TBPNews #85 - August 23, 2005
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In this issue: 
1) New Secret tunnel boat for US Navy?
2) Jimboat technical consultant on National Geographic powerboat show!
3) 80 boats for British GP in Cowes Isle of Wight
4) Powerboat Racing on TV
5) Canadian conqueror Theoret first non-American to win Seafair since '61
6) Jimboat writes NEW Feature article in F&PB magazine
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1) New Secret tunnel boat for US Navy?

Boat May Be Hush-hush, but It's Creating Lots of Noise - PORTLAND, Ore. -- The boat is easily noticed -- about 70 feet long, a sleek design similar to a stealth airplane's -- and roars up and down the Columbia River at high speeds.  Yet no one -- its builder, the military, local river patrollers -- will talk about it.

So the mystery deepens; the rumors take off. Here's what is publicly known: Oregon Iron Works, which is based in nearby Clackamas, has a $10 million contract with the U.S. Navy to complete and test a specialty boat called SeaLion, which stands for SEAL Insertion, Observation and Neutralization.  The first boat has been delivered, the company says; the second is under construction -- and under wraps.

So what's on the Columbia? Chandra Brown of Oregon Iron Works will confirm that Oregon Iron Works has a contract for the next version of the SeaLion, and that the boat being tested on the Columbia is not it.  The Navy's Sea Systems Command, which oversees experimental technology projects, including the SeaLion, helps only a little. The boat zooming up and down the Columbia has some of the same details as the SeaLion but also has a lot of differences. But, of course, the public -- perhaps -- has not yet seen the SeaLion II.  The Multnomah County sheriff's river patrol, which plies the Columbia, also can't talk.  Sgt. Todd Lautenbach advises that he was asked to refer all questions and calls to Oregon Iron Works.  Lautenbach lets on that he knows what the boat is, and who it was built for. And he says Ryan's description of a 4,000-horsepower motor -- or jet engine -- on the mystery craft is not out of line.

check out full article: http://www.newhousenews.com/archive/francis072505.html 
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2) Jimboat named technical consultant on National Geographic powerboat show!

Author Jim Russell (Jimboat) is the powerboat design technical consultant on a new National Geographic special for "Thrill Zone" series...It is currently titled "Thrill Zone: Extreme Powerboats" and is scheduled to air on National Geographic on Wednesday, September 7th at 8 PM EST and Wednesday, September 14, 4:00PM EST.  Check out details at: http://www.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ET/daily/20050907.html

Watch for it soon - Watch for other show dates on the AeroMarine Research website! http://www.aeromarineresearch.com/NatGeo_thrill-zone.html
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3) 80 boats for British GP in Cowes Isle of Wight

With 80 powerboats lining up the British Grand Prix at Cowes in the Isle of Wight between August 25 and 28, the UIM World Powerboat P1 Championship is in for a historic event. Powerboat Racing in Cowes has 45 years of tradition and over these years it has attracted a "who's who" in the boating world.

The 2005 Cowes Powerboat Festival, supported by the Isle of Wight Council, together with Gillette and Red Funnel promises to be one of the most spectacular in decades with race circuits specially designed for maximum public viewing.  Situated three miles off the south coast of England, the origin of Isle of Wight dates back to 1900 BC. Cowes has a rich nautical heritage and has the ability to host major marine events including yachting ones.  Bigger than ever, the August 25-28 powerboat festival will manifest a new era of international line-up of pilots, teams and racing boats of all types including Thundercats and also Classic ones.
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4) Powerboat Racing on TV

- Friday, September 2, 2005 Time: 06:00 AM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone - ChampBoat Series - From Cincinnati, OH
- Sunday, September 18, 2005 Time: 4:00 PM EST; TV OLN - 2005 Detroit APBA Gold Cup -  
Outdoor Life Network; Chrysler Jeep Superstores APBA Gold Cup (held on July 17, 2005)
- Thursday, September 22, 2005 Time: 6:00 PM EST; TV OLN - 2005 Detroit APBA Gold Cup (repeat)
- Saturday, September 24, 2005 Time: 5:00 PM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone -ChampBoat Series - From St. Louis, MO
- Friday, September 30, 2005 Time: 06:00 AM EDT; TV The Outdoor Channel (TOC) SpeedZone - ChampBoat Series - From St. Louis, MO
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5) Canadian conqueror Theoret first non-American to win Seafair since '61

Seattle, WA - August 8, 2005 - Jean Theoret added a new international page to the Seafair history books Sunday.  Theoret, 43, a native of Montreal, piloted the U-8 Miss Llumar Window Film to its first win of the season while capturing the Chevrolet Cup at Seafair.

Jean Theoret and the Llumar Window Film U-8 hydroplane head into a turn, keeping its roostertail between second-place Dave Villwock in the Miss Elam.  Theoret also became the first non-U.S. resident to win an unlimited race since 1961, when Canadian Bob Hayward of Ontario won the Harmsworth Cup in Ontario in the Supertest III. 

Theoret nailed his start in final heat, grabbing lane one and never was challenged. He led by as much as half a straightaway after three laps, taking the checkered flag a good seven boat lengths ahead of the runner-up and top qualifier Miss Elam, driven by Dave Villwock. Theoret was brought in this season by the Llumar team as a relative unknown to the unlimited circuit, but his resume includes winning more Grand Prix hydroplane races than any other driver in the history of the sport with 43 victories, six national championships and the 2000 Grand Prix World Championship.  Former driver Chip Hanauer said he's been a fan of Theoret's for years.
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6) 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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