting the most performance from your current setup.  By Jim Russell, author of "Secrets of tunnel Boat Design" [editor-HB]
Check it out at: http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/adverts/HB_Feb2005.html

and Recently published...

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

"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_Sept2004.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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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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